Contents

Contents

1. About the Let’s Talk Funding Grants

1.1. What is the purpose of the Let’s Talk Funding Grants?

1.2. Alignment with ACT Government commitments

1.3. Available funding and program delivery timeframe

2. Funding Policies

2.1. Eligibility requirements

2.2. What is eligible to be funded?

2.3. What will not be funded?

3. Assessment Criteria

3.1. Please note the following in the preparation of your proposal:

3.2. Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

4. Important information about the application process

4.1. Important dates

4.2. What to send

4.3. Submitting your application

4.4. Further Information

5. Let’s Talk Suicide Prevention Grants Reporting Requirements

6. Additional Information

6.1. Taxation Implications

6.2. Privacy Implications

6.3. Consent for use of personal information for marketing and promotional purposes

6.4. Withdrawal from Program

6.5. Suspension of Deed of Grant obligations due to exceptional circumstances

6.6. Termination of Approval to participate in the Let’s Talk Funding Grant program and repayment of grant

6.7. Appeals

Let’s Talk – Suicide Prevention Grant Funding Guidelines1

1. About the Let’s Talk Funding Grants

1.1. What is the purpose of the Let’s Talk Funding Grants?

The Let’s Talk Suicide Prevention and ‘Ways to Wellbeing’ Health Promotion campaign was developed in 2009 by the ACT Health Mental Health Policy Unit and Health Communications team.The objectives of the Let’s Talk Health Promotion campaign are to:

  • raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention ;
  • provide information about where residents of the ACT can obtain assistance if they, or someone they know, is at risk of suicide;
  • promote social connection in Canberra with people when they are going through a difficult time; and
  • reduce the stigma associated with suicide.

ACT Health have decided to use this year’s Let’s Talk Suicide Prevention Funding to establish a community grants program. These community Let’s Talk Funding Grantswill support local groups and organisations to conduct suicide prevention and awareness programs, events, activities and communication initiatives.

The aim of the Let’s Talk Funding Grants is to develop new innovative suicide prevention and awareness projects which are developed in line with evidence-based strategies andbest practice principles.

The Let’s Talk community suicide prevention programs and strategies must align with the Black Dog Institute’s Lifespan Suicide Prevention Strategies, see Attachment A, and the following best practice principles:

  • Utilise communication channels that effectively reach the target audience.
  • Establish specific campaign objectives aimed at achieving behavioural change.
  • Use messaging that avoids confrontational discussion of ‘suicide’, focuses on developing strategies to cope with negative life circumstances and is tailored for each target audience.
  • Identify specific target audiences (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people, people aged 15-44.
  • Inclusion of campaign messaging tracking and evaluation to enable the review of communication strategies.

1.2. Alignment with ACT Government commitments

Suicide prevention is a key priority for the Minister for Mental Health. The Let’s Talk Funding Grants support the ACT Government’s commitment to progress suicide prevention planning in accordance with the 5th National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan priority areas:

  • Effective suicide prevention;and
  • Reducing stigma and discrimination.

1.3. Available funding and program delivery timeframe

  1. Total funding for the Let’s Talk Funding Grants is $50,000 (GST Exclusive). The ACT Government reserves the right to award all of the funding in one year. The ACT Government also reserves the right not to award funding if applications are not deemed suitable.
  2. The funding awarded will be determined by an Assessment Panel in accordance with the assessment criteria.
  3. Single funding applicationsshould be for either $10,000 or $20,000 (GST Exclusive).
  4. The Assessment Panel may decide that a proposal should only be partially funded, depending on the content and quality of the application received.
  5. There are no restrictions on the number of applications that an individual or group can submit, although each proposal must be submitted as a separate application.
  6. Funding from the Let’s Talk Funding Grants may be used as a contribution towards a larger proposal. This intention should be clearly indicated in the application, including in the provision of a detailed budget.
  7. Successful funding recipients should have no expectation that funding will be renewed beyond the grant period, or in any way represents a commitment to recurrent funding.
  8. Timeframes and outcomes for expenditure of funds by grant recipients will depend on the nature of the proposal and will be determined during the development of the Short Form Contract.

