2025-26 Teddy Sheean VC Memorial Grants Program

Edward “Teddy” Sheean VC was an ordinary seaman serving on HMAS Armidale whose death during a Japanese aerial attack on his ship has become a well-known episode in Australian Second World War lore.

Many consider that Sheean’s actions deserved the Victoria Cross, an award for which he was not recommended at the time, although he was Mentioned in Dispatches. Teddy was subsequently honoured for his heroism and was invested with the Victoria Cross for Australia on 1 December 2020. He is the first member of the Royal Australian Navy to be awarded a VC, the 101st ADF member overall and the 15th Tasmanian. This continues Tasmania’s proud history of VC winners and maintains the State’s status of having the most VC recipients per-capita of any Australian State or Territory. Teddy is also honored in a well-known painting at the Australian War Memorial and has a Collins Class submarine named after him – the only vessel in the Royal Australian Navy to be named after an ordinary seaman.

Under the Tasmanian Government’s 2030 Strong Plan, The Teddy Sheean VC Memorial Grants Program (the Program) aims to:

• Contribute to Tasmanian ex-service organisations and clubs undertaking minor capital works, purchasing equipment, or delivering welfare initiatives that benefit veterans and ex-serving personnel by supporting wellbeing and strengthening community connection.
• Contribute to community organisations constructing, maintaining, or repairing war memorials, helping Tasmanians to continue honouring veterans through attendance at Anzac Day and other commemorative services.

The total funding pool for this Program is up to $100,000.

• Category 1: grants of up to $20,000 are available for minor capital works and/or refurbishment.
• Category 2: grants of up to $10,000 are available for equipment purchases.
• Category 3: grants of up to $10,000 are available for welfare initiatives.
• Category 4: grants of up to $10,000 are available for the construction, maintenance and repair of war memorials.

Applicants must indicate on their application whether they will accept partial funding.

Eligible organisations may apply once*, under multiple categories to a combined maximum of $30,000.

*If an eligible applicant applies and also auspices[1] another organisation(s) for this Program, then the auspicee applies under their legal name and the application must include formal written confirmation from the auspicing organisation that it will accept the relevant administration, legal and financial responsibilities for the grant.

The project must be completed, and the grant money expended within 12 months.

[1] Auspicing is when an eligible organisation (the auspicor) helps unincorporated organisations (the auspicee) fund their activities. An auspice agreement is a legally binding contract, where the auspicor enters into the Grant Agreement/Deed and receives the project funding.

If you have any questions about this program, please contact grants@dpac.tas.gov.au or call us on 1800 204 224.

• Read the Program Guidelines to help you prepare your application
• Use the Help Guide for Applicants and Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
• This program closes at 2pm, 7 November 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.
• If you have any difficulties with your application, contact us before the closing time. 
• During the assessment process the department may ask for further information to support or clarify an application. This information must be provided within 3 working days. If you can't, this may mean the application won't be assessed.
• We're here to help - contact grants@dpac.tas.gov.au or call 1800 204 224.

Application Checklist:

• Track how long it takes you to do the application - we'll ask you that at the end
• Copy of latest Annual Report/recent financial statements
• Public Liability Insurance Certificate of Currency
• An authorised organisation representative to confirm eligibility prior to submitting form
• Check if you have any outstanding DPAC grant acquittals and action those
• Find out how many people your project will benefit
• Supporting documents
• Quotes to support budget line items (preferably from Tasmanian suppliers).

I confirm, as an authorised representative of the organisation, that:

• I have read and understand the program Guidelines,
• I will provide either the organisations latest Annual Report, or if it does not produce an Annual Report, the most recent financial statements available.
• If applying under categories 1, 2 or 3, the organisation is:
  • An incorporated Not-for-Profit organisation (or auspiced by an incorporated organisation), or
  • Tasmanian Commercial RSL Clubs, with the following conditions:
    • Grant funds can only be used to directly support veterans. Grant funds cannot be used to pay for salaries or other expenses.
    • Applications from RSL clubs that are commercial enterprises will be viewed more favourably if the clubs either:
      • Contributes part of the project financial cost
      • Contributes other support such as volunteer labour, or
      • Organises funding or support from another external source. When assessing the contribution from those clubs, the income derived from commercial enterprises and the current assets will be considered.
• If applying under category 4, the organisation is:
  • An incorporated Not-for-Profit organisation (or auspiced by an incorporated organisation), or
  • a local council, or
  • a school, with the following conditions:
    • Ex-service clubs and organisations not directly associated with an RSL sub-branch or an ex-service organisation must demonstrate evidence of organisational commitment to the ex-serving community - for example, a copy of the constitution.
    • These organisations must demonstrate that they are responsible for the maintenance of the memorial, and do not have a dedicated source of funding to undertake repairs; and
    • Higher priority will be given to organisations that demonstrate support (such as a letter of support) for the project from an RSL or ex-service organisation.

NOTES:

Eligible organisations who are successfully awarded a grant are required to hold and maintain appropriate public liability insurance. Applicants will be required to provide a copy of the organisation’s public liability insurance as part of this application.

Applicants with outstanding reporting or acquittal obligations for other Department of Premier and Cabinet grants may still apply and be successful in being awarded a grant, but will not receive funding under this Program until the current obligations are met.

Funding history of the applicant will not be scored as part of the assessment criteria but may be considered by the panel in its final deliberations if the program is oversubscribed.