Guidelines
To prepare an application for an Inspiring Australia Unlocking Australia’s Potential grant, please refer to the guidelines [
PDF 382KB] [
RTF 2.45MB]. Applications will be processed in accordance with these guidelines.
This page will help you to apply for a grant by focusing on each section of the online application form.
Additional information
Please note this is a competitive process. The information you provide needs to be concise and must contain all relevant details.
You are writing to the Grant Selection Committee members. The selection committee consists of people who have experience in assessing, implementing and monitoring science engagement activities. You need to persuade them of the quality and importance of your project.
The information below indicates what you may need. It does not change or supersede the guidelines in any way. It is designed to help in the online application process only. If you have further questions please contact the Inspiring Australia team.
Using the online application system
Applications must be submitted using the online application system. Information on registering as a user and accessing your application is provided on the How to Apply Online page. The system will only accept applications between 16 January 2012 and 4pm (AEDST), 29 February 2012.
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Grant category
After registering as a user for the online application system, select the grant category you wish to apply for.
Choose one of the three grant categories to progress. Once you begin a project application in one category you will not be able to change the project’s category. If you need to change the category, you must start a new application. You cannot delete applications, but it is not a problem to leave an application as unfinished and unsubmitted.
Each category has different application requirements so please read the guidelines carefully.
The categories are:
- Small – up to $5,000 for the duration of the project
- Medium – up to $45,000 over three years
- Large – up to $500,000 over three years
These amounts are Goods and Services Tax (GST) exclusive and represent the amount of funding you are requesting from the department for the duration of your project.
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Applicant details
Primary applicant's name
The name of the person or officer responsible for the grant application and for the project.
Organisation
If the applicant is an incorporated organisation or company, provide the registered name, Australian Company Number (ACN) and/or Australian Business Number (ABN). If this information is not provided, the department may withhold the grant amount.
Contact details
The applicant's contact details must be complete. If a form of contact is not applicable, make sure you indicate this. These details will enable quick communication if you are successful.
Secondary applicant details
You must provide a secondary applicant's details. If the primary applicant moves to another role or is not available, the secondary applicant will be contacted about the project.
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Summary information – Project details
Project title
This will be the title of your project or activity event in promotional material. Make sure the title is both catchy and descriptive. The purpose of the title is to attract and inform your audience.
Project date
You must specify the project's expected start and finish dates.
- Projects must be delivered during calendar years 2012 and/or 2013 and/or 2014.
- Contracts must be entered into prior to June 2012.
- Initial payments are made prior to July 2012.
- Final payments are made prior to July 2014.
It is possible to complete project elements after the final payment but they must be finalised before the end of 2014.
Project summary
The summary is meant to give the Grant Selection Committee a clear overview of your project. While the selection criteria will provide details of what you are hoping to achieve, the project summary provides the 'big picture' of your project. Make sure it is short and clear.
The summary is likely to be used on the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) website. It may also be included in media releases announcing successful projects.
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Summary information – Funding details
Amount sought
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting. The minimum and maximum amounts available for a project depend on the category.
Please note this is in relation to the grant amount being requested (excluding GST) over the entire length of the project, not just over one financial year. It is not necessarily the total budget of the project (which may include other funding sources).
You must provide GST-exclusive figures.
Receiving organisation
Specify the organisation or body that will receive the funding. This organisation will be responsible for the financial control and reporting of the grant and the grant funding agreement will be with this organisation. This is especially important if the primary applicant is not from the receiving organisation.
State and Territory Contact Officers
You may find it helpful to contact the state or territory Inspiring Australia contact officers as you plan your application. These contact officers provide a central contact point for Inspiring Australia activity happening in their region. They may be able to provide background on Inspiring Australia activities and strategies in their state or territory.
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Selection criteria
This section of the application form requires you to address the selection criteria. Please read Section 3 of the guidelines [PDF 382KB] [RTF 2.45MB] for a detailed explanation of each criterion.
Applications for small grants will need to address six criteria with a limit of 200 words per criterion. Applications for medium and large grants will need to address all eight criteria with a limit of 500 and 750 words respectively.
Strategy
Provide a clearly articulated strategy outlining the purpose, expected outcomes and key performance indicators of the project. Ensure that included within the strategy is how the project will achieve the Inspiring Australia's principles and deliver the outcomes.
Make sure that you describe how the project will achieve the principles of Inspiring Australia and deliver its outcomes.
Refer to the principles and outcomes by number so you can stay under the word limit.
The Grant Selection Committee should be able to grasp the full extent of your project and what you aim to contribute towards the Inspiring Australia strategy after reading this criterion and the project summary.
Some parts of the project require detailed explanation in other criteria. For this criterion, you can briefly mention those parts of the project, especially target audience, relevance and so on. The details supporting these elements should be given in the relevant criteria.
