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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.

We have produced a booklet to assist with grant ideas to consider for your station.

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.

Explore the Community Media Training Organisation’s AudioLab for inspiration. 

If your project includes Indigenous content and culture, please refer to the CBF Indigenous Engagement Protocols here.

2. Who is eligible to apply?

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

• a community broadcasting station with a long term or temporary license
• a non-profit community broadcasting sector organisation (with a financially contributing partner organisation)

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

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?

There is no fixed limit however it is expected that weekly programs will fall within the range of $5,000 – $30,000, depending on length and production complexity.

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 online video, digital radio, social media and online distribution.

5. What can you use the grant for?

Costs relating directly to the production and distribution of new content. Such as:

• salaries or stipends for program producers, researchers, field reporters and presenters;
• specialist music and copyright purchases; such as employing a local musician to create unique soundbeds and music for the program;
• commissioning of unique content for the program; such as investigative reports or art works reimagining the program;
• research and reference materials; such as subscriptions and publication purchases;
• telephone calls, internet access, printing and administration costs directly related to the program;
• travel and accommodation costs; such as attending conferences and events to produce content relevant to the program;
• outside broadcast costs for a special live program; and
• organisation administration fees.

The booklet to assist with grant ideas includes a section on what you can include in your Budget.

6. What can't you use the grant for?

• Programs that are currently or more appropriately funded in other CBF grant categories.
• Station operational costs.
• Overseas travel.
• Costs that could easily be met by a station’s in-kind contribution such as studio hire fees and admin staff work time.
• Contingency 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 program demo or pilot. This demo should be of maximum length 10 minutes and 25mb and should showcase a typical program. For OB’s, please include a brief excerpt of a previous OB produced by your station.
• 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.