Successful grants

4AAA Brisbane Indigenous Media Association Inc. 98.9FM (MOB Beats)  

$13,100 

The First Nations Hip Hop show – MOB Beats is a program dedicated to showcasing the rising wave of First Nations hip hop artists, each Friday from 6pm – 7pm connecting young people aged 16 and over.  Through the power of hip hop, MOB Beats will bring OBs, exclusive interviews with up-and-coming First Nations artists with their style and genre of the music, interviews with a strong focus on content from the hosts that highlight global trends influenced by local and national talent.  As the hip hop scene continues to thrive, MOB Beats is committed to elevating these voices within the First Nations community. 

4EB Ethnic Broadcasting Association of Queensland Ltd (Get HEaRd – Women of the World multi-platform content project) 

$17,500 per year over 3 years 

This project will enhance 4EB’s partnership with WOW Australia, enabling production of a range of multi-platform content for and by female and non-binary individuals and communities, including:  interviews, outside broadcasts, podcasts, Community Radio Network (CRN) content about women by women and an annual compilation CD.  New female broadcasters from diverse backgrounds will be mentored by experienced broadcasters/producers with training provided on outside broadcasting, interview techniques, editing, technology and more.  New audiences will be developed through partnerships. Content creation will be supported by a research component with the University of Queensland to address key knowledge gaps for targeted communities around topics such as coercive control.  4EB will work closely with WOW to deliver and measure longer term outcomes against their Theory of Change. 

8CCC Community Radio (102.1 FM) (Multicultural Voices – Everyone Belongs on 8CCC Radio)  

$14,021 

8CCC is partnering with Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia (MCSCA) to ensure representation of diverse multicultural communities in Central Australia through a series of 8 first person stories, each recorded in English and languages other than English addressing the questions: ‘What does belonging mean to you? and ‘What have you done / what are you doing to help people feel they belong here?’  This project will lead to the formation of 8 new weekly 30-minute program schedules amplifying Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities in the region.

On demand availability and podcasting of the narrative pieces will be extended through short video packages, social content and 8CCC’s online platforms increasing reach and engagement with the program and its message of belonging. 

3MBS Melbourne 103.5FM (3MBS 50th Anniversary Illuminations Series) 

$8,000 

The 50th Anniversary Illuminations Series is a five program series to highlight the station’s important milestones over fifty years through legacy interviewing and music performance. Invited participants will include professional musicians who have had long-standing creative associations through 3MBS live performance events, prominent Australian conductors, arts leaders and philanthropists, past and present 3MBS board members, staff and donors. 

2MFM Muslim Community Radio (Career Crossroads) 

$8,200 

2MFM received funding to produce and air the highly anticipated “Career Crossroads” radio series, aimed at empowering youth with informed career choices.  This series will feature interviews with a diverse panel of professionals, exploring various work environments, cultures, and lifestyles. ‘Career Crossroads’ will provide valuable insights into pink-collar, blue-collar and white-collar industries, helping youth navigate the career paths with confidence and clarity.  The series will run for 24 episodes, starting in February 2025 and airing twice a week over a 3-month period, aligning with critical youth-focused events and activities during this time. 

C44 Adelaide Ltd (10×10 music video project 2025) 

$8,710.00 

In 2025, C44 aims to produce a mini docuseries of four 15-minute episodes that follow four teams as they meet, plan and work together – with no budget and just one week to produce music videos as part of the 10×10 music video project. 

The 10×10 is a music video project that teams ten bands with ten filmmakers to produce music videos in one week!  An initiative of LA-based filmmaker Norwood Cheek, which has been delivered at film festivals across North America, and at the 2023 and 2024 Adelaide Fringe festivals in collaboration with C44.  The project fosters a DIY ethos and creative collaboration between musicians and filmmakers. 

Douglas FM (Station Manager salary subsidy) 

$45,600 

Douglas FM received funding to support a paid Station Manager responsible for the station’s day-to-day operations, ensuring overall health, financial stability, and strategic growth.  This role will focus on increasing on-air presenter numbers, particularly among youth, and will allow the committee to dedicate more time to implementing and updating policies on diversification, inclusion, and accessibility.  This position is crucial for the station’s continued development and community engagement, paving the way for a more inclusive and accessible platform that reflects the diverse voices of the Douglas Shire. 

