The program provides grants of financial assistance to support health services with projects that are sustainable and have a positive impact on the overall quality of cancer patient care and experience.
Consideration will be given to projects that are:
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innovative
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time specific and cannot be funded by health services*
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encourage partnerships
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benefit the SMICS catchment
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align with the goals of the Victorian Cancer Plan 2020-2024, and address at least one of the Victorian Integrated Cancer Services priorities
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sustainable
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Contribute to improved outcomes and experiences of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer
*Please note operational funds will generally not be considered, please refer to the full grant guidelines for more information.
Frequently asked questions
What category of projects will be supported?
Quality Improvement Projects that are sustainable.
What can the funding go towards?
The funding aims to support design, development and implementation of projects aiming to improve cancer care. This includes funding to back-fill positions to enable staff to be released from operational roles to work on the project.
The applicant must be working towards a feasible and viable model or service that does not require an ongoing (additional) budget source that is yet to be identified.
What will the funding not support?
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funding of recurrent positions or non-sustainable initiatives
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funding of administrative staff positions to provide data entry or data manager roles
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equipment purchases for service delivery (requests for equipment funding to support service change may be considered)
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corporate overhead costs
Which organisations are eligible?
Organisations that provide specialist or generalist cancer services and are located in the SMICS catchment including public or not for profit health services, GP clinics, community or Aboriginal controlled community health services, peak bodies or not for profit organisations.

How much funding is available?
The program round 2022/23 will provide up to $500,000 in funding for approved health service quality improvement projects in the SMICS catchment. Individual applicants can apply for funds up to $125,000.
How are grants evaluated?
After an initial Expression of Interest (EOI) and an opportunity to meet with the SMICS Team for an online discussion about their proposal, applicants will need to lodge a grant application. All grant applications will be reviewed by a SMICS Grants Selection Committee that includes:
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SMICS Program Manager
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SMICS Quality Manager
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SMICS Clinical Director
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Up to two Consumer representatives
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Executive Director, South East Metro Health Service Partnership
Instructions for applicants
Applicants must satisfy all the requirements set out in the SMICS Funding Program Guidelines.
Applicants are advised to become familiar with the Guidelines and Grant Application and take the opportunity to meet with the SMICS team to discuss their Initial Expressions of Interest.
Applicants will then submit a full grant application by the
COB 5pm 14th April 2023.
All applications must be submitted electronically using the appropriate grant templates via SMICS.Quality@monashhealth.org
Important dates
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Initial expression of interest open 5th December 2022
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Expression of interest close 5pm EST 23rd January 2023
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Online interviews with SMICS held 30th January - 17th February 2023
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Final grant application due 5pm EST 14th April 2023

Past SMICS Funding Recipients 2021 / 2022 Round
The SMICS funding program provides time limited funding for projects that support improvements in cancer patient care. The focus areas of the program align with the statewide priorities of the Victorian Integrated Cancer Services and the Victorian Cancer Plan.
SMICS is delighted to announce the recipients of the
2021 SMICS Funding Program:
Quality and Service Improvement category
Service or Process Redesign category
Cabrini Health
Implementation of an electronic supportive care screening tool, utilising the eCaptis ePROMS platform, for Cabrini cancer patients.

The Victorian Integrated Cancer Services are supported by the Victorian Government
© 2023 Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service
The Victorian Government acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
We are committed to safe and inclusive work places, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ+ communities and their families.