You will need to address the following three assessment criteria in your application. Your application will be assessed based on the weighting given to each criterion detailed below:

• Criterion 1: 40%
• Criterion 2: 40%
• Criterion 3: 20%

There is a word limit of 750 words for each of the criteria.

Criterion 1:

Demonstrate your understanding of the need for support within the target Afghan cohort.

Your response should:

• Outline the characteristics and needs of your target group/community, including numbers of people in need of support
• Address gaps in supports within the target group/community
• Demonstrate how delivery of the support will benefit the target group/community

*Target Groups

The grants program will provide funding to Afghan-Australian and other community and grassroot organisations to support newly arrived Afghan refugees, humanitarian entrants and other vulnerable migrants. Activties are to be conducted primarily in locations where recent arrivals are settling.

*What are the desired outcomes of the grant program?

• Community organisations are better able to link new Afghan arrivals to the Afghan community
• Community organisations are able to demonstrate sound governance and organisational structures
• Community organisations have strong leaders, including women leaders, who are able to advocate for their community
• Community organisations are able to link and refer community members into other organisations that provide settlement and integration support
• Refugees and humanitarian entrants participate socially within the Afghan-Australian and broader community
• Refugees and humanitarian entrants have a sense of belonging within the Afghan-Australian and broader community.

Criterion 2:

Describe your proposed activity and how it will achieve positive outcomes for the target cohort.

Your response should address:

• The activities that you propose to deliver.
• How your organisation will engage with the target group/community and relevant stakeholders.
• What outcomes you expect to achieve for the target group/community.

*What the projects should aim to achieve

• Support Afghan people who have recently been evacuated to develop self-reliance and self-efficacy, and participate actively and equitably in Australian society.
• Afghan-Australian and other community and grassroot organisations are better able to support recent Afghan arrivals.

*What are the priority areas of focus for the projects

• Young people from among recent Afghan arrivals
• Women from among recent Afghan arrivals
• Economic participation of recent Afghan arrivals

Activities are to be conducted in locations where recent arrivals are settling.

*What the funding can be used for:

• Staff salaries and on-costs that can be directly attributed to the delivery of the grant activity.
• Grant activities expenditure consistent with the grant agreement.
• Operating and administrative expenses related to the delivery of the grant activities.

*What the funding cannot be used for:

• Purchase of land
• Major capital expenditure
• Overseas travel
• Overseas activities
• Services that duplicate those delivered by the Humanitarian Settlement Program or other settlement or mainstream services.

Criterion 3:

Demonstrate your organisation’s capability to achieve objectives for the target cohort and successfully deliver the activity on time and within budget.

Your response should:

• Outline your organisations relationship with the target group/community
• Describe your organisation’s approach to engaging with the target group/community and delivering support to address particular needs
• Your organisation’s ability to develop and deliver grant activities.

In addition to addressing the assessment criteria, applicants must also submit an estimated budget proposal outlining a high-level breakdown of the costs associated with the proposed activity.

More than one application can be submitted per organisation in any given grant round.

First, MCA will assess all applications against the organisational eligibility criteria and proposed grant activities eligibility. Eligible applications will progress to the next stage and will be considered through an open competitive grant process.

An independent assessment panel will be convened to consider the applications.

After eligibility has been established, each eligible application will be considered on its merits, based on:

• How well it meets the criteria
• How it compares to other applications
• Whether it provides value for money.

Consideration will be given to:

• Overall objectives of the grant program
• Ensuring that the proposed activities will be delivered in locations where Afghan evacuees are residing
• How the activity will be delivered
• How well the proposal addresses the target groups.

Dr Bulent Hass Dellal OAM – Executive Director, Australian Multicultural Foundation.

Kerrin Benson AM – Immigration Ministers advisory council PAMSAC and Board member for Welcoming Australia and QPASTT.

Nyadol Nyuon OAM – Director, Sir Zelman Cowen Centre, and Chair, Harmony Alliance.

Peter Hughes PSM – previous Deputy Secretary of Department of Immigration and Citizenship with more than 30 years experience in the public service.

Dr Vijay Roach – Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Immediate Past President RANZCOG, Chair Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership, Chair Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges.

Please consult the Grant Program Guidelines for detailed information about the grant eligibility criteria, the selection process, and eligible grant activities.

You can download the Grant Program Guidelines here.

Can a for profit organisation apply?

As long as the organisation is one of the below types of organisations, they are eligible to apply:

• Cooperative
• Incorporated association
• Partnership
• Trustee on behalf of a trust
• Indigenous corporation
• Company
• Local Government

Can a public school apply for the grants?

If your school is a non-corporate state or territory entity you are not eligible to apply for the Afghan-Australian Community and Settlement Support Grants.

Are the grants only for recent arrivals from Afghanistan, or those who have arrived prior to August 2021?

The Afghan-Australian Community and Settlement Support grants support recently arrived and those coming in the future from Afghanistan. Also, if there are others in the community who are requiring additional support in view of this crisis, they can be included as recipients of the programs delivered under this funding.

Do I need to provide a budget breakdown?

For AACASS applications only a high level budget needs to be given, demonstrating the amounts required in the areas of:

• Staffing
• Administration
• Project costs
• Other costs

When will round 2 close?

AACASS grant round 2 will close at midnight on Friday 6th May, 2022.

When will I hear the outcome of my application?

Migration Council Australia will send an email to the two contacts listed in your application form by the end of June 2022 with an outcome on your application for round 2 of the AACASS grants.

If I have further questions or concerns, who can I contact?

If you have further questions, please send an email to: grants@migrationcouncil.org.au

Is there a list of the Round 1 successful applicants and their programs to see what is already being funded?

You can find the programs funded through Round 1 of the grants at this tab on our website.

If I am successful in the grant, when will I receive the first funding payment?

If you are successful with your application, you will be required to sign an agreement between your organisation and Migration Council Australia. Once this agreement has been executed, you will be asked to send an invoice for the first payment. When Migration Council Australia has received this invoice it will be paid within four weeks.