16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence grants

Applications now open

Nillumbik Shire Council leads the wider community in supporting the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign each year.

This global initiative aims to galvanise individuals, communities and organisations to address gender inequalities and eradicate violence against women and girls around the world. The campaign begins each year on 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) and concludes on 10 December (International Human Rights Day).

Grants up to $750 are available to invest in community-led, primary prevention initiatives, projects or activities.

What is Primary Prevention?

A primary prevention approach works to change the underlying social conditions that produce and drive violence against women, and that excuse, justify or even promote it. It works across the whole population to address the attitudes, norms, practices, structures and power imbalances that drive violence against women (Change the Story, Our Watch, 2021).

When do projects need to be delivered?

Successfully funded projects must be delivered within the 2025-26 financial year, and may align with any of the following UN recognised international cause days:

• 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence -25 November 2025 to 10 December 2025
• International Day of Women and Girls in Science - 11 February 2026
• International Women’s Day - 8 March 2026

Alignment with other relevant cause days and campaigns will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

What can be funded

• Artist, consultant or provider fees
• Arts and cultural activities
• Community programs
• Consultant, provider or artist fees
• Environmental initiatives
• Events
• Indigenous cultural activities
• Initiatives to activate public spaces to create unique, dynamic and inclusive local places
• Investment in resources/materials (eg books)
• Virtual events

Successful projects will be promoted on Nillumbik Shire Council’s social media platforms.

What won't be funded

Applications will NOT be considered for:

• projects, events or activities being held outside the Nillumbik municipal boundary, or that won’t substantially benefit the Nillumbik community
• retrospective funding or projects which are not being run during the 16 Days campaign
• ongoing operational expenses or core business costs (eg salaries, administrative costs, maintenance costs, utility bills etc)
• duplication of existing projects, programs, initiatives or products currently funded by Council
• projects solely for fundraising purposes without broad community benefit
• competitions with no community component, prize money and awards
• projects or events with a political or religious purpose
• events that are fully ticketed with no free or heavily subsidised component
• single membership-based events that are not open to the public
• alcohol or gambling related activities
• applicants that are in debt to or have any outstanding commitments and/or acquittals with Nillumbik Shire Council.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for consideration, applicants MUST:

• be a not-for-profit incorporated organisation or community group that lives, works, studies, volunteers or plays in Nillumbik, or partnered with (auspiced by) an eligible organisation 
• hold a minimum of $20 million public liability insurance (if your activity will be held in a Council venue or on Council land, you may be eligible for coverage under Council’s community public liability insurance)
• have acquitted and be compliant with all Nillumbik grants previously awarded by Council
• deliver the project and spend funds by 30 June 2026.

Funding conditions

Successful applicants must agree to:

• keep Council informed of any changes to the proposed funded activity
• liaise with Council regarding their promotional material and use of the appropriate Nillumbik Shire Council logo
• obtain all relevant project and event related permits, approvals, and licenses from the relevant authorities prior to commencement
• return the full or remaining amount of grant monies to Council if the funded activity is cancelled or is less than budgeted
• submit an acquittal and evaluation to Council within two months of the funded activity’s completion or by 30 June 2026.

Acquittal and evaluation

This information enables Council to evaluate the achievements of funded activities, monitor the effectiveness of the grant program and ensure that we are meeting the needs of grant recipients and the community.

Recipients who have an outstanding acquittal for a grant, without an approved grant variation in place, may be ineligible for funding in future grant rounds until the outstanding acquittal is received.