NSW Women's Week Grants provide funding for organisations to deliver an event or activity that supports the objectives of NSW Women’s Week, and the NSW Women’s Strategy (2023- 2026).
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $5,000 to $10,000
- Application opened: 30 August 2023
- Application closed: 9 October 2023, 4:00 pm
Program objective
NSW Women’s Week celebrates the diverse contributions of women and girls. It is an opportunity to reflect on the social, economic and achievements of women and girls in NSW.
NSW Women’s Week will be celebrated between Monday 4 March and Sunday 10 March 2024 to coincide with International Women’s Day on 8 March 2024.
All events and activities must align with at least 1 of the pillar priorities from the NSW Women's Strategy (2023-2026). These pillars are:
- economic opportunity and advancement
- health and wellbeing
- participation and empowerment
A total of $300,000 is available for organisations to deliver an event or activity that supports the objectives of NSW Women’s Week, and the NSW Women’s Strategy (2023-2026) more broadly. For further information on the NSW Women’s Strategy, please visit Women NSW.
In recognition of the need for larger scale targeted events as part of the Women’s Week schedule, this year, for the first time, Women’s Week grant will be allocated under two tiers of funding.
Tier 1
Tier 1 is an open competitive round to fund events or activities from $5,000 to a maximum of $10,000 per applicant with a $100,000 allocation. To support accessibility to a diversity of people, all Tier 1 funded events must focus on or engage with women and girls from one of the 15 focus communities of the NSW Women’s Strategy (2023- 2026).
Tier 2
Tier 2 is a is a closed, competitive - by invitation only grant. Targeted organisations are invited to apply to deliver a larger scale event from $30,000 to a maximum of $50,000 per applicant during Women’s Week. $200,000 has been allocated to fund larger scale.
Women NSW is directly inviting organisations to apply.
All Tier 2 funded events to support accessibility to a diversity of people, must engage with women and girls from one of the following communities of the NSW Women's Strategy:
Focus community | Location |
---|---|
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Metropolitan Sydney events including the Blue Mountains |
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Regional NSW events (includes Newcastle and Wollongong) |
This program is funded and administered by Women NSW.
Eligibility
All funded NSW Women’s Week events must be held during NSW Women’s Week between 4 and 10 March 2024 inclusive.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants for Tier 1 and Tier 2 are required to meet all eligibility criteria below:
- NSW local councils (and their section 355 committees) operating under the Local Government Act (1993). NSW local councils are obliged to cash match or provide in-kind support up to the value of 10 – 25% of the total project costs.
- Incorporated not-for-profit organisations, including community organisations.
- Organisations listed on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Register must have a current record.
- All applicants must have appropriate insurance (minimum of $10 million).
- All applicants must address the NSW National Redress Scheme sanctions (included in these guidelines).
- Applications will not be accepted from organisations that have outstanding acquittals with Women NSW.
- Applicants must provide a budget for their event, or the application will be deemed ineligible.
Tier 2 applicants must also meet this specific eligibility criteria:
- proposed event or activity funding request is a minimum $30,000 up to $50,000.
- co-contribution is required. This can be cash and/or in-kind (non-monetary) sources, minimum 10 to 25% of total funding request.
- proposed event is held in a Sydney Metro or Regional NSW area with a focus on the following communities:
- Metro events:
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse women and girls
- LGBTIQA+ women and girls
- Women and girls living with disability.
- Regional NSW events:
- Young women and girls in agriculture
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls
- Women and girls living in regional, rural, remote, and cross-border areas.
- Metro events:
Who can’t apply
- Individuals or groups of individuals
- Unincorporated organisations
- For-profit commercial organisations
- NSW Government or Australian Government agencies and their entities (including public trusts)
Note: NSW Government schools, Area Health Services and public hospitals are ineligible to apply, however, an associated incorporated not-for-profit body, such as a Parents and Citizens Association or hospital auxiliary will be eligible to apply for funding.
NSW Government agencies will not award an agreement, contract or grant funding to any Non-government Institutions (NGI) that have been publicly identified as declining to join the National Redress Scheme (the Scheme) unless exceptional circumstances exist.
Type of project funded under this grant
NSW Women’s Week events or activities will need to align with at least one of the three targeted priorities that women from across NSW have consistently said are important to them in the NSW Women’s Strategy (2023-2026).
- Economic opportunity and advancement
- Health and wellbeing
- Participation and empowerment.
Grant funding can be used for the direct costs of the event/activity, including promotion, entertainment, catering, venue hire and transport for participants.
Example projects
The economic opportunity and advancement category might include
- financial information sessions for women
- career advice for women and girls interested in entering the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) industries
- local inspiring women speaking about their work/careers.
The health and wellbeing category might include
- school information sessions for girls on healthy body image
- sport participation programs celebrating/promoting health and well being
- mental health promotion events for managing anxiety and depression.
The participation and empowerment category might include
- mentoring events
- networking events
- events promoting/increasing women’s participation.
What you can’t apply for
Grants cannot be used to fund the following
- events located outside of NSW
- any activity of a commercial nature that is for-profit
- capital works including building works
- permanent salaries/ wages (costs for temporary tutors/ instructors for your project or event can be included)
- permanent equipment purchases, e.g., tables and computers
- business as usual costs or general operating expenses
- retrospective costs
- events that encourage gambling such as bingo, or the consumption of alcohol
- activities which require participants to pay more than a nominal amount to attend. Any fee or cost should consider the resulting benefits for everyone, and their capacity to pay.