Relevance
Outline which identified Australian needs, priorities and trends are being addressed. Ensure your statement of relevance includes how the Project will address current needs and/or priorities according to current Inspiring Australia priorities.
Please note there are two aspects to this question:
- The need, priority or trend for Australia
- The priorities of the Inspiring Australia strategy.
For example, you may have research that identifies how general public engagement with the science of feral animals is a crucial need for Australia’s environment. You may also be aware of the Expert Working Group on the Desert Region of Australia and their recommendations about science literacy and local science issues. With these two things in mind you have developed a project to engage people living in the desert regions of Australia that will increase science literacy with a particular focus on the science of feral animals.
When you outline the relevance of your project, make it clear how the project addresses both aspects of relevance.
It is also important that you provide relevant information that explains how your particular topic, theme or idea is relevant to Australians. Include summaries of relevant research which supports this.
Toi link your project to a current Inspiring Australia priority or outcome, it helps to reference and/or explain from where your understanding of this priority or outcome comes. For example, an Expert Working Group report or the Inspiring Australia report.
Credibility
Outline how the project will ensure credible, defensible and accurate science content.
You must assure the Grant Selection Committee that the science the project communicates is credible.
Target Audience
Describe your target audience and your rationale for this group.
The Grant Selection Committee is interested to see that each project clearly identifies the audience it is trying to reach. This criterion should demonstrate some analysis of demographics, geography, scientific interest and appropriate engagement techniques.
Evaluation
How will you evaluate the success of your project?
Provide a description of the methods you will use to measure the impact of the project.
Make sure you have spoken to people who are experts or have experience in evaluation methodology so your project reflects best practice evaluation.
Design
Describe the rationale for the project’s delivery mechanism. Describe the nature of the innovation included within your project. Describe how this project is able to be sustained beyond initial Government funding.
Please note:
- Innovation is a specific requirement for small grant applicants.
- Sustainability is an expectation for large grants.
It is important that your project has been through a considered design process. What is the best way to achieve your outcomes? Are there innovative methods you could use? Are there existing tools you could use to improve the impact and sustainability of your project?
Collaboration (for medium and large grant applicants only)
Outline the collaborations and partnerships involved in the design and delivery of the project, including the amount, source and nature of funding and other contributions from partners.
Collaborations and partnerships:
- Broaden support
- Strengthen your project
- Increase the project's impact across the community.
Collaboration can come in many forms throughout the design and delivery of a project, so include all significant contributions.
Promotion (for medium and large grant applicants only)
Describe the promotional strategy for both the project and its outcomes, including how the project will be branded to promote the broader Inspiring Australia initiative.
The Grant Selection Committee will consider:
- How your project will attract its audiences
- How you will tell the story of the project
- How you will engage media
- How the Inspiring Australia strategy will be promoted during the project.
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Budget information
GST on funding arrangements
The GST is generally applicable to funding arrangements if applicants are registered for GST. Applicants will need to register for GST if they have a gross annual income over $50 000 ($100 000 for non-profit organisations). In these cases, funding is only paid after the department receives a tax invoice.
Please contact the Australian Tax Office (www.ato.gov.au) for advice on registering for GST.
Value for money
Demand for grants is likely to be intense. You must demonstrate that your project offers value for money. Contributions from your organisation and others are a great way of providing value for money. Be accurate! The Grant Selection Committee has experience in applying for grants and knows how much things cost!
Contributions of participants
You must include details of finance or resources that you and other organisations will provide. You must:
-
Itemise the overall project budget (see below)
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Identify what the components of the grant funding will be directed toward
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Identify what further financial and in-kind contributions will be made and what they will be directed towards.
Budget document
Provide a proposed budget. The level of detail you need depends on the level of the grant (small, medium or large) as described in the guidelines. The budget should describe:
- Sources of income (both grant and other sources)
- Intended expenditure (grant and other)
- In-kind sponsorship and resources and the organisations providing this.
Make sure you show what the funding will be applied to, rather than what the overall budget will be applied to. The clarity and accuracy of budgets can be a key factor in deciding between two projects that have achieved a similar rank in selection criteria.
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Supporting documentation
Small and medium grant categories
No supporting documentation is required, accepted or passed onto the Grant Selection Committee for small or medium grants.
Large grant category
Supporting documentation is required for applications in the large grant category. Letters of support and collaboration from major partners are required. This documentation should outline their commitment to provide support, and provide indications of the type, form and extent, such as financial and/or in-kind resources.
Please note that only four supporting documents can be attached to the online application form. If you have further information that needs to be included, combine documents so that the number of files you attach does not exceed four.
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Contact details
Throughout the application process you can contact the Inspiring Australia team for assistance and guidance on 02 6270 2803 or email Inspiring.Australia@innovation.gov.au.