CFAs: Gambling Harm Prevention and Mitigation Fund Community Grants Program (Australia)

Deadline: 30-Jun-2027

The Gambling Harm Prevention and Mitigation Fund Community Grants Program provides funding for community-led activities that prevent and reduce gambling harm for the benefit of residents of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Established by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission, the program takes a public health approach to gambling harm prevention. It supports initiatives designed to prevent gambling harm before it occurs, reduce its impact, or delay its onset through collaboration among community groups, research organisations, industry, government, and individuals. Eligible projects can receive up to $10,000 per project, excluding GST, for activities delivered over a period of up to 12 months. The program has a total funding pool of up to $50,000 per year.

About the Gambling Harm Prevention and Mitigation Fund

The Gambling Harm Prevention and Mitigation Fund was established to address the significant social and individual harms associated with gambling in the Australian Capital Territory. Rather than focusing only on responses after gambling harm has occurred, the program adopts a public health approach that aims to prevent harm, reduce risks, and delay the onset of gambling-related harm. The program recognises the importance of a multi-sectoral response involving: - Community groups. - Research organisations. - Industry. - Individuals. - Other relevant sectors involved in gambling harm prevention. How Much Funding Is Available?

The Community Grants Program provides:

- Up to $10,000 per project, GST exclusive. - Projects delivered over a period of up to 12 months. - A total annual funding pool of up to $50,000. Applicants should ensure that their proposed activities can be realistically delivered within the 12-month funding period. What Does the Program Support? The program supports community-led activities that align with the scope of the Gambling Harm Prevention and Mitigation Fund and at least one of the Commission’s strategic objectives. Projects should contribute to preventing or reducing gambling harm among ACT residents. Potential areas of focus include activities that: - Prevent gambling harm before it occurs. - Reduce or delay the onset of gambling harm. - Increase community understanding of gambling harm. - Support safer gambling environments. - Improve access to effective services. - Strengthen evidence for future prevention strategies. - Contribute to government policy approaches that prevent and reduce gambling harm. Key Strategic Objectives Applicants must align their proposed activities with at least one of the relevant strategic objectives of the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission.

These objectives include:

Preventing and Reducing Gambling Harm Through Policy Projects can contribute to better approaches and government policy that prevent and reduce gambling harm. Increasing Understanding of Gambling Harm Activities can help individuals and communities better understand gambling harm, its risks, and its potential impacts. Providing Accessible and Effective Services The program supports the objective of ensuring that people can access appropriate and effective services related to gambling harm. Creating Safer Gambling Environments Projects can contribute to approaches that make gambling environments safer and reduce opportunities for gambling-related harm. Building the Evidence Base Activities may help strengthen evidence and knowledge that can inform future gambling harm prevention strategies. Who Can Apply? Applicants must meet specific organisational and legal requirements to be eligible for funding.

Eligible applicants must:

- Be an incorporated legal entity, or be auspiced by an incorporated legal entity. - Have an Australian Business Number (ABN). - Be registered for GST where applicable. - Hold at least $10 million in public liability insurance. - Be willing to enter into a Deed of Grant. - Have no overdue acquittal reports for grants administered by the Commission. Applicants must also ensure that they do not fall into the categories excluded by the program. Who Is Not Eligible? The program does not accept applications from: - Family Trusts. - Registered political parties. Applicants with overdue acquittal reports for grants administered by the Commission are also not eligible until those reporting requirements have been addressed. Project Duration and Delivery Successful projects must be delivered within a 12-month period. Applicants should therefore develop a realistic project plan that explains: - The activities to be delivered. - The intended community beneficiaries. - How the project will prevent or reduce gambling harm. - How the activities align with at least one strategic objective. - How the project can be completed within 12 months. - How the available funding will be used. Important Applicant Requirements Before applying, organisations should ensure that they have the required legal and administrative arrangements in place.

These include:

- An incorporated legal entity or eligible auspice arrangement. - An Australian Business Number. - GST registration where applicable. - Minimum $10 million public liability insurance. - Capacity to enter into a Deed of Grant. - No overdue Commission grant acquittals. Meeting these requirements is an important part of establishing applicant eligibility. How to Prepare a Strong Application A strong application should clearly connect the proposed community activity with gambling harm prevention or mitigation.

Applicants should explain:

- What gambling harm issue the project seeks to address. - Why the issue is relevant to ACT residents. - How the proposed activity will prevent or reduce harm. - Which strategic objective or objectives the project supports. - Who will benefit from the activity. - How the community will be involved. - What will be delivered during the 12-month period. - How the requested funding will support delivery. The proposal should demonstrate a clear connection between the