Stream 4: Capacity Building support

About this grant stream

Capacity Building Support helps local groups, clubs, committees, volunteers and community organisations in TSRA Communities build the skills and confidence needed to deliver healthy community activities.

TSRA Communities means communities across the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) communities of Bamaga and Seisia.

This stream recognises that many communities have strong ideas, local leaders and committed volunteers, but may need practical support to, for example, plan projects, manage funding, meet reporting requirements, strengthen governance, or build the skills needed to deliver activities safely and successfully.

This stream may support practical training, mentoring, workshops or specialist support where the activity strengthens local capacity to plan, manage, deliver, report on or sustain healthy community activities. Support may be provided to individual groups, multiple groups working together, or across communities where there is a shared capacity-building need.

Key objectives

The key objectives of Capacity Building Support are to:

  • Strengthen the skills and confidence of local groups, clubs, committees, volunteers and organisations’

  • Support local people to plan, budget, deliver, report and acquit Healthy Communities activities

  • Build governance, financial literacy, risk management and project delivery capability

  • Support local training needs such as sports first aid training, coaching, refereeing or officiating

  • Help local groups prepare for future funding, service delivery or partnership opportunities

  • Increase local leadership and community control over health and wellbeing initiatives

Budget

The total annual allocation for Capacity Building Support is $50,000.

Funding may be used for workshops, mentoring or targeted local capacity building following documented consultation or a documented request from an eligible group or stakeholder.

Funding is subject to available funds, continued TSRA funding approval and the terms of the agreement between TSRA and GBK.

Discussion with GBK or identification of a capacity-building need does not guarantee that support will be funded.

Available support

When is support available?

Capacity Building Support is available throughout the year, subject to available funds and approval requirements. It does not operate through fixed opening and closing dates.

Groups or individuals may approach GBK at any time to discuss an identified capacity-building need. GBK may also identify capacity-building needs through local consultation, community visits, project monitoring, reporting, acquittals or discussions with local stakeholders.

Timing will depend on the nature of the identified need, availability of suitable providers, delivery logistics, community readiness and approval requirements. Requests or opportunities that would require delivery across financial years may not be supported and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Apply now!

Support amounts

Support amounts will depend on the identified need, number of participants or communities involved, availability of providers, delivery costs and demonstrated value for money.

We anticipate the following support types:

  • Small local support activity - practical support for one group or community, such as a short workshop, mentoring session, budgeting support or project planning assistance

  • Workshop or training activity - structured training or support for a group, club, committee, volunteers or community organisation.

  • Regional or multi-community support - support delivered across more than one community where there is a shared need and clear community benefit.

  • Specialist support - targeted upport from an appropriate trainer, facilitator, mentor or specialist provider.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements can be found on the Grant Guidelines page here.

Funding may be used for reasonable and necessary costs directly related to the approved activity. Here are some examples of what funding may be used for:

  • Grant writing and planning
    Grant writing support, project planning, budgeting support and simple project management tools

  • Governance and committees
    Committee training, governance awareness, meeting procedures, roles and responsibilities, and support to establish or strengthen local groups.

  • Financial and acquittal support
    Basic financial literacy, record keeping, invoice and receipt management, acquittal support and budgeting workshops

  • Risk, insurance and compliance
    Risk management awareness, insurance information, child safety awareness and basic compliance support

  • Sports and activity training
    Sports first aid, coaching, refereeing, officiating or volunteer training linked to healthy community activities

  • Monitoring and evaluation
    Simple outcome tracking, participation records, storytelling, reporting and evaluation support

  • Mentoring and follow-up
    One-on-one mentoring, community visits, follow-up support and practical assistance to complete projects

  • Facilitators and trainers
    Facilitator, trainer, presenter or specialist provider costs directly linked to the approved support

  • Venue and activity costs
    Venue hire, equipment hire, set-up costs and cleaning directly related to the approved support

  • Travel within TSRA Communities
    Reasonable travel costs directly linked to eligible local delivery or participation.

  • Resources and materials
    Training materials, printing, workbooks, basic equipment and resources needed for the approved activity.

Funding cannot be used for the following:

  • Retrospective costs -costs incurred before written approval or before the funding agreement is signed

  • Activities outside TSRA Communities - travel to outside-region carnivals, competitions or events

  • Private or commercial benefit- activities for private gain, commercial profit or personal business benefit

  • Debt or loans - repayment of debts, loans, fines or existing liabilities

  • Land or vehicles - purchase of land or vehicles, unless specifically approved as exceptional and essential

  • Ongoing operating costs - ongoing rent, utilities, insurance, administration or general operating expenses not directly tied to the activity

  • Ongoing wages - permanent wages or ongoing employment costs, unless specifically approved

  • Alcohol, tobacco or gambling - any activity associated with, or promoting, alcohol, tobacco or gambling products

  • Excessive catering - catering that is unreasonable or not directly connected to the activity

  • Prizes and personal benefits - prize money, cash payments, gift cards, personal gifts or personal benefits, unless specifically approved

  • Duplication - activities that duplicate existing funded services or programs

  • Government responsibility - activities that are the primary responsibility of another government agency

  • Unclear community benefit - projects that do not provide clear and direct benefit to TSRA Communities

How to Discuss an Idea with GBK

Capacity Building Support is accessed through a GBK-managed process, rather than a standard open grant round.

Local groups, organisations or community members may contact the GBK Healthy Communities Team at any time to discuss a capacity-building idea or support need. GBK will consider whether the idea is aligned with the Program, whether it responds to a demonstrated need, and whether it is practical to support within available funds.

Where GBK considers the proposed support may be suitable, GBK will provide a short application or request form. The form will help document the identified need, proposed support, intended participants, community benefit, budget and delivery approach. 

GBK may also directly identify, arrange or fund capacity-building support where a need is identified through local consultation, community engagement, project monitoring, reporting, acquittals or discussions with stakeholders.

Any discussion, feedback or support provided by GBK is intended to help applicants understand the Program and application requirements only. It does not constitute endorsement of the proposed activity, does not guarantee funding, and will not give the application preferential treatment during assessment.

For more information, please refer to our Program Guidelines and the factsheet for this stream.

Program Guidelines
Factsheet - Stream 4: Capacity Building Support