Merri-bek Naming Support Grants

Merri-bek Naming Support Grants

In September 2022, Council officially changed its name from Moreland to Merri-bek. Council undertook an extensive consultation process to decide on this new name and worked closely with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. 

Council has changed its corporate name only and has not required or requested local organisations, clubs, businesses, and groups to change their name unless they choose to do so. However, since the name change has occurred, several groups have contacted Council expressing a desire to undertake a name change process to align themselves with the new municipal name of Merri-bek.  

To support such local groups, grant funding is now available to Merri-bek based community groups, businesses, organisations and sporting clubs to assist with changing their name from Moreland to Merri-bek. 

Two funding streams are available, one for $2,500 and one for $5,000 for applicants who meet the eligibility criteria. Funding will operate on a first-come-first-serve basis alongside the eligibility criteria and be available up until 30 June 2023 or until the allocated $25,000 has been exhausted.

Applicants can apply for grants retrospective of work that has already been completed and if a name change from Moreland to Merri-bek has already occurred.

The Merri-bek Naming Support Grant Program Guidelines provides further information about this grant.

To apply online complete and submit the application form on Smarty Grants.

This toolkit is available for anyone wanting to learn more about the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung history of the area and about Council’s transition to a new name. You can also read more about Council's name change on our Conversations Merri-bek page.

  • Applications are open during the 22/23 financial year for this grant category until the total pool of $25,000 is expended.

    • $2,500 grant – to assist with administration costs, digital and graphic design work and marketing collateral updates associated with replacing the name Moreland with Merri-bek.  
    • $5,000 grant - to assist with costs incurred for physical work upgrades when replacing Moreland with Merri-bek. Applicants for this grant must demonstrate the longevity of this work. 

    Only one grant will be awarded per application, in line with the program objectives. Council reserves the right to apply its discretion in awarding funds.

    • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN); 
    • Have no outstanding grant acquittals or outstanding debts owing to Council,  
    • Be able to meet conditions associated with receiving the grant,  
    • Demonstrate the proposed activity is consistent with Local, State and Federal laws including the Charter Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 and the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 2010, 
    • Be able to provide supporting data proving that the project is adequately costed and able to be completed within a 12-month timeframe, 
    • Currently have Moreland in their trading name and be changing this to incorporate Merri-bek (or have undertaken this already). 
    • Be based, located in and/or operate within the Merri-bek municipality. 
    • Provide evidence of intended work or work that has already been completed in line with guidelines. 

  • Grants can be used for one or more of the following activities (but are not limited to) where the name Moreland will need to be replaced with Merri-bek. 

    $2,500 – Administration, digital and design work, and collateral updates i.e 

    • Name registration change. 
    • Website domain name change. 
    • Website re-brand. 
    • Printing and design costs associated with updating marketing collateral and stationery i.e. business cards, letterheads, posters, menus, pamphlets, logos. 
    • Uniform replacement. 
    • Logo and name re-design. 

    $5,000 – Physical work upgrades i.e. 

    • Signage upgrades (internal and external). 
    • Shopfront or façade works (i.e. window promotion, entryway). 
    • For physical works associated with name change implementation – i.e painting, and associated labour costs. 

    Grants can be applied for planned activities or applicants can apply for grants retrospective of work already completed. 

    • Payment of wages or salaries. 
    • Other operating costs such as rates or utilities. 
    • Expenses that are part of the organisation’s annual or regular program/activities or a duplication of an existing service or an ongoing activity (e.g. subscriptions to industry groups; ongoing advertising and social media promotions, etc.).  
    • Applications that fail to meet eligibility. 
    • Applications seeking funding to cover outstanding loans or debts. 
    • Expenses that are not related to, or necessary for the premises. 
    • Activities or works that do not adhere to any pandemic restrictions imposed by the State and/or Federal Governments. 
    • Activities that have not been approved by Council. 
    • Activities that are not directly related to replacing the name Moreland with Merri-bek. 
    • Activities that just remove the name Moreland. Moreland must be replaced with Merri-bek. 

  • Only applications submitted online through Smarty Grants will be accepted.

    To apply online go to our Smarty Grants website.

More information and help on grants

Visit our page on applying for community grants to find out more information on the application and assessment process as well as templates, help sheets, information about reporting and other requirements for grant recipients.