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Welcome friend

Now that you are a ‘Friend of the Assembly’, it’s time to get engaged in some of our work.

Visit the ‘Friends Zone’ for opportunities to work with us on a range of topics/projects or simply get some updates on work underway.

Visit the 'Friends Zone'

Our history

Home About Us Our history

Where we have come from and where we are heading

The Latrobe Health Assembly has come from humble beginnings, but our future is bright as the scale of our innovative projects increase. All developed for community, by community.

Hazelwood Mine Fire

View of Hazelwood Power Station during the mine fire

A fire burned in the Hazelwood coal mine for 45 days in February and March 2014. This fire had significant impacts on the Latrobe Valley community.

February, 2014

Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry

In 2014 and 2015 the Victorian Government held the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry. The Victorian Government committed to all 246 actions resulting from the inquiry.

March, 2014

Commencement of the Hazelwood Health Study

The Hazelwood Health Study begins to research health outcomes from community members impacted by the Hazelwood Mine Fire.

Read MoreNovember, 2014

Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry reopened

May, 2015

Designation of the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone

Faces of community engagement activitiesFollowing the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry, the Victorian Government designated the Latrobe Valley as a Health Innovation Zone in 2016 to improve health outcomes in this region.

June, 2016

Calls for community to join a soon to be formed Latrobe Health Assembly

Expressions of interest sought from community to join a soon-to-be established community driven organisation called the Latrobe Health Assembly.

November, 2016

Closure of the Hazelwood Power Station and mine operations

March, 2017

Incorporation of the Latrobe Health Assembly

Latrobe Health Assembly community meetingThe Latrobe Health Assembly becomes an incorporated, independent organisation.

June, 2017

Launch of the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone Charter

Logo of the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone CharterThe Charter was written in collaboration with Latrobe Valley communities and organisations dedicated to improving health and wellbeing in the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone.

March, 2018

Appointment of the Latrobe Health Advocate

Latrobe Health AdvocateReporting directly to the Minister for Health, Ms Anderson plays a critical role in providing independent advice to the Victorian Government on behalf of the Latrobe Valley community issues affecting their health and wellbeing.

May, 2018

Community representation on Board of Directors

Four Latrobe Health Assembly members elected to the organisations Board of Directors providing community voice at all levels of the Assembly.

March, 2019

Restructure of the Latrobe Health Assembly

Tanya Rong - Chair of the Latrobe Health AssemblyFollowing the departures of the founding Chair and founding Executive Officer, a new structure has been implemented to drive the organisations agenda with the appointment of Ellen-Jane Browne as Executive Officer and Tanya Rong as Chair.

February, 2020

Supporting the Victorian Governments COVID-19 response

The Latrobe Health Assembly provides community voice to place-based COVID-19 response.

March, 2020

The Latrobe Valley landscape changes forever

Hazelwood Power Station's eight chimneys are demolished as part of the decommissioning works.

May, 2020

A new way to co-design and innovate

The Latrobe Health Assembly adopts a new operating model (Triple Diamond model) which is designed to expand the scale of projects.

Read MoreMay, 2021

Stepping up to the national stage

Guests gathering at the Australian Pelvic Pain ConferenceThe Latrobe Health Assembly steps up to the national stage when it hosts the Australian Pelvic Pain Conference at the newly opened GPAC.

September, 2022

Stepping up to the national stage

Opening of the WES Mental Health Café The Latrobe Health Assembly with project partners Lifeline Gippsland open the doors to the region's first Mental Health Café (The WES).

May, 2023

Community Grants guidelines

1.       Introduction 

Latrobe Health Assembly (LHA) invites individuals, community groups, sporting clubs, not-for-profit organisations and businesses who live, work or study in Latrobe Valley to apply for a Health Innovation Grant. A grant may provide up to $25,000 plus GST for a project/activity that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the Latrobe Valley community.

2.       About the Health Innovation Grants Program

The Health Innovation Grants Program has been established to enable and support the Latrobe Valley community to develop innovative projects/activities to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community. The program aims to empower members of our community to identify solutions and deliver them for the benefit of residents.

The program is seeking innovative funding applications that reflect one or all of our four themes:

  • Mental health
  • Early childhood development and learning
  • Community connectedness and vulnerability; and
  • Active living
3.       Getting Started

Before applying, please ensure you have thoroughly read and understood these Guidelines and the Latrobe Health Assembly Innovation Grants Governance Policy.

