COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING GRANTS PROGRAM APPLICANT GUIDELINES Introduction Applications are invited from relevant community, local government and non-government organisations for funding under the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Program to plan, deliver and/or participate in activities that contribute to strengthened community mental health and wellbeing. Background The Queensland Government publicly released the Queensland Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Strategic Plan 2014-2019 on 9 October 2014. The strategic plan sets the shared vision for Queensland as: A healthy and inclusive community where people living with mental health difficulties or issues related to substance use have a life with purpose and access to quality care and support focused on wellness and recovery in an understanding, empathic and compassionate society. It supports the broader Queensland Plan goals that people are physically and mentally healthy and are connected to their communities. The strategic plan includes eight Shared Commitments to Action including actions to improve awareness, prevention and early intervention to reduce the incidence, severity and impact of mental illness and substance use disorders. This Shared Commitment to Action seeks to achieve:
More people across Queensland and within key groups with good mental health and wellbeing
Fewer people living with mental health difficulties or issues related to substance use being subjected to stigma and discrimination
People receiving the right type of support, as early as possible, to start well, develop well, work well, live well and age well
Reduced risks of people living with mental illness being subject to harm or harming themselves.
Achieving this will require commitment and action from multiple sectors. The Commission supports well focused local government, non-government and community led actions that align with the strategic plan’s Shared Commitments to Action to promote community engagement, ownership and sustainability. The Commission is implementing a Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Program (the Grants Program) to facilitate and support communities through non-government organisations and local governments to build community capacity and undertake actions to support raising awareness of mental health and substance use issues and prevention and early intervention. Purpose Mental health is widely accepted as meaning much more that the absence of illness. Mental health is the foundation of healthy and productive communities and economies. Factors that influence and constitute mental health and wellbeing include:
Supportive relationships and a sense of connection with others Being involved in meaningful, engaging activities and roles that increase feelings of competency, confidence and self-worth Having a sense of control and self-determination
Possessing a stock of inner resources to help cope when things go wrong and be resilient to changes beyond immediate control.
Communities play a vital role in promoting and strengthening mental health and wellbeing. This includes contributing to inclusive and supportive environments that foster participation and connectedness. The Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Program aims to support implementation of the strategic plan within communities by providing funding for locally-led initiatives that: increase community and individual connectedness raise community awareness of mental illness and substance use disorders, and build community capacity for improving mental health and wellbeing. PROGRAM OUTLINE How much and what can be apply for? Funding under the Grants Program will be allocated through three initiatives. 1. Community Wellbeing Enhancement Initiative - grants of up to $50,000 for community activities/projects (total budget of up to $350,000). 2. Community Awareness Initiative - grants of up to $15,000 to support mental health literacy training delivered in the community (total budget of up to $120,000). 3. Capacity Building for Community Wellbeing - grants to support people to attend ‘Wheel-ofWellbeing’ training delivered by Tony Coggins from Maudsley International. The training will be delivered on 18 November 2014 in Brisbane.
People from across Queensland are eligible to apply to attend training. Those living outside of South East Queensland are able to seek reimbursement of reasonable travel and accommodation costs.
More information regarding the Wheel of Wellbeing Training is available at http://www.wheelofwellbeing.org/
A more detailed description of the three initiatives including proposed funding allocations, criteria and processes is provided in Attachment 1. It should be noted that preference will be given to funding proposals that demonstrate:
capacity and willingness to implement multiple elements as linked initiatives, and/or
capacity to integrate with existing community/agency plans and processes.
Who is eligible to apply? Queensland local government and non-government not-for-profit organisations are eligible to apply for funding under the Grants Program. State Government and Australian Government agencies are not eligible to receive funding under the Grants Program. Organisations already receiving State or Australian Government funding must declare that funding and demonstrate how their proposal differs from what they are currently funded to deliver. The organisation seeking a grant must comply with minimum conditions required by the Commission outlined at Attachment 2. State and Federal Government agencies are not eligible for the grants. Applications will also be deemed ineligible if: the application is provided after the closing date (postmarked), the application is incomplete, or any funded component refers to work undertaken prior to the closing date.
