Community Benefit Fund: gambling amelioration grants

Introduction

This page has information about gambling amelioration grants in the Northern Territory (NT).

The community benefit fund (CBF) receives funds from a levy on electronic gaming machines in licensed hotels and casinos in the NT.

The CBF Gambling Amelioration Grants Program (the Program) provides funding to support the promotion of community awareness and education in respect of gambling harms.

Funding can also include counselling, rehabilitation and support services for at-risk individuals and their families.

Who can apply

Applicants must be an NT-based, non-profit community organisation incorporated under one of the following:

  • the Associations Act (NT)
  • the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth)
  • the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Commonwealth)
  • any other Act of Parliament.

Applicants must be compliant with all reporting requirements relevant to the Act the organisation is incorporated under.

If registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC), the organisation must be compliant with reporting obligations.

Who can't apply

You can't apply for the Program if you are:

  • an individual
  • an organisation licensed to operate electronic gaming machines
  • a body corporate or similar
  • a government or semi-government organisation like a hospital, library,  municipal or regional council
  • a public or private school - including primary, secondary and tertiary institutions
  • a school affiliate or auxiliary body like a school council
  • a research foundation or trust
  • an association that is not compliant with your reporting obligations under the Act under which you are incorporated or to ACNC if applicable.

You also can't apply if you have an outstanding acquittal from a previous CBF grant.

Projects you can apply for

If you wish to apply for the Program, your project should include services such as:

  • promoting community awareness and education about gambling harms
  • rehabilitation or support services to gamblers and their families who are experiencing gambling related harms.

You can't apply for:

  • substitute funding for operational or core business activities
  • commercial ventures, developments or outputs
  • experimental or pilot programs unless future funding is guaranteed
  • projects that have already started prior to applying for the grant.

What you need to know to apply

Eligible organisations can apply for the Program.

There are no defined limits on how much funding can be applied for or the number of applications that can be lodged.

You can apply for funding required to deliver the activity in your application.

The amount of funding awarded will be limited by the available funding at the time of assessment.

Application and submission

You can apply for funding once each financial year.

Applications must be lodged between the opening and closing dates of the round.

Key dates

  • 1 January - round opens for applications at 9.00am
  • 28 February - round closes at 11.59pm
  • 31 May - you will be notified of your application's outcome.

Before you apply

Your organisation must be registered to apply. Check if your organisation is registered by emailing cbf.ntg@nt.gov.au or calling 1300 650 153.

Applications submitted under a second registration for the same legal entity will not be eligible for funding.

How to apply

To apply for the grant, go to the GrantsNT.

Applications submitted after 11.59pm on 28 February will not be accepted.

Applications can be edited, progressed, and submitted or withdrawn at any time by using the save, submit or withdraw buttons.

Keep your organisation’s username and password safe to return to the application and, if successful, manage the grant.

By applying, you agree that you have read, understood and will follow the funding guidelines.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assed by the CBF team.

During this process, the CBF Secretariat will check the following:

  • your organisation's eligibility
  • if the required reporting obligations have been met
  • your organisation doesn't have any outstanding acquittals with the CBF or other NT Government grant programs.

The CBF Secretariat will also attach a history of funding summary for your organisation to your application.

The process will also ensure the application:

  • seeks funding for a permitted activity, purpose or project
  • aligns with the priorities set
  • has a clear plan and the proposed outcomes demonstrate the ability to minimise gambling harms
  • addresses a short fall in the current provision of gambling amelioration services
  • demonstrates a strong community development focus
  • demonstrates the capacity of the organisation to deliver the project including qualifications of key personnel
  • provides evidence of your organisations sound financial management
  • provides evidence of community support and involvement
  • has an accurately costed and viable budget including financial support from other sources.

Other NT Government agencies may also give input.

The Senior Director of Racing and Gaming considers all funding applications and makes recommendations to the Minister who will determine if an application will or will not be funded.

If your application is successful or unsuccessful

You will be notified on the result of your application.

Successful applications

If you are successful, you will receive an email letter of approval, and the approved status will appear in the GrantsNT portal.

You will be asked to sign a formal funding agreement to facilitate the payment of the grant.

You will have 12 months from the date of your letter to claim your funding and sign the agreement.

If you don't claim within 12 months, your funding will be forfeited and you will have to re-apply in future rounds.

