Leading Healthy Communities Grants

Think about all of the costs involved with delivering your project and list them using the budgeting template in the supporting files for this grant round.

For each project cost, make an informed guess of the amount by getting quotes or researching online. 

When working out how much you’ll need, also consider the money you already have to run the program as well as voluntary contributions such as people’s time and equipment. 

Please refer to the guidelines to note what can be funded and what cannot be funded. 

The amount of funding you request in your application is exclusive of GST. When VicHealth processes your application, your ABN will be checked to confirm that your organisation is registered for GST. 

GST will be paid to organisations that are registered to receive it.  When completing your budget, we recommend that you account for the entire cost of proposed budget items, to ensure you are not under budget if you are funded.

Applicants will need to submit a budget using the budget template in the supporting file pack for this grant round, for funding up to $50,000 per project.

All funded initiatives must be delivered before June 2025. 

We are committed to ensuring our activities align with our objectives and statutory obligations under the Tobacco Act 1987 to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorian families and communities.

During all of our application processes, we ask all applicants to declare their relationships with ‘unhealthy’ or ‘harmful’ industries. These are brands, companies or organisations who profit from products that are harmful to health and wellbeing including tobacco, gambling, alcohol, unhealthy food and sugary drinks.

You will be required to complete a harmful industry relationship declaration via the VicHealth Stakeholder Portal. If you want to learn more you can visit our webpage here.

Harmful industry relationship funding and procurement policy

VicHealth is committed to ensuring our activities align with our objectives and statutory obligations under the Tobacco Act 1987 to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorian families...

VicHealth staff will score, and shortlist applications based on how the project meets the assessment criteria.

An Advisory Panel (including VicHealth staff and expert partners) will consider the shortlisted applications and make recommendations for funding to the VicHealth CEO.

Funding recommendations made by the Advisory Panel will be subject to VicHealth CEO approval.

Here’s some handy hints to help:

• Log into our Stakeholder Portal
• Click on the Current Opportunities tab from the Home Page
• Go to funding opportunities
• On the right you will see the opportunities that are open – select relevant grant round
• Then click on the down arrow, and then select Apply Now

You’ll need to use one of the following Internet browsers to access the Portal: Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Internet Explorer is not recommended.

We have more information including what to do if you get stuck on this help page.

If you are still having trouble, please contact our team at [email protected]

How to apply for and manage a grant

Learn about applying for and managing a VicHealth grant or funding opportunity with these useful resources. All VicHealth funding and partnership applications are made through our...

Open funding opportunities will be listed under the current opportunities page.

Help tips

• Our Portal works best with Google Chrome, so try using Google Chrome or Firefox
• We do not recommend using Internet Explorer or Safari

Check if your browser view is zoomed in. It may be that your browser view is cutting off the screen. E.g. you may need to scroll across to the right-hand side or zoom out to see the apply now arrow.

Mistakes happen, so get in touch with team if you’ve already submitted an application and noticed a mistake – having your application reference number handy would be super useful.

We always recommend getting in touch instead of submitting a new application, as this can create duplicate records.

If you have any last-minute requests or change, make sure you get in touch before the closing date. We will not be able to make any changes after application submissions close. 

If your application is still in draft, you can edit it via the My Applications tab in the Portal before submitting.

Yes, our online application form will allow you to save and resume your application later, when you need to.

Tip! 

We’re unable to accept applications that are incomplete - so don't forget to go back and submit.

Yes, in fact we highly recommend submitting your application early!

Our application form will automatically close on the relevant closing date and time, and you must hit ‘submit’ before this time to ensure your application is sent to VicHealth for assessment. 

Late applications will not be accepted.

No, we will only accept one application per organisation.

Yes, provided there are no outstanding contractual requirements attached to existing or previous VicHealth funding. If you are unsure, please email [email protected] with your organisation name.

Due to the high volume of enquiries, and in fairness to all, we cannot provide individual feedback on the quality or strength of your idea. We can clarify the intention of the grant round and the outcomes it is trying to achieve.

If you need help, you can get in touch via a few ways:

• submit your question via our Stakeholder Portal
• Email us at [email protected] 

If you need translation in other languages, you can let us know by:

• Calling TIS National on 131 450 and asking them to call VicHealth on 
  (03) 9667 1333. This is a free service.
• Calling us using your preferred interpreter on (03) 9667 1333
• Emailing us at [email protected]

If you need help for hearing or speech difficulties, you can let us know by:

• Calling VicHealth through the National Relay Service (NRS).

For more information, visit the NRS website to choose your preferred access point or call the NRS Helpdesk on 1800 555 660. This is a free service. Help desk business hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).