International Day of People with Disability Grants

Applications now open

Grants up to $1,000 are available to celebrate International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), which is held on 3 December each year to recognise the contributions and achievements of people with disabilities, both visible and invisible.  

IDPwD grant funded activities can be held any time between November 2026 and March 2027.

Visit the IDPwD website to download event planning kits, which include ideas for events and activities, as well as posters and other resources for your celebration.

What can be funded

Events and activities that:

• celebrate and promote disability inclusion in Nillumbik
• demonstrate inclusive, creative and innovative activities which broaden community awareness and participation for people with disability
• showcase the skills, abilities, contributions and achievements of people with a disability
• engage people with a disability to celebrate and raise awareness of IDPwD
• are within a reasonable price range (free or up to a maximum of $10 per person).

What won't be funded

Applications will NOT be considered for:

• projects, events or activities that:
  • are being held outside the Nillumbik municipal boundary, or that won’t substantially benefit the Nillumbik community
  • are fully ticketed with no free or heavily subsidised component
  • are curriculum based or entirely student, club or congregation focused
  • are solely for fundraising purposes without broad community benefit
  • purely promotes a business
  • have received full funding from another source
  • have a political or religious purpose
• ongoing operational expenses or core business costs without a clearly identified need (e.g. salaries, administrative costs, maintenance costs, supplies, uniforms, utility bills, etc)
• funding sought by sporting clubs for competition games, uniforms, equipment or other infrastructure necessary to support their primary activities
• competitions, prize money, awards or gifts
• alcohol or gambling related activities
• retrospective funding for projects that are due to commence prior to the notification of the application outcome
• applicants that are in debt to or have any outstanding commitments and/or acquittals with Nillumbik Shire Council.

Eligibility

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
  • unincorporated organisations and groups can apply if partnered with (auspiced by) an eligible not-for-profit incorporated organisation
• hold a minimum of $20 million in public liability insurance, or 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
• activities or events on Council land may require an event permit (for more information see Planning an event in Nillumbik)
• have acquitted and be compliant with all Nillumbik grants previously awarded by Council
• projects must be undertaken between November 2026 and March 2027

If you do not hold current public liability insurance:

• Applications may be submitted without current public liability insurance on the condition that it is purchased and a Certificate of Currency is provided once the grant is successful.
• You may apply through an auspice organisation if your group does not wish to purchase insurance.
• Or you may be eligible for coverage under Council’s community public liability insurance if your activity is entirely held in a Council venue.
• Events and activities are to be held in Nillumbik between November 2026 and March 2027. 

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 licences from the relevant authorities prior to commencement
• return the full or remaining amount of the grant to Council if the funded activity is cancelled or is less than budgeted
• submit an acquittal and evaluation to Council by 30 June 2027.

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 completed.