BACKGROUND

The Welcoming Environments small grants activity is an initiative of the Integrated Team Care program which aims to improve access to primary health care services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are likely to prefer and have more trust in health services that acknowledge and are respectful of cultural factors, are physically accessible and affordable and are partners with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Mainstream primary health services that are seeking to create a welcoming and safe environment should undertake a combination of targeted

improvement strategies that directly address the safety and quality needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers.

The aim of the Welcoming Environments small grant activity is to improve access to culturally appropriate mainstream primary care services such as general practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Welcoming Environments small grants create opportunities for local mainstream general practices to collaborate with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to design a piece of artwork which can be displayed in the service to create a culturally inclusive environment and demonstrate their commitment to delivery of culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

The purpose of this Expression of Interest (EOI) is to seek responses from general practices that are aiming to improve access to culturally inclusive primary care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their service area. The grant is to provide the general practice with the ability to commission artwork, murals or sculptures by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists local to their area to demonstrate their commitment to providing a welcoming environment to their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

These grants are available to mainstream general practices in the Country SA PHN region. Limit of one application per general practice. In the event where a provider owns several sites, the practice may only apply for one site.

The local Indigenous Health Project Officer (IHPO) must be approached to support successful general practices to connect with artists and participate in the activity. 

LOCATIONS

General practices located in all regions of Country SA are eligible to participate.

FUNDING

Country SA PHN is seeking proposals for projects up to $10,000 (excluding GST) commencing April 2025 and ending June 30, 2025.

There are a limited number of grants available and interested organisations must state the amount of funding they are seeking in their application.

Funding is available for the direct cost of the activity applied for. In scope activities for funding under this grant include:

• Costs associated with commissioning a local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist to design and complete a commissioned artwork such as painting, sculpture or mural local to their area (minimum 60% of the requested funds must be allocated to this component of the activity)

• Time to enable practice team members to engage in meaningful discussion, collaboration with the artist (maximum 20% of the requested funds must be allocated to this component of the activity)

• Small event or activity to launch, introduce and or share the new artwork with the community (maximum 20% of the requested funds must be allocated to this component of the activity).

Out of scope activities for this small grants round include:

• Work undertaken to develop your proposal

• Work undertaken to meet the criteria

• Administration costs

• Ongoing service delivery costs.

Note: Applicants must not assume they will be successful, or enter into commitments based on that assumption, before receiving formal notification of the outcome of their application.

Funding may be available for multiple small grants. General practices that have previously received Welcoming Environments grants may be considered.

Funding will not be provided for activities that duplicate existing funded activities or those that are primarily the responsibility of State and Territory Governments or more appropriately funded through other programs. Applicants will be required to submit a preliminary budget with the anticipated costs associated with delivering their proposed project. This is not a fee-for-service model. It will be at Country SA PHN’s discretion to award funds to one, multiple or no organisations, and determine if the funding proposed is reasonable.