Local Solutions Fund
About the Local Solutions Fund
The Local Solutions Fund (LSF) is a funding opportunity established by the Stronger Places, Stronger People (SPSP) initiative and stewarded by the Australian Government. The SPSP funding aims to support local solutions in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 Financial Years in Logan and Gladstone (Queensland); Bourke (NSW), Mildura (Vic) Burnie (Tas), and the Far West Region (SA).
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The Ceduna/Far West Region has been allocated funding to be awarded to successful applicants that align with the Far West Change Agenda and aim to support better outcomes for children.
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Background
Stronger Places, Stronger People (SPSP) is a community-led, collective impact initiative, stewarded by the Australian Government in partnership with state and territory governments and 10 communities across Australia. It seeks to disrupt disadvantage and create better futures for children and their families through locally tailored and evidence-driven solutions to local problems, in partnership with local people.
The Targeting Entrenched Disadvantage 2023-24 Budget package provided for the continuation of community-led change through place-based partnerships by extending the SPSP initiative for an additional 5 years to 30 June 2029. The package also provided enhanced funding to support greater shared decision-making and local solutions in 6 of the SPSP communities that have demonstrated readiness.
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Local solutions funding consists of an additional $100,000 per financial year for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years, approved by the Minister for Social Services to be spent across both financial years, and subject to standard rollover procedures.​
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Who Can Apply
Local Solutions Funding must be spent in line with the purpose of the SPSP initiative, as outlined in the Grant Opportunity Guidelines, to improve outcomes for children through the following mechanisms:​​
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Supporting families to prepare for parenthood and caregiving responsibilities, and further the development of the children in their care.
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Discouraging the use of harmful substances such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs amongst prospective parents.
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Encouraging young people to seek and prepare for employment.
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Ensuring women have access to appropriate pre-natal and post-natal services.
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Undertaking measures to help children live safely and outside the youth justice system.
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Administration costs, including reporting.
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Funding for local solutions must support projects that:
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Align with the Far West Change Agenda.
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Directly address challenges or take advantage of opportunities identified by the community itself (see Far West Change Agenda).
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Test innovative and evidence-driven approaches to solving issues.
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Support the long-term vision for lasting, positive change within the community.
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Enhance collaborative partnerships e.g. between community groups, neighbourhood centres, NGOs, businesses and others within the community.
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Eligible expenditure may include:
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Salaries and oncosts for staff directly implementing your local solutions project.
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Project operating and administration expenses.
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Training and capability spending directly relating to the projects.
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Community engagements that support the implementation of the projects, including such things as venue hire, catering expenses, and other reasonable costs.
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The purchase of specialist support for the projects where technical skills, expertise and guidance are not usually required in the community on an ongoing basis.
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Measurement and evaluation related to the local solutions projects.
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The following expenditure are ineligible:
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Staff salaries and oncosts which are included in the backbone team not relating to the local solutons project.
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Operating and administration relating to the regular functions of the backbone team.
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Employee training related to the regular operations of the backbone team.​
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Meeting SPSP reporting requirements which are not specific to the local solutions project.
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Capacity building activities relating to the functions of the backbone team.
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In addition, local solutions funding cannot be used for costs such as:
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Purchase of land
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Paying retrospective costs
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Costs incurred in the preparation of a grant application or related documentation
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Major construction/capital works
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Overseas travel
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Activities for which other Commonwealth, state, territory, or local government bodies have primary responsibility.
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How to Apply
Start the application process by filling out our LSF Application. To apply, or for general information and support, contact our team at:
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Quick Links
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Approved Projects
The below projects and activities have been funded as part of this program:
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Early Years Champions Group - simulator babies to be used by high school students in Child Studies classes.
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Ceduna Community Wellbeing Support Group - establishing a support group for suicide prevention and postvention care.
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Yalata Youth Group - 'Core of Life' health promotion, relationship, and reproductive health education, youth empowerment program.