The court may order money to be paid to Court Fund as part of an adjourned undertaking or diversion plan. Court Fund monies are disbursed to various community organisations that directly benefit the local Victorian community.

What has changed?

The new Court Fund process will require all eligible community groups and organisations to submit a new application directly to MCV for Court Fund.

Applications will no longer be submitted through the Latrobe City Trust.

MCV invites applications across a range of initiatives in addition to emergency relief. Court Fund can also be used for social, cultural and disability inclusion, mental health, youth support, Koori community support, and to address family violence, homelessness, and drug and alcohol dependency, among other areas.

Payments are available as a one-off or fixed term arrangement of up to two years, with a total of four intakes per year across each financial quarter. Amounts allocated will depend on each application’s intended funding use and the available Court Fund balance each quarter.

All Court Fund applications are reviewed by MCV’s Court Fund Central Committee to ensure funds directly benefit the community and make the greatest impact for their local area.

A Victorian community organisation/agency can apply for a Court Fund payment if they:

• provide a service that benefits the Victorian community;
• do not intend to use Court Funds to cover prior expenses or administrative costs (i.e. wages of any kind, rent, stationery, electricity, monthly accounts, debts or vehicle costs); and
• meet at least one of the following:
  • Are registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC);  
  • Are a Not-For-Profit group with a committee of management or similar, a governing document and its own legal identity;
  • Are supported under an auspice arrangement with another not-for-profit organisation with its own legal identity; or
  • Are a public agency (school or health service) with Court Funds to be used to address critical social issues.  

The Court Fund can be used for services, programs, projects and events that directly benefit members of the Victorian community. Some examples of previous funding use are:

• medical costs, emergency housing, food and other materials to support people experiencing financial hardship and/or homelessness;
• teaching materials, including certificates and frames, for English language classes for asylum-seekers and newly arrived groups;
• purchase of sports equipment to support programs for young people at risk of offending; and
• art materials and food for an Indigenous community celebration.

Court Fund payments cannot be used for administrative costs (i.e. wages of any kind, rent, electricity, debts or vehicle costs).