The COVID-19 MHWIGP will provide funding for innovative initiatives from community based mental health service providers, other Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), individuals, and community groups.
These grants give the community an opportunity to think innovatively and creatively to come up with projects that will support the mental health and wellbeing of people in the ACT during this unprecedented time. Successful applications will give focus to the new and emerging mental health and wellbeing needs of the community in relation to the impacts of COVID-19.
There is up to $350,000 in funding available between two grant streams. Each initiative funded through the MHWIGP will be delivered over a maximum of 12 months.
To be funded under these grants, projects will need to be able to contribute to the achievement of one or more of the following outcomes, in relation to the impacts of COVID-19:
- People in the ACT community are supported to maintain connection and overarching mental health and wellbeing through:
- Participating in recovery-focused activities that promote positive mental health and wellbeing.
- Building Resilience – promoting mental health and wellbeing literacy, help seeking behaviours, and resources for self-management (anxiety, depression) for the broader community.
- Protecting and promoting wellbeing and connection – for example, addressing loneliness through creativity.
- People in the ACT community can access mental health and wellbeing supports that meet their needs, including:
- Programs that contribute to recovery and reconnection as Canberrans adjust to the evolving COVID-19 situation, including initiatives that support the community as it begins to rebuild from the impacts of the pandemic.
- Addressing mental health and wellbeing needs of people who have suffered unemployment and economic hardship as a result of COVID-19.
- Supporting and enabling management of medium to longer term mental health implications of continued financial hardship, uncertainty over the personal and family impact of COVID-19; and increased time and support needed to process loss and grief over the death of loved ones, family conflict, changed family relationships, loss of education, income and status.
Funding Guidelines
Please take the time to read and familiarise yourself with the funding guidelines for these grants. This document contains important information that is relevant to your application. Any application that does not comply with the guidelines may be deemed ineligible.
ACT Mental Health and Wellbeing Innovation Grants Program - Funding Guidelines
Applications close on Friday 17 July at 12 noon.
Applications can be made online via the SmartyGrants online grants management system.
Funding Streams
Organisational Grants (grants valued between $10,000 and $75,000)
These grants can be used to meet new or emerging need for mental health support either resulting from, or heightened by, the COVID-19 pandemic. Programs that are innovative, creative and support the recovery, resilience and improvement in the mental health and wellbeing of Canberrans are welcomed.
Applications are open to not-for-profit incorporated organisations; ACT Government, Independent, Catholic systemic or Catholic non-Systemic schools; and accredited early childhood service or out of hours school programs.
These grants are for small scale activities that will directly support neighbourhoods, local communities, cultural and identity groups, LGBTIQ+ Canberrans and shared interest groups to improve our resilience and recovery in Canberra.
Applications are open to individuals; community groups and local networks; not-for-profit incorporated organisations; not-for-profit organisations with other legal status; ACT Government, Independent, Catholic systemic or Catholic non-Systemic schools; accredited early childhood service or out of hours school programs.
Contact Details
For further information please email MHWIG@act.gov.au.