What are application submission key dates? Program for all three initiatives is open for application submission from 8.00am 17 October 2014. Program closes: 1. Community Wellbeing Enhancement Initiative – 21 November 2014 2. Community Awareness Initiative – 21 November 2014 3. Capacity Building for Community Wellbeing – 6 November 2014 How will applications be assessed? Step 1: The Commission will initially assess your application to ensure eligibility Step 2: An Assessment Panel (represented by the Commission and the Queensland Mental Health Drug Advisory Council) will: assess your application against the assessment criteria assigned the relevant grant program initiative (see attachment1) and rank your application against other applications, and moderate assessment outcomes with consideration of: available funding; balance across geographic spread, target groups and priorities under the Queensland Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Strategic Plan 2014-2019. Step 3: The Commission will then decide on and approve successful applications. What are the assessment criteria? The assessment criteria for each of the three grant program initiatives are detailed at Attachment 1. Your application should include a response that addresses each of these. Applications will also be assessed having regard to whether funding sought is reasonable for the activity or initiative proposed. Submitting your application Application forms for each of the initiatives are located at http://www.qmhc.qld.gov.au/work/promotionawareness/grants-program/ Initiative 1 – Community Wellbeing Enhancement Initiative Initiative 2 – Community Awareness Initiative Initiative 3 – Capacity Building for Community Wellbeing Initiative Options for submitting your application are: To apply online: Online applications will be available on Queensland Mental Health Commission website (www.qmhc.qld.gov.au ) from 17 October 2014, or Provide a USB device (memory stick):
by mail to Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Program Queensland Mental Health Commission PO Box 13027 Brisbane QLD 4003
containing: - a completed Grant Program Fund application form - scanned signed copy of Section 5 – Certification - relevant documents including all attachments and support material (as listed in Section 4 of application form).
Note that your envelope must be postmarked no later than the closing date and that your USB will not be returned. Email applications: To
[email protected] noting that:
a size restriction of less than 10MB and that all the information detailed on the USB option outlined above is to be included.
using this option would require formal receipt confirmation. Please note that you are to ensure your electronic copy is readable on commonly available software. Notification of outcomes Organisations will be notified of the outcomes of their grants application as follows: 1. Community Wellbeing Enhancement Initiative – mid-December 2014 2. Community Awareness Initiative – mid-December 2014 3. Capacity Building for Community Wellbeing – 13 November 2014 What are the acquittal and reporting requirements for successful applicants? Recipients of funding for the Community Wellbeing Enhancement and Community Awareness Initiatives will be required to submit a short post activity final report to the Commission. The final report will include a financial statement to the Commission outlining the benefits of the funded activity/project/training and whether it has achieved its objective/s. The report will be required within 20 working days of completion of the funded project or activity. Individuals attending the training provided through the Capacity Building for Community Wellbeing initiative will be required to complete an evaluation form at the completion of the training. The reports and the training evaluation forms will be collated and analysed by the Commission to determine outcome value and future grant program activities. It is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the reporting requirements before you submit your application, so you understand the obligations which come with the Commission’s funding program. The report templates are available on the Commission’s website at www.qmhc.qld.gov.au Contact us Further information about the grants program, including copies of the guidelines and application forms, can be obtained by: Downloading from www.qmhc.qld.gov.au Emailing
[email protected]
ATTACHMENT 1 – INITIATIVE DESCRIPTION AND SELECTION CRITERIA 1. COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE Proposal Objectives value Equal to or Facilitate the less than engagement of key $50,000 community members in relevant wellbeing enhancement activities. Increase awareness of the relevance and benefit of community wellbeing to their goals and activities. Contribute to increased community inclusion for people experiencing mental health difficulties and substance use issues. Foster the establishment of community wellbeing partnerships.
