The Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund (the Fund) was established in 2019 to provide funding for activities and initiatives that seek to achieve the following purposes:
(a) assisting clubs to diversify their income to sources other than gaming machines;
(b) supporting the sustainability of clubs;
(c) contributing to projects that help reduce regulatory costs or improve efficiency in administration and compliance for clubs; and
(d) training and skills development for club workers, executives and members of club management committees and boards.
Applications will be considered by the Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund Advisory Board (the Advisory Board), which will make recommendations to the Minister for Gaming on payments from the Fund.
Applicants
Applications will be accepted from entities that can demonstrate that the funding sought will be applied towards meeting one or more of the Fund purposes (see above).
For example, applications may be accepted from:
-
ACT clubs and club groups who operate gaming machines under a Class C licence;
-
ACT club industry peak body representatives or representative groups;
-
trade unions representing ACT club workers;
-
Australian state and territory Government organisations; and
-
club workers, executives and members of club management committees and boards.
Who is not eligible to apply?
Applications will not be accepted from:
- individual club venues within a club group (as defined under the Gaming Machine Act 2004); and
- ACT clubs and club groups who have not operated gaming machines under a Class C licence within five (5) years of the date on which they submit their application.
Applications for Funding
Applications can be made under two separate categories:
Tier 1 – Funding up to $25,000
Tier 1 is open to small or medium clubs and small or medium club groups only.
Tier 1 is open all year. Applications made under Tier 1 will be considered by the Advisory Board on an ongoing basis.
Tier 1 applications must meet all of the following criteria:
- the applicant must be a small or medium club or a small or medium club group; and
- the application must be consistent with the Fund purposes (see above); and
- the application must represent value for money.
When considering applications that meet these criteria, the Advisory Board may take into account whether the applicant has previously received payment(s) from the Fund within the same financial year.
Tier 2 – Funding up to $250,000
Tier 2 is open to any club or other entity that can demonstrate that the funding sought will be applied towards meeting the Fund purposes. This includes small or medium clubs and small or medium club groups.
Tier 2 will open at least once each year. Applications must be received by the stated due date and time (see below).
Tier 2 applications must meet all of the following criteria:
- the application must be consistent with the Fund purposes (see above); and
- the application must represent value for money; and
- the applicant must have capacity to deliver their proposal; and
- the applicant must have an effective implementation plan for their proposal.
When considering applications that meet these criteria, the Advisory Board may take into account whether the applicant has previously received payment(s) from the Fund within the same financial year.
When considering multiple applications, the Advisory Board may also assess applications against the following additional criteria:
- whether the application will benefit a small or medium club/club group;
- number of Fund purposes satisfied by the application;
- relative value for money compared to other applications; and
- positive impacts of the proposal, weighed against its costs and negative impacts
Applications for funding exceeding $250,000 may be considered under exceptional circumstances. When considering an application for funding exceeding $250,000, the Advisory Board may have regard to:
- whether the activity/initiative will benefit the ACT clubs industry as a whole, rather than the applicant only;
- the level of available funds at the time of considering the application; and
- any competing applications.
Activities/initiatives that will not be considered
Applications for any gambling-related activity, such as improvements to gambling areas, gambling equipment or gambling facilities, will not be considered.
How to Apply
Tier 1 applications:
- Tier 1 applications must be made using the Tier 1 Application Form.
- Tier 1 applications may be submitted at any time.
- Please complete all fields on the form.
- Once an application has been submitted, the applicant must wait until they have been notified of the outcome of the application before submitting another application.
Tier 2 applications:
- Tier 2 applications must be made using the Tier 2 Application Form.
- Tier 2 applications must be submitted no later than 5:00pm on the closing date (to be advised).
- The Advisory Board may decline to consider any late applications and/or supporting material.
- Applications are limited to one application per applicant per funding round.
All applications should be emailed to DSSFSecretariat@act.gov.au. Paper applications will not be accepted.
Community Clubs Program
The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate administers the Community Clubs Program (CCP) which provides rebates of up to $75,000 per eligible club to upgrade inefficient appliances, invest in renewable technologies including rooftop solar and battery storage, improve the club’s building envelope and implement measures to transition off gas.
Potential applicants seeking funding for this kind of project:
- who are ineligible for DSSF funding; or
- whose application was unsuccessful in securing DSSF funding for its project
may consider if they are eligible for the CCP grant, noting that eligibility criteria differ from DSSF and applicants cannot secure funding from both programs (DSSF and CCP) for the same installation/upgrade works.
For more information on incentives offered through the program visit the Community Clubs Program page on the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate’s website, email sustainablebusiness@act.gov.au or contact 13 22 81.
Further Information
Please refer to the following documents for additional guidance:
Tier 1 Application Form
Tier 2 Application Form
Standard Operating Procedure for Applications
Gaming Machine (Applications for Payments Out of Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund) Guidelines 2022
Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund Guidance Paper
Questions about the application process may be directed to the DSSF Secretariat on telephone 02 6207 1764 or by email to DSSFSecretariat@act.gov.au