Successful grants

Loddon Prison radio project (MAINfm)

Based at the medium security Loddon Prison in Central Victoria this project will work with  incarcerated men to develop radio production and broadcasting skills. Pre-recorded programs and creative works will be broadcast internally via the prison TV system, and once approved, on MAINfm,  2SER’s Jailbreak and nationally via the Community Radio Network (CRN).

That’s What I Call Science (Edge Radio)

In partnership with local artists and youth organisations, this weekly program will run workshops for disadvantaged youth and create radio content about their experiences. The program will also  include Indigenous content overseen by the program’s co-host, Hannah McCleary, who is a member of the Tasmanian Indigenous community and an advocate for Indigenous uptake in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Local First Nation stories through 360 virtual reality (Ngaarda Media)

This five-day Digital Technology workshop will focus on 360/VR to provide members of the Roebourne community with the skills to create their own multimedia content. Ngaarda Media has brand new VR equipment and a small 360 camera but does not have the skills to use this equipment. This workshop will be open to students and community members from Roebourne, Wickham and surrounding towns in Karratha. Content will be broadcast on Ngaarda’s Facebook page, website, Youtube channel, as well as on ICTV nationally.

This is Your Brain on Media (Auspiced by Cinespace)

An entertaining documentary and interactive series that explores the effects of social media on our brains, hearts and communities. The documentary will be presented in a visual style that references contemporary social media and will feature interviews with experts, skits, and animation. This is Your Brain on Media will be broadcast on C31 Melbourne and Geelong.

Cookingjust4ME, my taste, no waste (to be screened on C44)

A 6 x 30 minute TV series with saving money as its core. In her quest to save money a single householder creates her ‘new normal’ by discovering better ways to shop, store and cook the biggest food waste ingredients in Australia: leafy vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, bananas and leftovers/takeaway.

Wik Firestick story (Auspiced by Aurukun Shire Council)

The Wik Firestick story is the first in a community-led Wik-Mungkan language documentary series which highlights the importance of preserving the last Queensland Aboriginal Language. It will feature traditional owners and youth on Country and will be broadcast on ICTV’s Our Culture channel. The grant will fund two Wik language workers, three post-production workers, one post-production trainee and one resident linguist. The Wik Firestick story project is auspiced by the Aurukun Shire Council on behalf of the Aurukun Indigenous Knowledge Centre.

Youth in Action (2BAY FM)

This program consisting of 36, 8-10 min audio segments will be created and produced by youth aged 12-20. Youth in Action will focus on climate change, associated issues and solution-based strategies. It will conclude with a one-hour podcast of highlights for national broadcast and a podcast page to be used as a tool for the wider youth community.

Tanami Football League Podcast Series (PAW Media)

This documentary podcast series is about the Tanami Football League, a community-run competition held in the central Australian town of Yuendumu each summer. The competition involves teams from neighbouring Indigenous communities including Laramba, Mt Allan, Nyirripi and Willowra, as well as Yuendumu, The series will focus on the competition’s inception, its importance to the community and the recent introduction of a women’s league. It will feature interviews with Elders, coaches, players and local community members.

The Wire (2SER)

The Wire is the community broadcasting’s flagship national current affairs program that is broadcast nationally around Australia via the Community Radio Network. It is freely available to any community radio station as a full program or as single stories. Four to five stories are produced for every episode five days a week by 2SER Sydney, Radio Adelaide and 4EB Brisbane. The stories are supplemented by a content-rich website, podcast and social media feed.

Supporting long-term station sustainability (8CCC)

This Alice Springs-based station will receive multi-year funding towards a station manager’s salary, governance training, installation of remote monitoring equipment, and transmission costs. 8CCC’s application also included financial contributions from several government and philanthropic grants towards their community building activities.

Disability parking and ramp access (2AAA)

Based in Wagga Wagga, 2AAA, will revamp their existing car parking area to provide a disability parking zone and access ramp into the building. ‍

Transmitter site upgrades (Wangki Yupurnanupurru Radio)

Wangki Radio will install remote monitoring at their transmitter site to ensure faults can be addressed as soon as they occur.

Activate the Space – maximising energy efficiency (3MDR)

Our Bright Futures funding will help 3MDR implement the recommendations from a recent energy assessment of the station. The Activate the Space project will ensure the station is maximising its energy efficiency and also creating a comfortable environment for ethnic broadcasters, volunteers, staff and guests. Work will include installing chimney plugs, vent covers, door seals, split-system reverse cycle heating and cooling, and insulation. It is estimated this will reduce overall station electricity consumption and costs by 25%.

News journalist role (NIRS)

The National Indigenous Radio Service (NIRS) will receive multi-year funding towards employing a journalist who will help increase the capacity of the news team to produce quality daily news bulletins for the Indigenous media sector. This grant will also fund transmission costs.

