We are very fortunate to have many volunteers who willingly offer their time and expertise on our Grants Advisory Committees. Committee members are appointed by our Board through a nomination process that prioritises our Diversity, Access and Equity Policy.
Committee roles and responsibilities
We have two grants advisory committees – Content Grants Advisory Committee, Development & Operations Grants Advisory Committee. Members of the committees are independent, expert advisors with the following responsibilities:
- Determine funding recommendations based on the priorities and policy principles of the CBF and distribution of funding as broadly as possible
- Provide independent, informed advice on grants policy and practice to our Board.
- Undertake a high volume of assessments of grant applications (sometimes 30 or more per round)
- Consider Content or Development & Operations grant applications and make recommendations to the CBF Board, taking into account Grant Assessor scores and overall allocations according to identified priorities
- Monitor the progress and outcomes of relevant grant projects
- approve the release of staged grant payments for multi-year funding agreements on the basis of progress reports provided
- Suggest amendments to funding priorities, grant guidelines and grant application forms to best meet funding objectives for consideration by our Board.
- Review the effectiveness of funding allocations against funding policy
- Abide by the CBF Code of Conduct, including the Conflict of Interest Policy
- Remain abreast of current and emerging community broadcasting issues, policy and practice including better practice in grant-making and sector development.
The Chairperson has the following responsibilities:
- Liaises with and guides the Support Team in preparing meeting agendas and papers and online discussions
- Provides advice to the Support Team in responding to stakeholder enquiries, and in drafting complex or sensitive correspondence
- Considers and approves draft minutes (for later consideration and adoption by the committee)
- Chairs meetings ensuring clear decisions are made and critical items are managed in the available time while facilitating reasonable opportunities for discussion and deliberation
- Liaises with the Support Team in the preparation and approval of reports to the Board.
Content Grants Advisory Committee
- Specialist content production, for example: Indigenous, RPH, ethnic, news & current affairs, spoken word, specialist music
- Project management
- Social inclusion
- Content production and consumption trends
- Broadcast experience in radio, television, online and cross-platform
- A range of experience, for example:
- large/small stations
- metropolitan/regional/remote stations
- a range of states/territories.
Content Grants Advisory Committee Position Description (PDF 531KB)
Content Grants Advisory Committee Chairperson Position Description (PDF 152KB)
Development & Operations Grants Advisory Committee
- Station management
- Financial management
- Social inclusion
- Business development and fundraising
- Events, marketing and promotions
- Technology (broadcast and IT)
- Training
- Content production and consumption trends
- Broadcast experience in radio, television, online and cross-platform
- A range of experience, for example:
- large/small stations
- metropolitan/regional/remote stations
- a range of states/territories.
Development & Operations Grants Advisory Committee Position Description (PDF, 648KB)
Development & Operations Grants Advisory Committee Position Description (PDF, 181KB)
We estimate the minimum annual time commitment for a Grants Advisory Committee volunteer is:
- Three full-day meetings
- Five days of reading time
- Travel time.
Grants Advisory Committee members serve a three-year term. They may serve up to three consecutive terms.
The terms are staggered to ensure regular renewal of the committees while achieving consistency in decision making.
Our Board is assisted by a Nominations Advisory Group comprised of representatives of national sector representative organisations.
People can nominate themselves or be nominated by a community broadcasting station or sector organisation. Station and sector organisations can nominate or endorse multiple candidates.
Interested in joining a committee?
Learn more and confirm if there are Grants Advisory Committee vacancies.