Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC)
National Readiness Grants
Questions and Answers (Q&As)
(Note - This Q&As document does not, in any way, replace or override information provided in the Community Inclusion and Capacity Development (CICD) Program Guidelines for Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC), Application Pack, its attachments and/or appendices or in the Funding Round Summary released at the commencement of each funding round.)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in relation to the ILC Program and People with Disability are located on the NDIS Website.
1. What is the purpose of the ILC National Readiness Grants?
The purpose of the ILC National Readiness Grants is to build:
· sector capacity in anticipation of a national approach to ILC; and
· the foundations required to deliver ILC activities on a national scale.
2. What are the application dates for the ILC National Readiness Grants?
This ILC National Readiness funding round is open for applications from 24January to 8March2017.
3. Why is the NDIA only calling for projects in Capacity building for mainstream services and Community awareness and capacity building for the ILC National Readiness Grants?
The NDIA have selected these two areas as a result of the work we have been doing with State and Territory governments to prepare for the introduction of ILC. As part of preparations, we asked State and Territory governments what kinds of ILC activities they currently fund. We asked them to divide activities across the four Activity Areas described in the ILC Policy:
1. Information, linkages and referrals;
2. Capacity building for mainstream services;
3. Community awareness and capacity building; and
4. Individual capacity building.
The information provided by the States and Territories showed that most current activity fit either Activity Area 1 (Information, linkages and referrals) or Activity Area 4 (Individual capacity building). There was very little activity in Activity Areas 2 and 3. The NDIA therefore decided to focus this first ILC National Readiness Grant funding round in the areas where there appeared to be the least current activity.
Through ILC the NDIA has an opportunity to stimulate new ideas and innovative approaches to meeting needs within these two areas.
4. What if I have an idea for a National Readiness project that fits into the other Activity Areas described in the ILC Policy – Information, linkages and referrals or Individual capacity building?
In this round of ILC National Readiness funding, the NDIA will only fund activities that fit into Activity Area 2 (Capacity building for mainstream services) or Activity Area 3 (Community awareness and capacity building). Only projects that fit into these two areas will be considered for funding. Any applications submitted in this funding round for projects outside of these Activity Areas will not be considered.
The NDIA reserves the right to conduct a funding round in the future for national readiness projects that support delivery in the other Activity Areas described in the ILC Policy.
5. What does the Application Pack include?
The Application Pack for the ILC National Readiness Grants funding rounds includes the following documents:
1. Funding Round Summary
2. Community Inclusion and Capacity Development (CICD) Program Guidelines – Implementing ILC
3. Standard terms and conditions for grants
4. Application form
5. Budget template
6. Question and Answers
6. I am not really sure if my idea is exactly what you are looking for. Can you give an example of what kinds of projects you will fund?
The NDIA will not give specific examples of the kinds of activities that will be funded, to enable organisations to be creative and innovative in their approach to ILC.
All applications will need to address the selection criteria outlined in the Application Pack and the NDIA encourage all interested organisations to read all the documentation – the ILC Policy, the ILC Commissioning Framework, the Program Guidelines for ILC and the information contained in the Application Pack - before commencing an application.
7. How much money is available for this round of the ILC National Readiness Grants?
Up to $13.1 million is available in 2016-17 to deliver National Readiness Grants.
All ILC National Readiness Grants will be for over $10,000. There is no maximum cap on the amount that can be applied for.
The funding is not intended to be ongoing. However, the NDIA may consider extending funding for up to two additional years where we consider the project or community may benefit from an increased period of funding. This will be at the NDIA’s discretion and will be based on grant purpose, degree of risk and priorities for funding.
8. Can organisations submit an application for both the ILC Jurisdictional Based Grants and the ILC National Readiness Grants?
Yes, organisations are welcome to apply in both rounds.
Noting:
· The ILC Jurisdictional Based Grants funding round in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) focuses on delivery of activity in the ACT and applications addressing activities in one of the four Activity Areas in the ILC Policy will be considered for funding; and
· The ILC National Readiness Grants funding round will focus on projects with national reach or national consistency. Only activities that fit into Activity Areas 2 and 3 described in the ILC Policy will be considered for funding.
9. Can organisations located in Western Australia apply for the ILC National Readiness Grants?
Yes, organisations located in Western Australia (WA) may apply for ILC National Readiness Grants provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.
10. Will national projects delivered through the ILC National Readiness Grants include on the ground delivery in Western Australia?
Organisations that are successful in receiving an ILC National Readiness grant will not be expected to include Western Australia in the delivery of their activities. This is because the Commonwealth and Western Australia Governments have yet to sign a Bilateral Agreement covering the implementation of the NDIS in Western Australia. Should this change in the future, the NDIA reserves the right to change the scope of national delivery in future grant rounds.
11. Are not for profit organisations eligible to apply?
Yes – See the Program Guidelines for ILC for information about eligibility.
12. If I am proposing to use subcontractors, do the subcontractors need to complete a separate application form?
No. Only the lead organisation needs to complete an application form.
13. What attachments do I need to include in my application?
Only attachments specifically requested will be considered.
You must attach a budget using the template provided on the Community Grants Hub website. Applications that include a budget not using the template provided will be deemed non-compliant.
14. What are the Terms and Conditions for the ILC National Readiness Grants?
A copy of the Terms and Conditions for the ILC National Readiness Grants is included in the Application Pack.
15. If I am not able to submit my application by the due date, can I get an extension?
If an application is late or the Community Grants Hub (the Hub) is requested to approve a lodgement after the closing date, the Hub may determine that there were exceptional circumstances beyond the Applicant’s control resulting in an inability to meet the stipulated deadline. Examples of exceptional circumstances could include, but may not be limited to*:
· the Community Grants Hub infrastructure failures
· natural disasters
· power outages affecting the ability of the Applicant to submit their application by the stipulated deadline
· death or disability of key personnel
*Any other proposed incidents of exceptional circumstances, other than those listed above, will be considered by the Community Grants Hub on a case-by-case basis.