Information about the grants awarded are also published in the relevant CBF Annual Report.

Grant funding conditions

The amount of funding for proposed projects is limited by the available budget.

Program funding can only be used to support the agreed gambling amelioration project.

If the project involves other funding support, it must be clearly demonstrated how the Program-funded components will be accounted for.

The recipient organisation has a right to any intellectual property (IP) developed as a result of the project. The NT Government has the right to use the IP without cost in furthering its objectives and purposes.

The NT Government reserves the right to conduct an independent evaluation of the project.

Unsuccessful applications

If your application is unsuccessful, you will receive an email from the CBF Secretariat, and an unsuccessful notification will appear in the GrantsNT portal.

There are no appeals under the Program. However, you can seek feedback to update your application and re-apply in a future round.

How to manage your grant

This page contains information on how to manage your gambling amelioration grant.

Program funding can only be used for the approved project, and in-line with the budget breakdown provided.

Any requested variation to the funding agreement must be submitted in writing to the CBF Secretariat (via the GrantsNT portal).

Variations will not be approved retrospectively.

Details of successful and unsuccessful grant applications may be published or used by the NT Government in any form and at any time.

These details may include:

  • name of applicant organisation
  • amount of funding
  • project details
  • any special approval conditions
  • reasons for approval or non-approval
  • photos.

The NT Government can contact the organisation for feedback on the project application experience.

Survey participation is voluntary and does not affect how applications are assessed or monitored.

Funding approval may be withdrawn at any time.

This may happen if there is a change in circumstances or your organisation or project is not financially viable.

The recipient organisation is expected to consult the CBF Secretariat for all media releases and publications related to the Program grant.

If an organisation receives duplicate funding from a different funding source after it has received a Program grant, the organisation is required to refund to the CBF any component of the grant that has been funded elsewhere.

Depending on the time required to complete your grant, you may be required to submit a written progress report to the CBF Secretariat.

You will receive the first payment within twenty business days of the grant funding agreement being fully executed.

For grants expected to be completed in 12 months or less, one payment will be made at the start of the grant.

Grants exceeding 12 months in length will receive annual payments. This payment is conditional on reporting requirements being met.

How to acquit your grant

Program grants must be acquitted in the time frame detailed in the funding agreement.

Grants must only be used for the purpose stated in your application and in-line with the budget breakdown provided in the application. Any changes must first be approved in writing.

The final acquittal must include:

  • a final project report, including a description on the project’s progress and the success of the final outcome highlighting the community benefit and achievements
  • key performance indicators nominated in your application
  • final financial report on total income and total expenditure, including any deviation.

The CBF Secretariat may request additional information to complete the acquittal process.

An annual independently audited income and expenditure statement specific to the grant funding is required.

The audited statement must be certified by a qualified accountant who is:

  • a registered company auditor or public accountant under NT law
  • a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia or the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants
  • not be an officer, employee or member of your organisation.

Your organisation should keep grant records for seven years. They must be available for audit at any time.

Any unspent grant funding of $100 or less is not required to be returned.

Unspent funding of more than $100 must be refunded to the CBF.

Unspent funding is to be refunded either by:

  • cheque payable to the Receiver of Territory Monies or
  • contacting the CBF Secretariat and requesting an invoice to be created that will allow for electronic payment.

Grant acquittals are incomplete until all money subject to the refund policy is received.

How to dispose of assets

If you used grant funding to buy all or part of an asset worth more than $10,000 when you bought it, you must get permission from the NT Government to dispose of it.

This only applies to assets purchased within five years from date of purchase, unless you have stated in your application how it is to be disposed of.

To get permission to dispose of an asset you need to send a request to community benefit fund (CBF) secretariat.

You should include in your request:

  • why you need to dispose of it
  • explain the benefit to your organisation and the community to dispose of this asset.

For further information, call 1300 650 153.

You can email your request to dispose of assets to cbf.ntg@nt.gov.au.

Contact

This page provides information on contact details for submitting an application for CBF grants.

In person

Department of Tourism and Hospitality
CBF Secretariat
Level 3 NAB House
71 Smith Street 
Darwin NT 0800

Post

GPO Box 1154
Darwin NT 0801

Phone or email

Freecall: 1300 650 153
cbf.ntg@nt.gov.au