People with a disability in Victoria

Disability donations trust

Contact Print
The Disability Donations Trust provides grants to individuals and organisations to improve the quality of life for people with a disability.

The Disability Donations Trust is a set of charitable funds managed by the department. The trust provides grants to people with a disability to assist in meeting needs they are otherwise unable to afford and for which no government funding is available.

Each fund has specific criteria which must be met before a grant can be made. Some funds provide grants to individuals and others are available to organisations.

Granting is currently on hold. This webpage will be updated once granting re-commences.

Collapse all Expand all

  • Grants for individuals

    Applicants must fall into one of the following groups to be eligible for a grant:

    • Children aged 18 or under who have an intellectual disability as defined by the Disability Act 2006
    • Former residents of St Nicholas’ Hospital.

    Currently there is no funding available for adults who do not fit into any of the groups above.

    All applicants must also:

    • Be Victorian residents
    • Have a disability as defined by the Disability Act 2006
    • Fall within the target group for priority access to disability services.

  • Grants for organisations

    Herbert Allen Bequest

    The Herbert Allen Bequest can be used to provide bus excursions for children with an intellectual disability between the ages of 8 and 18, including board and lodging and other incidental expenses.

    Grants are available to registered disability service providers and specialist schools. 

    General research grant

    The general research account can be used for providing grants for research projects to benefit children and young people, up to 19 years of age, with an intellectual disability. Future rounds of grants will be advertised on this website and via relevant research networks.

    The organisations must be able to fulfill the specific purpose of these bequests. Grants cannot be awarded for any activity considered the normal responsibility of government or to government-funded organisations for activities funded by government.

    Separate guidelines and application forms for research grants will be posted on this website prior to opening an application round.

  • Grants for mental health services clients

    The Disability Donations Trust is only open to applicants who have been assessed as having a disability under the Disability Act 2006. Clients of mental health services in Victoria may be eligible for grants from the Mental Health Trust, if they are case managed by a public clinical mental health service.

    To find out more about these grants and eligibility please call (03) 9096 8000, or visit the Health.Vic website for the Psychiatric illness and intellectual disabilities donations trust fund general guidelines.