Description
Assessment criteria
Proposed activities and projects should:
Initiative appropriateness/suitability
Target group reach/coverage
How need for the event/activity was identified
Level of cross sector collaboration and support
Alignment with the Queensland Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Strategic Plan 2014-2019
Alignment/links with the work of other organisations within the community
Promote community inclusion/participation/ connectedness of community members who are at risk of marginalisation Adopt a collaborative/cross sector approach
People at risk of marginalisation can include for example:
people living with mental illness or substance use problems
people with disability
Short, medium and long-term benefits of the initiative
lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender or intersex people
people from culturally linguistically diverse backgrounds
Experience of those delivering the project/activity and capacity to deliver the project or activity
Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders
There would be no duplication of an existing activity
young people
elderly people
unemployed people
A state or commonwealth agency does not have responsibility for the activity/project and or funding does not already exist for the activity/project
Priority will be given to initiatives that address the needs of individuals and groups experiencing multiple and complex risk factors and/or displaying signs of mental or substance use difficulties.
Proposals are also to demonstrate that:
2. COMMUNITY AWARENESS INITIATIVE Proposal value Equal to or less than $15,000
Objectives Increase community awareness and improve understanding of mental illness and substance use problems.
Description Proposals that seek to deliver recognised mental health awareness and or drug and alcohol awareness training, for example Mental Health First Aid.
Assessment criteria
Training suitability/appropriateness
Training delivery capability and expertise
Target audience in terms of numbers and proportion of the audience who come from a group known to be at risk of mental health difficulties and alcohol and drug problems
Likely outcomes to be achieved
Proposals are also to demonstrate that:
There would be no duplication of an existing activity
A state or commonwealth agency does not have responsibility for the activity/project and or funding does not already exist for the activity/project
3. CAPACITY BUILDING FOR COMMUNITY WELLBEING INITIATIVE Proposal value N/A
Objectives
Description
To increase social inclusion, and community connectedness by raising awareness and building capacity.
Enable community members to attend a one day ‘Wheel-of-Wellbeing’ training in Brisbane on 18 November 2014.
Relevance of the training to the organisation and the attendee’s role
The training will support achieving both organisation’s goals
Up to 30 people will be able to attend the training.
Funding will be provided to reimburse reasonable travel and accommodation costs (not including meal allowance) of people living outside of the Brisbane City Council, Logan City Council, Ipswich City Council, Redlands City Council, Sunshine Coast City Council and Gold Coast City Council areas.
The training will support the organisation to increase social inclusion and community connectedness for people experiencing mental health difficulties and substance use problems
Organisational approach to ensuring the training will lead to capacity building within the organisation and the community
Willingness to engage in future training
Anticipated cost of travel and accommodation
Increase knowledge and skills of a framework for planning and delivering mental health and wellbeing activities among key community members with formal/ongoing roles within community
Reasonable costs will be considered in accordance with the Queensland Government Domestic Travelling and Relieving Expenses Directive 9/11 and other related directives:
Up to $200 for accommodation in Brisbane overnight
Cost of an economy class intrastate airfare
Reasonable fuel and taxi costs.
Assessment
.
ATTACHMENT 2 - MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The applicant is an organisation that is an incorporated company or statutory body. The applicant does not accept any form of funding from tobacco, alcohol or drug companies or their related foundations either directly or indirectly. The applicant has public liability insurance for the duration of an event (if applicable). The applicant is not involved in activities, which are likely to adversely affect the content or interpretation of programs or services in the health sector and specifically for those areas of the Commission responsibility and/or influence. The application is not for capital works, major equipment, fundraising or purchase of infrastructure or costs associated with running an organisation. The application does not involve the advancement or promotion of a religion or religious outlook for the recruitment of people to a religion. The application does not involve advancement or promotion of a political organisation, or a political view of the legislative role of the government. The activity/project does not duplicate or compete with known existing government and/or non-government support or partnership projects. The grant funding provided will not go to a third party through a grant or support or partnership that is not included in the agreement with the Commission.
