Better Beginnings Family Literacy Community Grants Program – Australia

Deadline: 30-Sep-22

The State Library of Western Australia is seeking applications for its Better Beginnings Family Literacy Community Grants Program to assist libraries and community organisations to develop early literacy activities that meet their local communities’ needs.

Priorities

• Priorities will apply to applications to the Better Beginnings Family Literacy Community Grants Program.
• Applications for both the Micro and the Innovation Grants must:
  • Increase the engagement and connection between parent and child in early literacy activities (0-5 years of age), building confidence in families to read, talk, sing, write and play; and
  • Explore new ways to engage families and the community in early literacy activities, reaching new participants who have been difficult to engage before.
• Applications for the Innovation Grant ($10,000 – $30,000) must also:
  • Address barriers to participation for regional and remote, Indigenous, CALD or disadvantaged communities.
  • Indicate opportunities for sustainability beyond this funding program’s investment; and
  • Build partnerships across community/ health/ cultural groups and organisations, that embed literacy outcomes in the longer term.

Funding Categories

• $200,000 per annum is available in the following categories:
  • Better Beginnings Micro Grants
    • A pool of $80,000 per year for Micro Grants, from $5,000 up to $10,000 for Local Governments, public libraries and community groups or organisations.
    • Innovative small projects can include new program development, community book production (with relevant activities that connect them to the parent/child interaction), interactive technology, new events, increased marketing, and promotion to new communities, targeted bi-lingual or cultural projects that promote the early literacy messages aligned with Better Beginnings aims.
    • Micro Grants may be used for the development and testing of pilot initiatives that may become eligible for the Better Beginnings Innovation Grants.
  • Better Beginnings Innovation Grants
    • A pool of $120,000 per year for longer term programs, or innovative partnerships between Local Governments, public libraries and community groups and organisations, from $10,000 up to $30,000.
    • Local Governments may apply for projects to be delivered across multiple library branches in their jurisdiction.
    • Innovative programs and/or partnerships will address early childhood vulnerabilities against AEDC language and cognitive measures for school readiness, target multicultural and/or Indigenous communities, increase access through development of innovative sensory or play based learning initiatives.
    • Innovative cross-community partnerships that strengthen health, social and cultural responses to early literacy development are encouraged.

Outcomes

• AEDC research and evaluation of Better Beginnings indicates that socio-educational inequities of access and outcomes exist within:
  • Remote communities.
  • Indigenous communities.
  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.
  • Financially disadvantaged communities
• There is also evidence of low levels of literacy where families and parents display low literacy levels themselves.

Eligibility Criteria

• Public libraries, though their Local Government Authority.
• Not-for-profit community groups and organisations already established and operating in WA are welcome to apply, however:
  • Organisations must be registered under law (e.g., incorporated association, company limited by guarantee).
  • Un-incorporated groups, teams, or partnerships informally collaborating on an activity must be based in Western Australia and require a public library or incorporated community group to act as an auspicing body. Please speak to the Better Beginnings team before commencing your application.
  • If you are applying on behalf of Aboriginal people, you must provide evidence of significant Aboriginal involvement in the conception, development of and participation in the activity.
• Please note:
  • WA  educational institutions (kindergartens, primary schools) cannot apply.
  • Individuals cannot apply for this funding alone and must be part of a group, organisation, or partnership.

For more information, visit https://slwa.submittable.com/submit