Content Development - Salary grants 2016/17

*** THIS GRANT ROUND IS NOW CLOSED***

See guidelines for the previous grant round below.

Funds are available to support the development, production and distribution of new radio content by Australian community broadcasting stations.

Consideration of Content Development grants is the responsibility of the General Grants Advisory Committee (GGAC). The final funding decision will be made at the CBF Board's August meeting.

We strongly encourage you to discuss your project with the relevant CBF Grants Administrator before submitting your application. They can provide advice on the types of projects funded in this category and what information you should include in your application.

For assistance in applying please see links to further information below.

CBF Grants Administrator:

Claire Stuchbery 
Telephone: (03) 8341 5900
Email: cstuchbery@cbf.com.au

For further information see:

Applying for the first time?

General information for all applicants

SmartyGrants Guide for Applicants

How to Manage Your Grant

Return to CBF website

Guidelines for Content Development - Salary grants

Please read these grant guidelines before you apply.  Even if you frequently apply under this category, read them each round, as the grant guidelines are regularly revised.  The grant guidelines include important information about this grant category including what you can use the grant for and the criteria used by the General Grants Advisory Committee to assess your application.

1. What is the objective of the Content Development grant category?

To support the development, production and distribution of new radio content by Australian community broadcasting stations.

New radio content is content that has never been broadcast before. Radio doesn’t end with the broadcast on a terrestrial service. You should consider other creative components to complement your program.

2. Who is eligible to apply?

You can apply for a Content Development – Salary grant if you are:

• a community broadcasting station with a long term or temporary license
• a non-profit community broadcasting sector organisation

Community broadcasting sector organisations provide services and resources for the sector. A community broadcaster sector organisation is expected to demonstrate a minimum cash contribution of 50% from the organisation or partner organisation.

A station with a temporary license must have been on air for at least two years cumulatively prior to applying.

3. How much can you apply for?

An amount up to $30,000 per grant may be applied for.

If a position to continue beyond the life of this grant is proposed, stations must demonstrate how they plan to sustain the position beyond the funding period.

If a salary subsidy is proposed, stations are required to demonstrate how they will make up the remaining funds for the salary. Applicants for permanent part-time or casual positions are acceptable and are not required to provide matching funds.

For more information on a relevant award wage see the Broadcasting and Recorded Entertainment Award 2010.

Stations can apply as many times as they like, however a maximum of 5 Content Development applications will be funded across categories. Exemptions apply where a consortium of 3 or more stations apply for a program to the benefit of other stations.  We aim to support as many stations across the sector as possible.

4. What are the priorities in this grant category?

Each priority is not required to be met but applications that do address one or more priority area will be looked upon more favourably.

We will prioritise applications which:

• are from small (annual income less than $85,000), volunteer-run stations;
• demonstrate collaboration between larger and smaller stations, or produce programs for distribution to the broader sector;
• have a high proportion of spoken word content or musical content recorded by the station;
• demonstrate strong and innovative engagement with community services such as local councils, cultural organisations, community groups, schools, emergency services, Indigenous groups, migrant and refugee services and sporting organisations;
• encourage multiple contributors in the production and/or presentation of the content; and/or
• utilise multimedia platforms such as video, digital radio, social media and online distribution.

5. What can you use the grant for?

Content-related salaries for new or existing positions. These positions must be dedicated to overseeing content production and distribution, not general administration or management at the station. Such positions must be responsible for the coordination of a range of programs at a station, rather than specific to one program only.

Salaries can be for existing positions, however such applications must demonstrate how the funding will lead to new content outcomes for the station and extend the current role.

Examples might include:

• Talks Coordinator – someone who helps to coordinate and improve interviews for all programs across the station or across a set of talks-based programs at the station, and distribution to other programs, stations and online.
• Program Manager – someone who helps to schedule, coordinate and improve all programs across the station. Applicants in this category must show how the position will generate ‘new’ content at the station.
• Community Access Coordinator – someone who actively identifies community groups who could be involved with the station and finds opportunities for them to get involved to produce content. Examples might include youth, seniors, migrants, clubs and groups such as Rotary, Guides, CWA, emergency services, surf lifesavers, environmental groups… the list is up to you.
• Digital Content Coordinator – this person might assist programs across the station to develop their multi-platform content such as social media, blogging, podcasting and web streaming.

6. What can’t you use the grant for?

• Positions that are currently or more appropriately funded in other CBF grant categories.
• Salaries related to one program only: positions must be responsible for a range of programs at a station.
• Non-salary-related costs.

7. What does the committee look at when assessing your application?

Applications will be competitively assessed and prioritised against the following assessment criteria:

8. What should you include in the application?

• A position description for the position
• An organisational chart identifying the position and any other paid staff
• A program guide showing content that is currently locally produced by station volunteers and staff
• Most recent Annual Report with audited financial statements, even if you have supplied this information to the CBF previously.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of Australia and their connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to them and their Elders, past and present.