Cemetery grants program

1. Cemetery trusts are required to have an ABN.
2. Cemetery trusts are required to have fully expended all previous cemetery program grants and provide evidence of the grant acquittal to the department .
3. Cemetery trusts are required to have submitted their Abstract of Accounts .

Please note: Trust members cannot quote or be paid to carry out any part of the proposed works, as this is a direct conflict of interest.

To apply for a grant, a cemetery trust must submit a completed grant application form before work commences.

The department will not reimburse trusts that have expended funds in anticipation of receipt of a grant.

Applications should include two quotes (GST inclusive) for the proposed expenditure and photos where appropriate. If a trust is unable to obtain two quotes, a written explanation outlining why this is not possible must be submitted with the application.

The trust will be contacted if additional information is required, although this is likely to delay the application. To avoid such delays please read the information requirements carefully.

1. Whether the application aligns with the grant program’s objectives.
2. The extent to which the application will benefit the cemetery and/or the community. The application should clearly explain the works or item/service required, including any occupational health and safety aspects, heritage considerations and risks associated with NOT undertaking the works.
3. The extent to which the trust has demonstrated the support of the local community for the application.
4. The extent to which the project’s budget is comprehensive, realistic, provides value for money and enables the delivery of objectives within the proposed timelines.
5. The extent to which alternative and complimentary funding sources have been explored or secured.
6. The demonstrated financial need of the trust.
7. The suitability of the trust’s scale of fees.
8. The trust’s ability to undertake or implement the funded activity should they be successful.

Grant applications are assessed twice each financial year in October and March. A selection panel will assess each application against the assessment criteria. The selection panel will include a representative from the Health Infrastructure Division and the Divisional Portfolio Entity and Appointments Advisory Unit.

Written notification of the outcome of all applications will be provided to trusts following completion of the assessment process.

Grants received must be spent in accordance with the proposal made in the application.

Unsuccessful applications may be resubmitted in the next round of grants with updated information and quotes if a cemetery trust wishes to reapply.

Depending on the total funds available for cemetery grants, the department may be unable to grant the full amount requested in an application and may allocate a partial grant.

Trusts that receive partial grants are expected to draw upon their own funds to undertake the proposed expenditure. Top up grants will not be provided for the same proposal in subsequent years.

Approved grant funds will be deposited into a nominated cemetery trust bank account.

Any grant money transferred to a trust must be spent within six months of allocation and appear in the following year's Abstract of Accounts. If a grant is not expended within six months of receipt, the trust must provide a written explanation to the department explaining the delay and providing a revised completion date.

Trusts must fully account for the grant allocation by advising the department in writing when the grant is spent and providing copies of invoices/receipts as well as photos where appropriate. Trusts that have received a grant in previous years and not provided verification of the expenditure will be ineligible for future grants until the department receives the information.