2. Funding Policies

2.1. Eligibility requirements

Please note that ineligible applications will not be assessed for funding. To be eligible, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Applicants must be a viable legal entity as defined by the Australian Tax Office, for example:
  • an individual (sole trader);
  • a private company;
  • a public company;
  • a cooperative; or
  • a partnership.
  1. Applicants must have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or provide evidence that they have applied for one.
  1. Applicants must have a current Public Liability Insurance policy with cover of a minimum of $10million per event. Applicants without current insurance must provide evidence of a quotation for Public Liability Insurance.
  2. Applicants must ensure that the application is signed by the Chief Executive Officer, or equivalent, of the applicant organisation. This person must have ultimate financial and management responsibility for the organisation.
  3. Applicants must not have overdue reporting requirements including financial acquittals for any previous ACT Government grant.
  4. Applicants may be asked to provide copies of recent audited financial statements to help support their claim of financial viability.
  5. Applicants must not be a political party.

2.2. What is eligible to be funded?

  1. The type of suicide prevention and awareness program, event, activity or communication initiative is only limited byapplicant’s imagination and enthusiasm. The suicide prevention and awareness project must align with at least one of the nine evidence-basedLifespan Suicide Prevention Strategies. These Lifespan Suicide Prevention Strategies aim to “build a community safety net that helps prevent suicide”:
  1. Promoting help-seeking, mental health and resilience in schools.
  2. Engaging the community and providing opportunities to be part of the change.
  3. Training the community to recognise and respond to suicidality.
  4. Improving emergency and follow-up care for suicidal crisis.
  5. Improving safety and reducing access to means of suicide.
  6. Using evidence-based treatment for suicidality.
  7. Equipping primary care to identify and support people in distress.
  8. Improving the competency and confidence of frontline workers to deal with suicidal crisis.
  9. Encouraging safe and purposeful media reporting.

2.3. What will not be funded?

  1. Any activity or event that does not occur within the ACT.
  1. International travel.
  2. Fund-raising activities.
  3. Recruitment agency fees.
  4. Projects that have already occurred, or costs that have already been incurred.

3. Assessment Criteria

3.1. Please note the following in the preparation of your proposal

  1. Applications will be evaluated against all assessment criteria.
  1. Priority will be given to proposals that support or specifically target at-risk groups.
  2. When considering a large number of applications, priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate a high level of detail and planning for the project. This may be in the form of a comprehensive project plan or event timeline.

3.2. Applications will be assessed against the following criteria

  1. The proposal demonstrates how the project aligns with one or more of the nine evidence-based Lifespan Suicide Prevention Strategies:
  1. Promoting help-seeking, mental health and resilience in schools.
  2. Engaging the community and providing opportunities to be part of the change.
  3. Training the community to recognise and respond to suicidality.
  4. Improving emergency and follow-up care for suicidal crisis.
  5. Improving safety and reducing access to means of suicide.
  6. Using evidence-based treatment for suicidality.
  7. Equipping primary care to identify and support people in distress.
  8. Improving the competency and confidence of frontline workers to deal with suicidal crisis.
  9. Encouraging safe and purposeful media reporting.
  1. The proposal demonstrates how the project will increase public understanding of suicide and suicide prevention by:
  • raising awareness about suicide and suicide prevention; or
  • providing information about where residents of the ACT can obtain assistance if they, or someone they know, is at risk of suicide; or
  • promoting social connection in Canberra with people when they are going through a difficult time; or
  • reducing the stigma associated with suicide.
  1. The proposal demonstrates how the projectwill utilise communication methods that effectively reach the target audience.
  2. The proposal demonstrates how it will support or specifically target one or more of the following at-risk groups:
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex communities.
  • Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander communities.
  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities.
  • people aged 15-44years of age.
  1. The proposal demonstrates efficient use of resources and value for money, and includes a budget with detailed costings, and evidence of the capability to deliver to deadlines and on budget.
  2. The proposal must include a timeline for implementation, a description of intended performance measures and a mechanism for project evaluation.

4. Important information about the application process

4.1. Important dates

  1. Applications open: Tuesday 1 May 2018
  1. Applications close: 3:00 pm Friday 18 May 2018
  2. Late applications will not be accepted.
  3. Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application in writing.

4.2. What to send

  1. Please include the following documents with the completed Grant Application Form:
  2. A quote or evidence of current Public Liability Insurance; and
  3. Workers Compensation Cover and Certificate of Incorporation (if applicable).
  4. Please provide an electronic copy of your application by submitting it to this email address:
  1. Hard copy applications will not be accepted.

