Multicultural Business Skills Fund Grant Program- FAQs

Questions about the program

What is the Multicultural Business Skills Fund Grant Program?

The Multicultural Business Skills Fund Grant Program provides grants of $5,000 (excluding GST) to eligible business associations to help multicultural small business owners and their workers build their business skills.

Eligible trader groups, business chambers and industry organisations can apply for these grants.

The grant funding can be used to deliver projects that provide business advice, training and mentorship to Victorian multicultural small businesses.

The program is an initiative of the Supporting our Multicultural Traders and Precincts commitment.

How much grant funding is available?

The Multicultural Business Skills Fund Grant Program will provide up to 100 grants of $5,000 (excluding GST).

How many grants can I apply for?

Each eligible business association can apply for one grant of $5,000 (excluding GST).

Can eligible business associations also apply for a grant through the Shop Local Business Fund?

Yes, eligible business associations can apply to both grant programs.

However, a separate application must be submitted for each program. Each application must be for a different project.

Duplicate applications, or applications seeking funding for the same project, activities or costs through both programs, will not be considered.

Will all eligible projects receive funding?

The Department will assess each application against the eligibility and assessment criteria listed in the program guidelines.

Eligible businesses may receive funding on a first come, first served basis, subject to available funds. This means applications will be considered in date order, with early applications approved for funding first, until allocated funds are exhausted.

Applications will close at 4 pm on Monday 28 September 2026, or earlier if all funds are allocated.

I have submitted my application. What happens next?

The Department will review your proposed project. If your application is successful, the Department will notify you via an Email of Acceptance by 30 October 2026.

When will I find out if my grant application is successful?

If your application is successful, you will receive an Email of Acceptance from the Department. This Email of Acceptance forms the agreement between you and the Department based on the terms and conditions of the grant listed in the application form and the program guidelines.

How long do I have to complete my project?

If your application is successful, you must complete your project and all required reporting by Friday 26 February 2027.

What is the definition of a multicultural small business?

Multicultural small businesses refer to businesses that identify as being of a specific ethnic, language or cultural community that has common needs, customs and traditions.

Who must be involved in my project?

Each funded project must engage at least 10 participants from Victorian multicultural small businesses. Participants can be business owners and their workers (i.e. workers are paid employees of the business).

Questions about eligibility

Who can apply for a grant?

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

be a business association, such as a trader group, business chamber or industry organisation
be based in Victoria, operating only within Victoria, or be the Victorian chapter of a national organisation
be a not-for-profit member organisation that is inclusive of members that are multicultural businesses
have the core purpose of acting for its members
hold a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
be registered with the responsible federal or state regulator.

What type of projects are eligible for funding?

Each funded project must engage at least 10 participants from Victorian multicultural small businesses.

Eligible projects should help multicultural small businesses develop one or more of the following business skills:

Strategic skills, such as business planning, governance, succession planning and business resilience.
Knowledge skills, such as bookkeeping, legal and regulatory requirements, contracting and supply chain logistics, project management, marketing and advertising.
People skills, such as customer service communications, conflict resolution, recruitment, staff development and hybrid working practices.
Technology skills, such as digital systems, cyber security and artificial intelligence (AI).

Please refer to the program guidelines for more information about eligible projects.

What activities and expenses can the funding be used for?

Funding must be spent on eligible activities and expenditure that directly help to deliver the funded project.
Eligible activities may include:

training, short courses and facilitated business learning, including in-person workshops and online webinars
information sharing, including in-language resource development
business mentoring and mentor/mentee introductions.

Eligible expenses are costs directly attributable towards the project. This may include:

expert trainer or speaker engagement
in-language services
new resource development including digital content development costs.

Please refer to the program guidelines for more information about eligible activities and expenses, including limitations on particular types of expenses.

What activities and expenses are not eligible for funding?

Examples of activities and expenses the grant will not cover include:

projects or expenses incurred before a grant agreement is executed
business-as-usual operating expenses, unless a percentage of them is deemed an eligible expense in advance by the Department
wages paid to existing staff or contractors
activities that have already received government funding support
development of new website or other digital platforms
purchase or construction of property and/or assets
any other expenditure as determined by the Department that does not meet program objectives.

Please refer to the program guidelines for more information about ineligible activities and expenses.

Can I contribute additional funds to increase the total budget for the project and support additional activities?

You can contribute funding from your organisation and other sources to deliver a project worth more than $5,000. However, this funding cannot come from other government programs.

How will my application be assessed?

All applications will be assessed against the eligibility and assessment criteria listed in Section 3.1 and Section 6.2 of the program guidelines.

Please refer to the program guidelines for more information about how applications will be assessed.

Questions about submitting your application

How do I apply for the grant?

You can apply for a grant through the “Apply Now” button on the program webpage. You will need to complete all questions in the application form.

To be considered for a grant, you must submit your application by 4pm on Monday 28 September 2026. Late applications and drafts will not be accepted.

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email to your nominated email address. If you can’t see it in your inbox, check your spam/junk mail.

Please refer to the program guidelines for more information about how to apply for the grant.

Can anyone from the business association apply for the grant?

The person applying for the grant must be authorised to submit the application and agree to the terms and conditions of the grant on behalf of the Applicant.

This person must be authorised to execute contracts and legally bind the applicant business association.

Please refer to the program guidelines for more information on the authorised representative.

If I need help with my application, who can I contact?

If you need help with your application, you can contact Business Victoria on 13 22 15 or info@business.vic.gov.au

Questions about Payments

When will I receive the grant funding?

The Department will pay successful applicants in two instalments:

80% upon the Email of Acceptance being acknowledged by the applicant and provision of a valid tax invoice to the Department
20% upon project completion and provision of all required documentation. This includes a project completion report, evidence of delivery and a valid tax invoice.

How can I show that I have completed my project?

You will need to submit a project completion report to the Department by Friday 26 February 2027 along with other evidence that you have delivered your project.

The report must be in the format required by the Department and must describe the activities delivered, and related information, such as project expenditure, participation and the outcomes achieved. You will also be required to provide information and data about your project to support the Department’s evaluation of the program.

The Department may request supporting documents, such as invoices or receipts, to verify project expenditure.

What if I don’t use all of the grant funds?

Any unspent funds must be returned, unless otherwise agreed to by the Department.

Will I receive GST with my grant payment?

The Department will add Goods and Services Tax (GST) to your grant payment if you are registered for the GST. For example, if the approved funding is $5,000 excluding GST, the Department will process payments totalling $5,500 ($5,000 excluding GST + $500 GST).

The Department will not add GST to your grant payment if you are not registered for GST.

Do I have to keep records of the payment or project?

Yes. Your application and grant expenditure may be audited for up to four years from the program close date of 28 September 2026.
Please keep all records of your eligibility for the grant and, if a grant is received, how the funds were spent, for the entire audit period.