Station relocation and strategic planning support (Radio EMFM)

Radio EMFM, located in Eucha on the Murray River, will receive funding to relocate to new purpose-built facilities due to the impending demolition of their current building. They will also engage a facilitator to help the station develop a long-term strategic plan.

New outside broadcast trailer (2Dry FM)

Located in drought-affected Broken Hill, 2Dry FM will build a fit-for-purpose outside broadcast (OB) trailer fitted with equipment that will make it easier for volunteers to actively participate in OBs.

Supporting long-term digital planning and governance (ICTV)

ICTV, which delivers video content to remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia, will receive multi-year funding for a digital officer who will develop and implement a long-term digital plan. Funding will also support the Festival of Remote Australian Indigenous Moving-Image (FRAIM), governance training for the ICTV Board, and the purchase of audio treatment and live-mixing equipment for the ICTV studios.

Emergency power backup (3MGB)

3MGB in Mallacoota were severely impacted by the 2020/21 bushfires, experiencing significant interruptions to their service. This grant will help them purchase a remotely-operated backup generator for their solar/battery system to provide uninterrupted power in emergencies and will also support transmission costs.

Reducing environmental impact (Bay & Basin 92.7FM)

Community Radio Bay & Basin 92.7FM is based on the south coast of NSW at Shoalhaven. The station will use this funding to support transmission costs and will also install a solar system to offset their power consumption and costs which will help to reduce the environmental impact of their station.

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

Content grant applications

Top scoring Content (including Specialist Programming) grants this round were praised by assessors for:

• ideas supporting self-representation by diverse community groups as producers and creators of content that demonstrated long term outcomes for participants (idea and impact criteria) e.g. Main FM’s Loddon prison radio project
• reasonable budgets demonstrating value for money (implementation criterion) e.g. OKRFM’s under $1,500 request for their Shared Stories program focusing on mental health including stories from those who may be struggling during the pandemic
• content produced by communities impacted by the recent bushfires (idea and impact criteria) e.g. Richmond Valley Radio’s Having a Go program
• content demonstrating strong community engagement through evidence of connection between stations and community organisations and groups (idea and implementation criteria) e.g. Radio Skid Row’s Community Digital Media hub project which will deliver training in digital content production to community organisations and activist groups within their broadcast area which will result in the production of podcasts and video content.

The most common feedback provided to applicants on how applications could be strengthened were to:

• consider whether your project better demonstrates stronger community engagement with new and diverse voices or creativity and excellence in content production, not both
• include a demo, pilot or sample of a previous production that best demonstrates the quality of the content to be produced. A submission for high-quality content should also highlight previous work of key producers involved.
• consult with local First Nations groups or people, particularly if your project includes Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander content
• consider how you can reflect the diversity of your community on air
• consider who the target audience for your content is and how you can specifically create and promote your content for them
• include a production schedule that would demonstrate thorough planning for your production.

Development & Operations grant applications

The most successful Development & Operations grants were recognised by assessors for:

• identifying one or two CBF funding objectives to apply for (rather than more) and providing clear responses describing how they would address each objective (Ideas and Impacts criteria) – like Tribe FM’s plans to improve their financial sustainability by finding ways to reduce their electricity costs and increase their sponsorship income
• identifying clear, relevant and realistic outcomes to be achieved in the short and long term (Impacts criterion) – like 5BBB FM’s plans to publish key governance documents on their website, increase volunteers, membership and sponsorships by 10-20% each year, and maintain their asset register and technology replacement plan
• demonstrating a strong understanding of why gender equity is important, and commitment to increase the number of women and gender diverse volunteers and Board members at the organisation (Impacts criterion) – like Inner FM’s Program Working Group who are dedicated to addressing the gender imbalance within their programming
• providing a clear step-by-step timeline of what activities will take place, when and by whom, to achieve the outcomes identified (Planning criterion) – like SYN’s step-by-step plan to replace their transmitter, launch an online training program, establish Disability, Reconciliation and Environmental Action Plans, and run a series of events
• providing a clear budget requesting funding for one to three priority items, not a long shopping list of projects and operational costs (Planning criterion) – like 2BBB’s simple request to replace their aging and faulty transmitter.

The most common feedback provided to applicants on how applications could be strengthened to:

• ensure you complete the budget, timelines and measures of success accurately and with detail, and make sure your budget balances – income and expenditure need to match
• be very clear in the planning/time-lines sections of the application by drawing distinct parallels between the use of the funds and the impact on station operations, as well as ensuring your outcomes align specifically with the project you’re applying for
• develop a more detailed and relevant strategic plan –  you might consider conducting a CBAA station health check and reflecting on what business skills the station could need to ensure the longevity of the organisation.
• look at your gender inclusion and equity strategy for the station
• address all information requested by providing a higher level of supporting documentation that demonstrates evidence of need, such as letters of support from the community.

Get in touch

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

• 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