4.3. Submitting your application

  1. Please ensure your application is complete and correct prior to submission.
  1. Please ensure your application is signed by your Chief Executive Officer, or equivalent, prior to emailing (see eligibility requirements). Unsigned applications will not be accepted.
  2. You will receive an emailed response noting that your application has been received. If you do not receive a response within 48 hours, please telephone 02 6207 7329 or
    02 6205 1401to check that your application has been received.
  1. For further information please e-mail

5. Let’s Talk Suicide Prevention Grants Reporting Requirements

  1. Successful applicants will be provided with a Short Form Contract which identifies reporting requirements and includes templates. The requirements include an evaluation report, financial summary sheet and financial acquittal as detailed in the attachments to the Short Form Contract.

6. Additional Information

6.1. Taxation Implications

  1. Applicants are required to conduct their own enquiries about the tax implications if they are a successful grant recipient. Please note that as assets may be owned by applicants, this may have income and depreciation implications for taxation.

6.2. Privacy Implications

  1. Applicants seeking participation in the Let’s Talk Funding Grants may be required to provide personal information—within the meaning of the Information Privacy Act 2014 (ACT)—to ACT Health for the purpose of administering, monitoring and reviewing the grant program. All such information will be managed in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2014 (ACT). ACT Health may share your information with third parties for the purpose of assessing your application. Except in these circumstances, personal information will only be disclosed to third parties with your consent unless otherwise required or authorised by law.

6.3. Consent for use of personal information for marketing and promotional purposes

  1. The names of grant recipients, grant amounts and purpose will be published for community information at The Lets Talk websitefor the purposes of promoting the grants and/or benefits achieved by the program. Successful grant recipients may be required to be available for public promotion.

6.4. Withdrawal from Program

  1. Grant applicants may withdraw from participation in a funding round by forwarding written notice to:

Manager, Branch Operations
ACT Health, Policy and Stakeholder Relations
4 Bowes Street
GPO Box 825
CANBERRA ACT 2601

or via email to:

  1. Grant recipients should note that withdrawal from the Let’s Talk Funding Grant program may result in grant payments being withheld, adjusted or recovered by ACT Health, as appropriate.
  2. ACT Health will reply to the grant recipient confirming their withdrawal from the Let’s Talk Funding Grant program and setting out the grant amount repayable, if any, and enclose a tax invoice for this amount.
  3. Sufficient notice should be provided to enable the Let’s Talk Funding Grant to be withheld, adjusted or repaid, as appropriate.

6.5. Suspension of Agreement obligations due to exceptional circumstances

  1. If the grant recipient fails to meet its obligations due to a medical condition, or other unforeseen circumstances beyond their control, the grant recipient, their representative or Executor must immediately notify ACT Health in writing, giving reasons why they will not be able to meet their obligations and detailing the circumstances and extent of the situation.
  2. ACT Health’s Delegate has the discretion to determine whether a grant recipient remains compliant with the requirement of the Agreement, or may approve a Deed of Variation with the consent of both parties. The Delegate has discretion to give special consideration to grant recipients who are unable to remain compliant with the requirements of the Agreement due to exceptional circumstances.

6.6. Termination of Approval to participate in the Let’s Talk Funding Grant program and repayment of grant

  1. If ACT Health is not satisfied that the individual or entity named in the Agreement is meeting the conditions of payment or any other obligation specified in the Agreement, it may seek to recover part of the grant payment already paid and/or withhold or reduce any further payments. In these situations, ACT Health will, in the first instance, advise the grant recipient of the breach in obligation and request that remedial action be implemented. The grant recipient will be required to respond within 14 days of receiving this correspondence.
  2. ACT Health may terminate the Agreement if:
  • The grant recipient does not respond within 14 days of the notice; or
  • The grant recipient fails to take action within 14 days of the notice; or
  • ACT Health is not satisfied with the grant recipient’s response; or
  • The grant recipient notifies ACT Health of inability to meet an obligation(s) under theAgreement.
  1. In its correspondence with the grant recipient, ACT Health will set out the grounds for terminating the Agreement, grant amount repayable by the grant recipient and enclose a tax invoice for this amount.
  2. Where ACT Health terminates an Agreement, it will not be obliged to pay the grant recipient any outstanding grant instalments.

6.7. Appeals

  1. The avenue for appeal, in the event of a perceived failure of process, is to write to:

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY

ACT Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Ngunnawal people. ACT Health respects their continuing culture and connections to the land and the unique contributions they make to the life of this area. ACT Health also acknowledges and welcomes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are part of the community we serve.

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© Australian Capital Territory, Canberra January 2018

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Let’s Talk – Suicide Prevention Grant Funding Guidelines