Financial Counselling Funding Round 2024-25

The Victorian Government is undertaking a $15 million funding round to increase support for Victorians experiencing housing related financial challenges.

Funding will help address the high demand for financial counselling driven by cost-of-living pressures, increased rents, and natural disasters. The funding round will provide an immediate funding boost increasing the availability of financial counselling to Victorians.

Not-for-profit community service organisations with significant experience in delivering financial counselling and related services are invited to submit expressions of interest to deliver integrated and innovative responses to help people experiencing financial hardship due to mortgage or renting stress.

About the funding round

The funding round is a 2-stage process that includes:

• an expression of interest (EOI) process, where eligible respondents are invited to put forward proposals for initial assessment; and
• a formal grant application process, where respondents with shortlisted proposals are invited to formally apply for a grant.

For more information on funding round requirements and conditions, including how to submit a response to the EOI, see the following documents:

• Expressions of Interest (PDF, 421KB)
• Conditions of Participation (PDF, 245KB)
• Response and Certification form (Word, 122KB).

You should read and consider all the documents thoroughly before submitting a response.

How much funding is available?

$15 million has been reserved for grants over 3 years, commencing in the 2024-25 financial year.

Who should respond?

Incorporated not-for-profit community service organisations that have significant experience in the delivery of services to community members in relation to financial counselling, information and advice, advocacy services and/or community education, can respond to the EOI.

Responses should not be made by:

• for-profit organisations
• state or federal government departments or agencies
• local councils.

You can ask for further clarification before 16 August 2024 by email to vpf.grant.enquiries@justice.vic.gov.au with reference “(Your organisation’s name) – Clarification Request”.

Briefing session information

Respondents are encouraged to attend a briefing session to learn more about the funding round. In these sessions, we will outline program objectives and process information. We can also answer questions from prospective respondents. Briefing sessions will be conducted remotely at:

• 10 am, Tuesday 30 July
• 11 am, Monday 5 August

To register your attendance on either date, please register via the online form.

Key dates for the expression of interest stage

Grant application stage

After the expression of interest stage is completed, we will invite respondents whose proposals were shortlisted to apply for a grant.

All grant applications will be formally evaluated, with independent recommendations made to the Minister for Consumer Affairs by the Department of Government Services. The awarding of grants is at the sole discretion of the Minister.

The expected dates for the grant application stage are: