Frequently asked questions: Creating Safer Places

Eligibility

1. Can I submit more than one application?

No. You can only submit one application to the Creating Safer Places stream. 

2. Why can’t not-for-profit organisations apply for Creating Safer Places funding?

Creating Safer Places aims to address crime and increase public safety in open, public places. These are usually owned or managed by local government and therefore only councils are able to submit a Creating Safer Places application.

If a community organisation is interested in supporting a Creating Safer Places application, they should contact their local council to discuss their ideas and how they might partner with the council to deliver the project. Partnerships are strongly encouraged in both funding streams and the council can provide grant funds to local community groups to resource their contribution to the project.

3. How is a public place defined?

For the purposes of these grants, a public place is defined as ‘any place to which the public has access as of right or by invitation, whether express or implied and where no charge is made for admission to the place’.

4. What is meant by an inclusive environmental design approach to deter crime and increase safety?

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) approaches aim to influence people’s behaviour and perceptions of safety in public places. Recent developments in CPTED emphasise active community participation in planning, decision-making and management processes and encourage a place-making approach that is inclusive, improves social connection and liveability and takes environmental sustainability into account. Projects that apply this approach to urban design will be prioritised for funding.

Projects that only focus on access control, surveillance and territorial reinforcement to reduce the opportunity for crime to occur in a location are less likely to be effective in encouraging positive use of public places and therefore are unlikely to be recommended for funding.

Further information on urban design and crime prevention (External link) can be found on our website.

5. Can I apply for funding for CCTV?

Yes, funding for CCTV is only available through Creating Safer Places and only councils are eligible to apply under this stream. The ‘Special note on applying for CCTV funding’ in the Creating Safer Places guidelines provides further details.

6. Can I apply for funding for a project that has already started?

No. Applications that seek funding for projects which have already started will not be considered.

7. Can evidence to support a project be anecdotal as opposed to statistical data?

Yes. Anecdotal evidence may support an application, particularly for a project seeking to address perceptions of crime and safety. However stronger applications will be supported by a broad range of evidence, including statistical data where possible. Anecdotal evidence may complement the statistical evidence supporting the need for the project.

8. Are projects with multiple phases eligible for funding? For example, phase 1 using funding from this grant targeted to research a specific problem and co-design a solution, then phase 2 utilising a future grant to implement the solution?

Multi-phase projects may be eligible for funding, however the phase to be funded by the grant must deliver real benefit to the Victorian community and make a significant contribution to addressing the identified crime prevention issue. As a result, the grants will not cover initial scoping or feasibility studies unless there is also sufficient time and resourcing to implement a significant component of the project within the funding and time constraints of the grants program. 

The department will consider the likelihood of further funding being available to implement subsequent project phases when considering the viability of your application. The grant guidelines state that projects that can’t be completed by 30 June 2024 or create the need for, or expectation of, further government funding are ineligible for funding.

Updated 7 December 2021

9. Will you consider funding project activity in a commercial or area, such as a plaza, that is not owned by the local council?

The area must be a public place which is defined as an area that community members are able to access freely without cost. The application would need to demonstrate a clear partnership between the council and the body corporate or management entity. We would also take into consideration whether council and the body corporate or management entity were contributing funding or other support in terms of activating the space and improving the amenity.

10. How specific does the application need to be with regard to creative infrastructure ideas and the budget, particularly if engagement and co-design with the community will be part of the project?

Councils are encouraged to engage community members in consultation or co-design processes, such as site audits or walk-through of spaces, to identify factors that may impact on their feelings of safety in the space and their desire to use it. Where consultation or co-design is part of the project, it is accepted that there may not necessarily be a clear set of infrastructure costs specified upfront. In that circumstance, the application should clearly outline how the consultation/co-design process would work and show that it can occur relatively quickly after funding approval to avoid delaying installation of the infrastructure.