4.       Grant Funding

Funding Available: up to $25,000 plus GST.

5.       Enquiries and Submissions

For further information regarding this program, please visit http://healthassembly.org.au/

If you have any questions regarding the program, guidelines or terms and conditions, please email info@healthassembly.org.au or call (03) 5173 8400. We will review every email and voicemail and respond as soon as possible.

To submit an application, please email the application form and any supporting documentation to info@healthassembly.org.au

6.       What is the Latrobe Health Assembly supporting?

The LHA wants to identify successful projects/activities which have the potential to be focused on our four themes , that address and improve the health and wellbeing of the people who live, work and/or study within the Latrobe Valley.

7.       Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply applicants must:

  • Be an individual that lives, studies or works within the Latrobe Valley boundaries; or
  • A not-for-profit organisation, business, community group, sporting club or school that is based within Latrobe Valley or provides services or benefits primarily to the Latrobe Valley Community; and
  • Hold appropriate public liability insurance of $10 million at minimum.
8.       Auspice Organisation

For individuals applying, and community group or sporting clubs that are not a legal entity (e.g., do not hold an ABN), you can approach an organisation to auspice your projects/activities. We see auspices as a great way for you to partner with like-minded organisations to deliver projects/activities.

The auspice organisation will partner with you to deliver your projects/activities and receive the funding on your behalf. The auspice organisation must meet the above eligibility criteria and provide a letter indicating that they accept full financial accountability for the projects/activities. The auspice organisation is not considered to be an applicant and may apply for their own funding.

If you are unable to partner with an organisation there is also the potential to auspice through LHA directly. LHA would hold the funding on your behalf and accept financial accountability for the projects/activities. LHA would retain the right to apply any additional conditions if the application is successful.  

9.       Who Cannot Apply?
  • Government agencies or departments of State and Federal Government.
10.   What will not be funded?
  • Events which duplicate services or programs that are the normal responsibility of State or Commonwealth Government departments or duplicate existing services or programs
  • Requests for the purpose of raising funds for other groups, including fundraising projects/activities with the primary purpose of fund raising for other organisations or individuals
  • Funding for trophies, awards, scholarships, subscriptions, prizes, and honorariums
  • Events that deliver a religious or party-political message where the purpose is to advance the organisation’s beliefs, irrespective of what those beliefs or positions might be
  • Retrospective costs. This includes reimbursement of costs already incurred and funding for projects/activities which have already taken place or began prior to the application being approved by LHA
  • Payment of debts or loans
  • General operating expenses – funding will not cover expenses such as electricity, lease or rent payments, telephone, wages, salaries, projects/activities management costs, office equipment etc. that are ongoing organisational expenses
  • Travel costs associated with any projects/activities
  • The purchase of land
  • Repair of facilities damaged by vandalism, fire or other natural disasters where the incident should reasonably be expected to be covered by insurance; and
  • Applications for projects/activities that engage in activities which promote discrimination, violence or anti-social behaviour.
11.   Guidelines
11.1. Applications
  • Applications must be submitted on the correct online application form
  • Applications must be completed in full including the budget and action implementation plan and have sufficient evidence to make a reasonable assessment of the application
  • Incomplete applications will be considered ineligible for funding
  • Applicants who fail to comply with the terms and conditions listed in the funding guidelines and supplementary agreements will be required to return the funding to LHA; and
  • Decisions of the LHA Executive Officer (EO) and Board of Directors are final, and no reason needs to be provided regarding rejection of an application.
11.2. Timeframes
  • Applications are open until all available funding has been allocated
  • Funds must normally be expended and acquitted within 12-months of signing a Funding Agreement/Letter of Award; and
  • Applicants who have an outstanding acquittal form will not be able to apply for further funding from the LHA until this issue is resolved and may be required to return any funds if they cannot complete the projects/activities.
11.3. Variations

Applicants must submit a Variation Request in writing to LHA if:

  • the scope of any project/activity changes
  • proposed expenditure items change; or
  • there is a change to the proposed outcomes.

The Variation Request will be reviewed and approved by the LHA EO. Variation Requests will initially be reviewed against the grant guidelines, then assessed based on impact.

If the Variation Request is approved applicants will receive written correspondence notifying them of the approved changes. This correspondence will then form part of the Funding Agreement with LHA. If the Variation Request is unsuccessful, applicants will be asked to submit a revised request or return funding to LHA.