16. Where should I go for further information regarding the grant funding round and application process?
Please email your enquiries to or call 1800 020 283 or TTY 1800 555 677.
17. Who is undertaking the assessment of applications?
The NDIA is partnering with the Community Grants Hub to administer the application process for the ILC National Readiness Grants. The final decision on successful applicants rests with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NDIA.
18. When will I know the outcome of my application?
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application at the end of the selection process. For probity reasons, to treat all applicants fairly and equally, it is not possible to give information about the status of individual applications during the assessment process.
19. What feedback will be available for this funding round?
The Feedback Summary will provide general round-specific information and will include main strengths and areas of improvement for the applications received in this round. The Feedback Summary will not provide feedback on individual applications.
The Feedback Summary will be published on the Community Grants Hub website following the finalisation of the funding round.
20. There are slight differences between Selection Criteria 2 and 3 in the CICD Program Guidelines - Implementing ILC and Selection Criteria 2 and 3 in the Funding Round Summary for the ILC National Readiness Grants. Which version should I address in my application? And which version will my application be assessed against?
Applications for the ILC National Readiness Grants must address Selection Criteria 2 and 3 as they appear in the Funding Round Summary and application form as they will be assessed against these criteria.
New Question and Answer added on 27 January 2017
21. Where can I go to understand more about ILC and ILC outcomes?
On 24 January there was a Question and Answer about the ILC Toolkit Helpline. This question has been replaced to provide the opening and closing dates of the ILC Toolkit Helpline.
The NDIA has developed the ILC Toolkit (https://ilctoolkit.ndis.gov.au/) to help organisations get ready for ILC. The NDIA has now engaged Social Ventures Australia (SVA) to operate a helpline focused on the ILC Toolkit. This is a pilot to assist organisations to engage with ILC.
Organisations can book a call with the Helpline if you would like phone support to use the ILC Toolkit to:
· increase your understanding of ILC;
· make full use of the ILC Toolkit and its functions; and
· apply your own ideas to the ILC Outcomes Story Builder Tool.
The advice provided through the ILC Toolkit Helpline will be general in nature and the consultants cannot help you with completing your grant application or comment on the quality of your ILC idea. Use or otherwise of the ILC Toolkit Helpline is not connected to the ILC funding rounds and has no bearing on the outcome of ILC Grants funding decisions.
The ILC Toolkit Helpline will be available from Monday 30 January until Tuesday 7 March 2017. To book a time, organisations can call 1 800 77 99 69 or visit the ILC Toolkit website at https://ilctoolkit.ndis.gov.au/
New Question and Answer added on 31 January 2017
22. Regarding the Application Form, section 5: Activity Details - Coverage, the Applicant is asked to choose a Coverage area. The Applicant can only choose a State as a Coverage area. Does this mean that proposals must cover the entire state, or can they be for regions within a State?
In selecting the ‘coverage’ area in the Application form, Applicants should select the relevant coverage areas where the proposed activity/ies will be implemented, regardless of whether the proposal is for state or territory wide coverage or for regions within a State or Territory.
New Question and Answer added on 2 February 2017
23. Can you please confirm the period in which funds must be expended by successful ILC National Readiness Grant applicants? (i.e. what is the grant funding period and when must we spend the funds by? What is the maximum term of funding)?
Applications for ILC National Readiness Grants will be for up to 12 months of funding from the date of signing the grant agreement. The NDIA may consider extending funding for up to an additional two years where it is considered the project or community may benefit from an increased period of funding. This will be at the discretion of the NDIA and will be based on grant purpose, degree of risk and priorities for funding.
New Questions and Answers added on 7 February 2017
24. Can organisations located in Western Australia apply for the ILC National Readiness Grants?
Yes, organisations located in Western Australia (WA) may apply for ILC National Readiness Grants provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.
25. Will national projects delivered through the ILC National Readiness Grants include on the ground delivery in Western Australia?
Organisations that are successful in receiving an ILC National Readiness grant will not be expected, nor funded to include Western Australia in the delivery of their activities. This is because the Commonwealth and Western Australia Governments have signed a Bilateral Agreement covering the implementation of the NDIS in Western Australia, which provides for Western Australia to fund ILC in that State. Should this change in the future, the NDIA reserves the right to change the scope of national delivery in future grant rounds.
New Question and Answer added on 14 February 2017
26. Can a cohort focus also include a focus on activities related to a specific disability group e.g. people with complex communication needs, people who are deaf, people with severe or profound intellectual disability etc.?
Yes, the Focus Area ‘cohort-focused delivery’ is defined in the ILC Commissioning Framework to mean “we will focus on activities for specific groups of people that require detailed cultural or other knowledge to be effective”. This does not need to be limited to cultural cohorts. Applicants should also note the definition of specialist or expert delivery – “we will focus on activities that provide specific skills and knowledge in relation to disability – for example diagnostic specific expertise or expertise in particular models of support or capacity building”. An applicant may, when completing their application, demonstrate consistency with one or more of the five Focus Areas.
New Question and Answer added on 15 February 2017
27. In the ECEI Approach one of the roles of early childhood partners is to build the capacity of mainstream services and community organisations to be more inclusive of children with disabilities. The ECEI Approach is also presented as a nationally consistent model/framework. Does this mean that there is no point in an organisation (that is not an early childhood partner) making an application for a National Readiness Grant to build capacity for mainstream early childhood education and care services (preschools, childcare centres, family day care) to include children with disabilities?