We will consider whether the level of funding allocated to infrastructure is likely to be sufficient to achieve the proposed outcomes, and whether there is a risk mitigation strategy in place in case of higher than expected costs, such as the council demonstrating that it could contribute to the cost of any infrastructure identified as part of the consultation/co-design process.

Project Partnerships

11. Do I need to partner with other organisations?

Partnerships are strongly encouraged. If you do not intend to partner with other organisations to deliver your project, you may still apply. Your application will not score highly against assessment criteria two however and therefore is less likely to be recommended for funding.

Refer to the ‘Work in partnership’ section of the grant guidelines for further information on partnership approaches.

12. What information should I provide about project partners in my application? 

Your application should clearly outline all the partners you will work with and explain how they will support your project. It is a good idea to provide information on the skills and experience these partners bring to your project to ensure it is a success.

If you plan to share grant funds with partners, or if your partners will provide either financial or in-kind contributions to your project, this should be clearly outlined in the budget in your application.

It is strongly suggested that applicants provide a letter of support from each of your partners that confirms their role and contribution to the project.

Refer to the ‘Provide evidence to support your application’ section in the guidelines for further information.

Project budget

13. Can I request funding for salaries and project management costs?

No. Staffing and project management costs can be included as your contribution to the project but will not be covered by the grant. As there are no mandatory co-contribution requirements this is considered reasonable.

14. Do we need to contribute funding to the project?

You are not required to make a financial contribution to your project, but it is strongly encouraged. This helps to show your project is a high priority and that your organisation and its partners are prepared to partner with government to fund the project. It also helps to demonstrate value for money for government by increasing the amount of funding available to your project.

15. Can I include funding from other sources as part of my project?

Yes, this is strongly encouraged. You must show whether this other funding is confirmed, or not, in the budget section of your application.   

16. Do you have any tips for completing the budget?

Yes, here are some tips:

• The total project income must equal the total project expenditure.
• The budget needs to include all income (including the grant amount you are requesting and any financial contributions from your own organisation or partners) and all main costs (expenditure items) related to the project.
• Clearly show what costs will be paid from the requested grant if your application is successful and how any other financial contributions will be spent.
• Identify whether any financial contributions are confirmed or unconfirmed. If funding from another source is not confirmed, this will be considered when we assess the viability of your project.
• Be accurate in your costings – you cannot ask for additional funds later because the project was not accurately costed at the start.
• If you cannot provide quotes, tell us how you have costed something.
• Only include income or expenditure items relevant to the project. If the cost is not directly associated with your project, it should not be in the project budget.

Submitting an application

17. How do I apply? What help is available for me?

The department uses an online application system to accept grant applications. When you click the ‘Apply now’ link on the Creating Safer Places page on our website, you will be directed to a page where you will need to either register or log in to use the SmartyGrants system.

18. When do applications open and close?

Applications closed at 4.00pm Friday 11 February 2022.

19. Will there be an information session to explain the grants?

An information session was held on Wednesday 1 December 2021 at 2.00pm-3.30pm.

Grant application outcomes

20. When will we find out if our application is successful?

We hope to let applicants know the outcome of their application within three months of the Creating Safer Places grants closing date, however this will depend on the number of applications we receive. You should consider this timeframe when developing your project plan.

21. Will we be given feedback if our application is unsuccessful?

Yes. If your application is not successful, we will send you an email to notify you of the outcome and to provide contact details if you wish to seek feedback.

Further assistance

22. Where can we go to get advice on our application?

To ensure a fair and equitable approach for all applicants, the department is not able to discuss the detail of your application but may be able to provide information on whether your project idea is eligible for funding.

Information to assist you to prepare a high-quality application is available on our website at crimeprevention.vic.gov.au/grants/creating-safer-places-grants. This includes the grant guidelines, fact sheets, and previously funded projects. You are strongly encouraged to read support material related to your project idea.

If you have any general questions after reading the resources, you can email the Community Crime Prevention Unit at communitycrimeprevention@justice.vic.gov.au (External link)