Did you know the CBF has dedicated funds in the current Development & Operations grant round? Funding is available for training in community media skills, business and leadership skills.

Training in community media skills must be accredited (carried out by a Registered Training Organisation – RTO, and results in an accreditation) or pathways (conducted by an RTO trainer using materials from accredited courses, but doesn’t result in an accreditation).

Training in business and leaderships skills does not need to be accredited or pathways.

We’ve listed some ideas for training opportunities below that you can apply for in this grant round. It’s also worth checking out if other training organisations are offering suitable courses in your area.

Accredited and pathways courses

The Batchelor Institute is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-focused tertiary education provider based in Batchelor, an hour’s drive south of Darwin. They also have other campuses across the Northern Territory. The Institute runs accredited courses in business and Screen and Media. Cost: Training costs depend on the student, but can often be free or low fee. They may require travel and accommodation which you will need to include in your application.

The Community Media Training Organisation (CMTO) is an RTO that specialises in management and media training for community radio stations. They deliver broadcast and production courses, as well as training for managers and board members of community radio stations. Each financial year, the CMTO offer free training through an application-based process. Applications open in March 2021. Cost: For fee-paying courses contact the CMTO.

Cultura (previously Diversitat) is an RTO governed by the Geelong Ethnic Communities Council, a large charity incorporating community radio station 947 The Pulse. They offer accredited Screen and Media and Leadership and Management courses. Cost: Contact Cultura for course fee information.

Goolarri Media is an Indigenous media organisation and RTO based in Broome. Goolari offers courses in the creative industries, screen and media, and documenting community history. They also offer a Certificate 2 in Leadership. Cost: Depends on the student, but can often be free or low fee. These courses may require travel and accommodation which you will need to include in your application.

Our Community runs practical and affordable training in partnership with a range of organisations including the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA). Their online Diploma of Governance, run in partnership with TAFE Gippsland, is designed specifically for Australian not-for-profit board/committee members, and the CEOs, managers and senior staff who work alongside them. Cost: $4,500 per student.

Triple A Training is division of the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association (BIMA). It is an RTO based in Brisbane offering accredited courses in Screen and Media. Cost: Training is fully funded by the Queensland Government for eligible learners as a traineeship. Otherwise, fees range between $240 and $600.

99.9 Live FM is a Christian community radio station based in Townsville. They work in partnership with YWAM Townsville (Youth With a Mission), an RTO offering a broad range of accredited courses, including business, leadership, creative media, PR & marketing, radio production and media. Cost: $6,490 per coursed, plus outreach travel expenses of $1000-1800.

Non-accredited business and leadership courses

Women & Leadership Australia (WLA) offers a range of professional development courses, advisory services, networking channels, and ongoing research to develop female leaders. They run different courses to give women the skills needed to step up into executive roles:

• Advanced Leadership Program – Suitable for Executive Managers (More than 5 years in a Senior Manager/Director level role)
  Cost: standard enrolment $13,990 (+GST) / Partial Scholarship: $5,000 (+GST).
• Executive Ready Program – Suitable for mid–senior level managers (12 months + experience managing people).
  Cost: standard enrolment: $7,490 (+GST) / Partial Scholarship: $3,000 (+GST)
• Leading Edge Program – Suitable for Aspiring Managers or New Managers (Less than 12 months/No experience managing people).
  Cost: standard enrolment: $3,490 (+GST) / Partial Scholarship: $1,000 (+GST).

Our Community

Our Community also offer three online Compact Courses for people in not-for-profit organisations. These courses are run by the ICDA:

• Step In, Step Up – great for new board members and anyone wanting a refresher on what they should (and should not) be doing as a board member.
• WTF – Where’s The Funding? – great for board members, management and income-making people, explaining why you should diversify income sources and how to start.
• Win More Grants – great for the people writing CBF and other grant proposals, encouraging people to plan out in advance what they need and matching the right grant for each need.

Cost: $55 for each course.

Examples of training we have funded in the past

There are many other business, governance, leadership, media and broadcasting training options. These are a few examples of training we have funded in previous CBF Development & Operations grants:

• 8CCC, Alice Springs NT ($4,495) – the Diploma of Business (Governance) BSB50715 through the Institute of Community Directors for the 8CCC Station Manager
• 5PBA, Salisbury SA ($1,560) – Good Governance course for board members by Northern Volunteering Inc (South Australia)
• 3SER Casey Radio VIC ($2,888) – Governance Training Essentials (by Non Profit Training) for new committee of management members and those members interested in joining the committee in the future
• 4ZZZ – funding ($1,210) to run a free session of announcer training for First Nations people in collaboration with the CMTO
• First Nations Media Australia ($89,000) – to build career pathways for First Nations journalists via news writing pathways training (delivered by the CMTO & Goolarri Training) and Record and Document Community History (ACHILM404) through Goolarri Training to students at 5 locations (this includes the development of new accredited resources)
• 3PLS – Pulse FM ($24,000) provided Radio Broadcasting Training for schools and community members.

Ready to apply for a Development & Operations grant?

Apply for a Development & Operation grant using our online form during our grant rounds. The form also includes information about the grant, guidelines and resources to help you prepare your application.

Need help with your grant application?

Get in touch with our Grant Support Team – they are always happy to answer your questions and provide advice on your project idea and what you should include in your application before you submit. The earlier you do this, the better!

Our Frequently Asked Questions and Guides also have lots of useful information that will help you prepare your application.

Find out more about our grants, key dates and recent successful grantees.

Photo: Participants in the 2019 CMTO Transom storytelling training program. NB: prices and course information may change.