- fundraising events designed specifically for the purpose of fundraising for charities or for the organisation. This includes prizes, competitions and awards
- internal staff/ organisational development
- research
- projects and activities coordinated by NSW Government Departments and Statutory Authorities
Bega Valley Shire Council
Bomaderry Australian Football Club Incorporated (BFC)
Business Mudgee
C3 Victory Centre
Camden Council
CCA New South Wales Ltd
Children's Medical Research Institute
Coffs Harbour Older Women's Network
Cooma Pastoral and Agricultural Association - Cooma Show
Country Women's Association of NSW - Woy Woy branch
Cowra Information And Neighbourhood Centre Inc
Destructive Steps Dance Association
Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre Inc
Fairfield City Council
First Steps Count Inc
Forbes Business Chamber Inc
Hunter Community Legal Centre Inc
Kiama Municipal Council - Destination Kiama
Milparinka Heritage And Tourism Association Inc
Multicultural Council Of Wagga Wagga
Northern Rivers Women And Children's Services Inc
Orange Aboriginal Corporation Health Service
Ride Dungog
The Flagstaff Group Limited
For event details see NSW Women's Week events
Bega Valley Shire Library
Boambee East Community Centre
Jaanymili Bawrrungga Incorporated
Broken Hill City Council
Byron Youth Service
WILMA Women's Health Centre
Firstchance Inc.
Murrumbidgee Council
Coonamble Shire Council
Ride Dungog
Country Women's Association of NSW - Tamworth Evening Branch
Greater Hume Council
Home Grown Business
Central North Coast Agricultural Society Ltd
University of New South Wales
Leeton Shire Council
Early Links Inclusion Support Service
Narrabri Shire Council
The Social Outfit Incorporated
Islamic Women's Welfare Association
Tarcutta Valley Landcare Group
Ausrelief Limited
SEVENmile Ltd
Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre
Atholwood Country Women's Association
Wagga Aboriginal Women’s Group Incorporated
Illawarra Women's Health Centre
For event details see NSW Women's Week events
Tranby National Indigenous Adult Education & Training
Central West Women's Health Centre
Gunnedah Shire Council
Tamworth Family Support Service- New England Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service
CareWays Community
Sisters' Cancer Support Group Inc.
Riverina Community College
Young Change Agents Limited
Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre Inc.
YWCA Australia
Ethnic Community Services Cooperative
headspace Miranda
Braidwood & Villages Business Chamber
Country Women's Association of NSW - Tilba Branch
Snowy Monaro Regional Council
NSW Farmers' Association
Women's Housing Company
Central West Farming Systems Inc.
Coonamble Chamber of Commerce Inc
Forbes Shire Council
Lower Lachlan Community Services
Community Migrant Resource Centre
Cumberland Council
For event details see NSW Women's Week events
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
All applications should include:
- Proof of insurance - Grant recipients must maintain current and adequate insurance appropriate to the projects/activities funded under this grant to cover any liability of the grant recipient that might arise in connection with the performance of its obligations under a Grant Funding Agreement. This must include, but is not limited to a minimum of $10 million Public Liability Insurance.
- Inclusive and accessible event checklist - Accessible and inclusive events benefit everyone. All event organisers should strive to make their event inclusive and as accessible as possible, including to older people and people with disability. The NSW Government has developed the Toolkit for Accessible and Inclusive Events which aims to assist event organisers in creating an event that is accessible to all members of the community. The toolkit also provides a checklist of access solutions you could apply to your event.
Address the eligibility criteria
Please see Eligibility to ensure your organisation meets the eligibility criteria for this grant.
Address the assessment criteria
Tier 1 assessment criteria
Assessment criteria | criteria details |
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Relevant |
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Audience reach |
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Value for money |
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Viability |
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Tier 2 assessment criteria
Assessment criteria | Criteria details |
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Relevance |
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Organisational capacity | Applicants must demonstrate that your organisation has the appropriate skills and expertise to deliver a larger scale event, including prior experience delivering similar events at scale, project activities and outcomes. |
Partnerships and engagement |
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Value for money |
|
Start the application
All eligible organisations are invited to apply for a grant. Applications must be made online through the SmartyGrants online grant portal.
After the application is submitted
All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of the grant assessment process.
Key dates
Stage of the grant process |
Date |
---|---|
Grant program opens |
30 August 2023 |
Grant program closes |
9 October 2023 |
Applicants notified of the outcome in writing |
30 November 2023 |
Payment of grants to successful applicants |
December 2023 |
Women’s Week funded event or activity |
Monday 4 March to Sunday 10 March 2024 |
Project Report and Acquittal |
30 May 2024 |
Support and contact
Resources
The following resources are provided to applicants preparing an application for the 2023 Women’s Week Grant Program.
- program guidelines (DOCX 704.22KB)
- frequently asked questions (DOCX 77.16KB)
- toolkit for accessible and inclusive events (PDF 2.44MB)
If you have any questions about this grant please contact WNSWGrants@premiersdepartment.nsw.gov.au
For queries about the online grant management system, Smarty Grants, please contact the support team at:
- Email: service@smartygrants.com.au
- Phone: (03) 9320 6888
Available to help Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (Australian Eastern Standard time).