Under section 76(3) of the Estate Agents Act 1980 the Minister for Consumer Affairs may approve grants from the Victorian Property Fund (VPF). The Minister is not able to approve grants from the VPF other than for the purposes listed in section 76(3) which are as follows:

• community education, advice or information services regarding
  1. the sale, purchase, lease or transfer of interests in real estate or businesses
  2. the provision of finance or credit for the purpose of the sale, purchase or lease of real estate or businesses
  3. the provision of finance or credit for the acquisition of any right to reside on land
  4. subdivision bodies corporate
  5. retirement villages
  6. residential tenancy rights and any other rights to reside on land
  7. other consumer protection matters relating to interests in land
     
• programs that promote the ownership of real estate
• the training of estate agents and agents' representatives
• dispute resolution and advocacy services in relation to disputes involving
  1. the sale, purchase, lease or transfer of interests in real estate or businesses
  2. the provision of finance or credit for the purpose of sale, purchase or lease of real estate or businesses
  3. a resident, or proposed or former resident, of a retirement village regarding his or her residence right in that retirement village
  4. a subdivision body corporate or a member of a subdivision body corporate or an occupier of a lot arising in relation to the operation of subdivision bodies corporate
  5. the provision of estate agency services or subdivision body corporate management services
  6. other consumer protection matters relating to interests in land
     
• reviewing, reforming or researching the law and procedures or reviewing and researching the markets for real estate regarding
  1. the sale, purchase, lease or transfer of interests in real estate or businesses
  2. the provision of finance or credit for the purpose of sale, purchase or lease of real estate or businesses
  3. subdivision bodies corporate
  4. retirement villages
  5. other consumer protection matters relating to interests in land
     
• projects facilitating
  1. the registration of interests in land;
  2. the compilation of other information relating to the ownership or use of land
     
• projects providing or facilitating housing assistance for low income or disadvantaged Victorians
• projects regarding
  1. the development of environmentally sustainable housing
  2. the protection of Victoria's natural and architectural heritage

The Council:

• makes recommendations to the Minister concerning grants for funding from the Victorian Property Fund
• promotes the availability of grants
• considers objects for grants
• seeks and invites applications from eligible parties
• examines the guidelines governing the format and content of applications for grants and the procedure for monitoring their application
• determines whether guidelines and procedures are appropriate and adequate.

Grants from the Victorian Property Fund