Deadline: 19-Jun-2026
The Spark Grant supports the creation of public Social Sciences Week events across Australia by providing small grants of up to $1,000 per project. Offered by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia with support from its sponsors, the programme encourages innovative, accessible, and social science-themed events delivered online or in person. A total funding pool of $10,000 is available, excluding GST.
Overview
The Spark Grant is seeking applications to support the delivery of Social Sciences Week events across Australia.
The programme provides small grants to help organisers develop new ideas, engage wider audiences, and promote public understanding of the social sciences.
It supports public-facing events that are social science themed and delivered during Social Sciences Week 2026 or, if necessary, in the week immediately before or after it.
Key Focus Areas
The Spark Grant focuses on public engagement, innovation, and social science communication.
Key focus areas include:
- Social science-themed public events
- Innovative Social Sciences Week activities
- Audience engagement across Australia
- Collaboration between organisations and communities
- Online and in-person events
- Public understanding of social sciences
- Accessible event delivery
- Community participation
- Social science communication
- Public-facing learning opportunities
Purpose of the Grant
The purpose of the Spark Grant is to encourage new and creative ideas for Social Sciences Week events.
The programme aims to help organisers reach diverse audiences and make social science topics more visible, accessible, and engaging for the public.
It is designed to “spark” participation by supporting small-scale events that bring social science discussions into communities, public spaces, and online platforms.
Funding Amount
The Spark Grant provides funding of up to $1,000 per project.
The total funding pool available is $10,000, excluding GST.
Applicants should prepare a clear and realistic budget that explains how the grant will support event delivery, promotion, accessibility, or audience engagement.
Who Offers the Programme?
The Spark Grant programme is offered by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia with support from its sponsors.
The programme strengthens participation in Social Sciences Week by helping organisations, groups, and individuals deliver public-facing events.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include a wide range of organisations, groups, and individuals working on social science topics.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Social science organisations
- Professional associations
- Networks
- University academic units
- University centres
- Local government bodies
- Councils
- Community services
- Specialist interest groups
- Local clubs
- Societies
- Arts organisations
- Community organisations
- Environmental organisations
- Individuals working with community groups on social science topics
Schools are not eligible to apply.
Australian Business Number Requirement
Applicants must hold an Australian Business Number.
This requirement applies to applicants seeking support through the Spark Grant programme.
Applicants should ensure their ABN details are accurate and available before submitting an application.
Event Requirements
Events supported through the Spark Grant must meet specific requirements.
Events must:
- Be social science themed
- Be open to the public
- Be delivered online or in person
- Take place during Social Sciences Week 2026, or in the week immediately before or after it if necessary
- Be promoted through the Social Sciences Week website
- Be registered by the specified deadline
- Include promotional information and images for the Academy’s communications team
- Be followed by a post-event survey
What the Grant Can Support
The Spark Grant can support activities that help organisers create and deliver engaging public events.
Supported activities may include:
- Public talks
- Panel discussions
- Community conversations
- Workshops
- Online events
- Public forums
- Exhibitions with social science themes
- Collaborative community events
- Events that explain research in accessible ways
- Activities that connect social science topics with public issues
Events should be designed to engage audiences beyond specialist academic circles where possible.
Social Sciences Week Alignment
Funded events must contribute to Social Sciences Week.
Applicants should show how their event will highlight social science ideas, research, methods, or public issues.
Possible themes may include:
- Society and community
- Inequality and inclusion
- Environment and climate
- Public policy
- Culture and identity
- Health and wellbeing
- Education
- Economy and work
- Technology and society
- Democracy and civic participation
The event should help the public understand how social sciences contribute to everyday life and decision-making.
Public Engagement
Public engagement is central to the Spark Grant.
Applicants should explain how they will reach and involve their intended audience.
This may include:
- Community outreach
- Online promotion
- Partnerships with local groups
- Accessible language and formats
- Inclusive event design
- Engagement with regional or diverse audiences
- Promotion through Social Sciences Week channels
The strongest events are those that make social science topics meaningful and accessible to wider communities.
Collaboration and Community Participation
The programme encourages collaboration between organisations and communities.
Collaborative events may involve:
- Academic and community partnerships
- Local government and community group cooperation
- Professional association involvement
- Cross-sector event planning
- Community-led discussions
- Partnerships with arts, environmental, or social organisations
Collaboration can help events reach broader audiences and create stronger public impact.
