Independent Grants Program in Australia

Deadline: 24-Feb-23

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is currently seeking applications for Independent Grants Program which focuses on producing useful education, representation, and research outcomes for communications consumers.

The ACCAN seeks to help consumers navigate the communications market, and to establish a sound body of evidence for consumer representation and advocacy. 

The ACCAN Grants Program (the Program) is administered as part of the funding agreement with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department), to fund projects that help achieve the aim.

The Program is designed to: 

• support ACCAN’s ongoing consumer education objective; 
• represent and maintain diverse consumer interests at the core of policy developments and industry initiatives; and
• support the provision of well researched, evidence-based input into government and industry consultations.

2023 Priority Themes

• Communications privacy and security e.g., cyber-security.
• Digital exclusion e.g., policy issues; practical responses; economic cost.
• Communications affordability e.g., Obstacles to device and service upgrades; mis-selling; sales tactics; financial hardship.
• Solutions to communications issues for remote consumers.
• Other topics which can demonstrate direct alignment with ACCAN’s strategic plan

Project Types

• The Program funds consumer-focused research, education or representation. Projects may include one or more of these approaches in their work.
  • Research: research into the social, economic, environmental or technological effects, experiences and implications of communications for consumers. These projects need to demonstrate appropriate methodologies and document a particular communications consumer issue or experience. Outputs can include, for example, data sets, research reports and articles.
    • Projects which are predominantly research will be assessed under the Research Stream.
  • Education: These projects might include developing consumer education tools, conducting workshops or peer education initiatives to address systemic or emerging communications consumer issues. Education may be on topics such as billing issues, how to make a complaint about phone or internet services, consumer rights in relation to communications services, or digital literacy.
    • Projects aim to empower consumers and communities to act in their own interests in relation to communications issues. 
  • Projects which are predominantly community education will be assessed under the Education & Representation Stream.
  • Representation: These projects undertake advocacy or representation of the interests of consumers in relation to communications issues.  They might involve action such as developing specific submissions, participating in regulatory reviews or knowledge sharing to develop capacity to advocate on consumer issues. Projects that fall under this category can be directed, for example, towards regulatory bodies, industry or consumers themselves.
    • Projects which are predominantly representational will be assessed under the Education & Representation Stream.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications must meet all eligibility criteria. Applications that are late, incomplete, or ineligible will not be assessed. 
• Applications must:
  • Be submitted prior to the advertised deadline
  • Be for a project that seeks to explore communications consumer issues in Australia and be consistent with ACCAN’s scope.
  • Be able to provide a valid ABN in the Applicant’s name.
  • Declare that should they be successful they will provide evidence of Public Liability Insurance with coverage up to $5 million.
  • Have successfully acquitted any previous funding under the ACCAN Grants Program.
  • If applying under the Education and Representation Stream, be from a community sector applicant, or demonstrate a strong community sector partnership.
  • If applying under the Research Stream, address one or more of the 2023 Priority Themes.
  • Be for a project that begins after 1st July 2023 and that is completed before 30th June 2025.
  • Not request funding for any of the ineligible activities below:
  • Activities that contradict ACCAN’s values.
  • Activities primarily related to commercial product or service development.
  • Activities of a partisan (party) political nature.
  • Projects that have already been completed (i.e., retroactive funding for work already undertaken).
  • Travel costs (unless directly necessary for the project).
  • Operational or ongoing activities normally funded through other arrangements.
  • University or other administration levies.
  • General operating costs not directly attributable to the project.

For more information, visit ACCAN.