11.4. General
  • Additional conditions may be applied to your projects/activities during assessment
  • Approval of funding does not constitute permission to deliver the projects/activities, and remains the responsibility of the applicant to seek the appropriate permissions and approvals from external agencies etc. to deliver the projects/activities
  • Projects/activities must address issues of safety and risk management
  • LHA encourages groups to undertake joint grant submissions. LHA acknowledges the community and financial benefits that accrue through collaboration and cooperation, and accordingly supports strong partnership projects/activities which will effectively and efficiently respond to local community needs
  • Applications must clearly outline the aims and objectives and provide a full description of the projects/activities. LHA may request additional information to assist in assessing an application for funding; and
  • Applicants are encouraged to provide financial or in-kind assistance to the projects/activities, although this is not a prerequisite for approval.

Funding

  • Any underspent and excess funding must be returned to LHA when submitting the acquittal form; and
  • Funding must not be regarded as a recurrent commitment from LHA. There is no guarantee a recurring project/activity will be funded in the future. Funding is limited.
11.5. Recognition
  • When applicants are successful in receiving a grant, they agree to acknowledge LHA’s contribution on materials produced to support their projects/activities . This acknowledgement, depending on the amount of funding received, may include logo presence on supporting publications, displays or signage. You will be provided with copies of the LHA ‘Supported by’ logo and guidelines on its correct use when you receive your outcome notification
  • There is a requirement to acknowledge that the work is taking place as an initiative of the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone and that funding has been provided by the Latrobe Health Assembly in partnership with the Victorian Government; and
  • Applicants must agree to take part in reasonable promotional activities, as agreed by the LHA and the applicant.
12.   Assessment Process

Once applications are received, they will be checked for eligibility against the Health Innovation Grants Program guidelines.

All applications will be assessed in accordance with LHA’s Health Innovation Grants Program Governance Policy and program objectives. LHA’s Health Innovation Grants Program involves a competitive process with applications assessed against the following criteria:

  • Alignment with one of the four themes – PASS / FAIL
  • Eligibility of the applicant – PASS / FAIL
  • Projects/activities proposal and plan – This includes any quotes, budget information and plans in support of the application
  • Demonstrated need in the community for the projects/activities
  • The applicant’s capacity to deliver a successful projects/activities
  • Potential benefits the projects/activities will have on the health and wellbeing of the community
  • Long term viability and financial/environmental sustainability
  • Development of a model that can be used by others
  • Applicant has contribution to the projects/activities

Applications will be reviewed and final decision made by the LHA EO and members of the LHA Board of Directors.

Applicants will receive an email notifying them of the result of their application. The LHA EO is not required to provide reasons as to the success or otherwise of any application.

LHA’s Health Innovation Grants Program is competitive and may receive more applications that can be supported.

13.   Supporting Documents

You will be asked to provide the following attachments when completing your application:

Mandatory:

  • Current certificate of Public Liability that will be used to cover the projects/activities; and
  • Projects/activities with an auspice organisation must attach a letter from the auspice organisation indicating that it accepts full financial accountability for the projects/activities and the auspice organisation’s current certificate of Public Liability.
14.   Making the Payment

If your application is successful, you will be provided with the approval letter a Funding Agreement form, LHA ‘Supported by’ logo and a copy of the Acquittal and Evaluation Report form.

To complete payment, you will be required to:

  • Provide an invoice or tax invoice (if you are GST registered) for payment; and
  • Provide any documentation outlined in the Funding Agreement Form.

Once you have provided these documents, funding will be deposited into your nominated bank account as soon as practicable, which will be at the discretion of the LHA.

15.   Information Sharing

The LHA reserves the rights to share applications and details of applications with the following organisations:

  • Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
  • Department of Health
  • Latrobe Regional Health
  • Gippsland Primary Health Network
  • Latrobe Community Health Services
  • Latrobe Valley Council
  • Latrobe Valley Authority; and
  • Vic Health.
16.   Health Innovation Grants Program timeline

Funds must normally be expended and acquitted within 12 months of Letter of Award, unless otherwise agreed.

17.   Further information and assistance

For all grant enquiries, including assistance and support available to help you submit your application, please contact:

Phone: 03 5173 8400
Email: info@healthassembly.org.au