7LTN Launceston Community FM Group Inc (City Park Radio) (Replace obsolete broadcast consoles)  

 $31,113 

This grant will support City Park Radio to purchase new radio broadcast consoles.  The station will utilise their own funds to engage professional technical assistance to decommission, install and commission new equipment.  Their current desks are more than 30 years old, require regular attention and are obsolete and limited in capacity for programs they are presenting.  City Park Radio had identified this upgrade within their Strategic Plan and worked towards it over time. The new desks will provide reliability, operational efficiencies and improve the quality of broadcasts providing consistent, high-quality content for their community.  

6FX Wangki Yupurnanupurru Aboriginal Corporation (Earthing solution for transmitters)  

$29,600 

Wangki Radio is the only source of news, information and entertainment on radio daily across the Fitzroy Valley in the remote West Kimberley, WA.  It was a vital source of information during the recent floods that devastated Fitzroy Crossing. Wangki Radio’s MF broadcast transmitters are vulnerable to damage from lightning and electrostatic activity.  Funding will support an upgrade of the earthing system to meet industry standards, strengthening the defence against lightning strikes and ensuring the continued reliability of Wangki Radio’s broadcasting services. 

8KTR Katherine Community Radio Inc (Station Coordinator salary subsidy) 

$19,600 (Year 1) + $46,800 (Year 2) 

8KTR Katherine FM have received multi-year funding (over 2 years) to establish a new, part time role of Station Coordinator to oversee and manage station operations.  For many years 8KTR has been coordinated by volunteers.  They need a consistent, central point of contact for volunteers and the community in order to build and stabilise the station and to ensure it remains sustainable.  The role will work alongside and support the committee and other dedicated volunteers but will allow those roles to keep focusing on what they do.  Reducing some of the administrative labour of presenters and volunteers will help generate more positive energy for new volunteers and higher quality outcomes.  

2CCR Cumberland Community Radio Incorporated (New Tech Equipment) 

$15,928 

This funding support will provide a better service and broadcast capability to the local communities of the Hills, Cumberland and Parramatta. 

Support for four new PCs in the studios for playout software, audio production, content production, a bluetooth mobile to panel adaptor to allow mobile phone calls for interviews straight to the panel and an upgrade to the server room equipment will improve the station’s network services and reduce the delay in bringing equipment back up online. 

To service a growing team of volunteers, support for a Station Manager will provide in-house audio and content production for community service announcements, sponsor announcements, presenters’ shows and podcast production. 

South Coast FM (Support for upgrading of premises for accessibility) 

$37,946 

South Coast need to finalise the establishment of their new station premises at Wonthaggi by upgrading some building elements to improve access for people with disabilities, specifically:  

1. Toilet facilities – relocation of hand basin 
2. Install a fully DDA compliant entry ramp and doorway for disability access
3. Widening of internal hallway

Each grant round, our volunteer assessors look closely at applications, providing comments and scores. 

We’ve listed some of the most common feedback about applications in our most recent grant round to help when preparing future applications. 

Development & Operations grants:   

• Providing a fault log would better demonstrate your need to replace equipment and is also equipment maintenance best practice

• You did not provide detailed supporting information for the items requested, such as quotes for requested items, an equipment replacement plan, rent invoices, photos of old or damaged equipment, a transmission site block diagram, current financial report or organisational chart

• Your application for salary support did not demonstrate a plan to build financial sustainability 

• When you are listing your measures of success, you need to include what the current state is and what you want it to be at the end of the funding period (e.g. Increase from 200 members now, to 500 by the end of the funding period)

Content grants:  

• Include a demo, pilot or sample of a previous production that best demonstrates the quality of the content to be produced

• Letters of support from partners need to demonstrate how they are participating in the project and how it benefits the organisation 

• Providing a clear budget with itemised expenditure (including breakdown of wages for salaries) would show that you understand what is involved in the financial management of the project/activities or funding  

• Established programs seeking funding should demonstrate the outcomes and impact to date 

Get in touch 

Don’t forget, you can always ask for feedback on your application from your Grants Support Team member. 

• Successful grants start with 5 key questions 
• Top 10 tips for your CBF grant application 
• Acknowledge the CBF in your promotions on websites, social, audio credits and publications
• Other funding opportunities 
• Other CBF resources 
• What does a Grant Assessor do?