Reporting and Post-Event Requirements
Successful applicants must complete post-event requirements.
These include:
- Registering the event by the required deadline
- Providing promotional information
- Providing suitable event images
- Promoting the event through the Social Sciences Week website
- Completing a post-event survey
- Sharing information about participation and grant experience
These requirements help document event reach, learning, and public engagement outcomes.
Why It Matters
Social sciences help people understand communities, institutions, culture, behaviour, policy, inequality, and social change.
Public events can make these ideas more accessible and relevant to everyday life.
The Spark Grant matters because it helps organisers create opportunities for people across Australia to engage with social science topics in creative and practical ways.
By supporting small-scale events, the programme helps expand public participation in Social Sciences Week and encourages new conversations between researchers, organisations, and communities.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should prepare a clear application that explains the event idea, social science theme, target audience, delivery format, budget, and promotional plan.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that they are eligible to apply and hold an Australian Business Number.
Schools are not eligible, so applicants should check this requirement before preparing a proposal.
Step 2: Define the Event Theme
The application should clearly explain the social science topic or question the event will address.
Applicants should describe how the event connects to social science and why the topic is relevant to the public.
Step 3: Describe the Event Format
Applicants should explain whether the event will be delivered online, in person, or through a hybrid format.
The description should include:
- Event title
- Event format
- Target audience
- Proposed date
- Event location or online platform
- Speakers, facilitators, or partners
- Main activities
- Expected audience engagement
Step 4: Show Public Benefit
A strong application should explain how the event will engage wider audiences.
Applicants should describe how the event will:
- Inspire discussion
- Share social science knowledge
- Reach diverse communities
- Encourage participation
- Make social science accessible
- Promote learning and public understanding
Step 5: Prepare a Clear Budget
Applicants should prepare a realistic budget of up to $1,000.
The budget should explain how grant funds will support the event, such as venue costs, accessibility support, speaker costs, promotion, materials, online delivery tools, or other relevant event needs.
Step 6: Plan Promotion and Reporting
Applicants should be ready to promote the event through the Social Sciences Week website and provide information and images to the Academy’s communications team.
They should also plan to complete the post-event survey after the event is delivered.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting unclear or ineligible applications.
Common mistakes include:
- Applying without an Australian Business Number
- Submitting an event that is not social science themed
- Proposing a private event that is not open to the public
- Scheduling the event outside the eligible timeframe
- Not registering the event by the required deadline
- Forgetting to promote the event through the Social Sciences Week website
- Not explaining audience engagement
- Providing an unclear budget
- Applying as a school
- Not planning for the post-event survey
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should be clear, creative, and public-facing.
Useful tips include:
- Choose a social science topic that matters to the public.
- Make the event accessible and easy to understand.
- Clearly explain the audience you want to reach.
- Show how the event will inspire discussion or learning.
- Use partnerships to strengthen reach and participation.
- Keep the budget realistic and within the $1,000 limit.
- Plan promotion early.
- Register the event by the required deadline.
- Provide good promotional images and information.
- Be ready to complete the post-event survey.
FAQ
1. What is the Spark Grant?
The Spark Grant is a small grant programme that supports the creation of public Social Sciences Week events across Australia.
2. Who offers the Spark Grant?
The programme is offered by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia with support from its sponsors.
3. How much funding is available per project?
Applicants may request up to $1,000 per project.
4. What is the total funding pool?
The total funding pool is $10,000, excluding GST.
5. Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include social science organisations, associations, networks, university units and centres, local government bodies, community groups, specialist interest groups, local clubs, societies, arts, community and environmental organisations, and individuals working with community groups on social science topics.
6. Are schools eligible?
No. Schools are not eligible to apply.
7. What kind of events are supported?
Supported events must be social science themed, open to the public, delivered online or in person, and scheduled during Social Sciences Week 2026 or in the week immediately before or after it if necessary.
Conclusion
The Spark Grant provides practical support for organisers who want to create engaging public events for Social Sciences Week across Australia.
With grants of up to $1,000 and a total pool of $10,000 excluding GST, the programme encourages innovative, accessible, and collaborative events that broaden public understanding of social science. Strong applications should present a clear social science theme, public-facing event format, realistic budget, audience engagement plan, promotional readiness, and compliance with registration and post-event reporting requirements.
For more information, visit Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.