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4. Indigenous Languages Grants 2020

Indigenous Languages Grants up to $25,000 are available to eligible Queenslanders to support activities that help preserve and maintain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

To apply for an Indigenous Languages Grant:

1. Read the guidelines below, including eligibility requirements.
2. Read the terms and conditions (PDF, 191 KB) terms and conditions (DOCX, 592 KB).
3. Submit your application, including supporting materials, through the SmartyGrants website.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 6 October 2020.

Guidelines for applications

Overview

The United Nations declared 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages to raise awareness about the importance of preserving, supporting and promoting Indigenous languages.

To commemorate 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, the Queensland Government launched the inaugural Indigenous Languages Grants, which sought to highlight the importance of preserving and maintaining Australia’s First Nations languages. At the same time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders worked in partnership with the Queensland Government to ensure that Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages in Queensland are strong, acknowledged, maintained and accessible to all Queenslanders.

In 2020, Queenslanders can apply for a share in $200,000 to support Indigenous language preservation and revitalisation across the state.

The Indigenous Languages Grants 2019 program provided funding of $100,000 for 31 programs. Find out more about the 2019 successful grant applicants (DOCX, 2.3 MB).

Purpose

The Queensland Government Indigenous Languages Grants 2020 will support a range of activities across Queensland which recognise the importance of promotion, preservation and revival of traditional and contemporary languages in maintaining cultural identity and building the resilience of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Objectives

The objectives of the Indigenous Languages Grants 2020 are to preserve and maintain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, and to ensure they remain accessible by supporting initiatives that:

• are led by Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islander people, and are developed in collaboration with non-Indigenous individuals or organisations
• promote participation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language teaching and learning including support for language projects with a specific focus on supporting the career development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to teach, preserve and revive Indigenous languages
• produce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language resources, including digital technology in an accessible and culturally safe manner
• research, revive and document Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language resources held in State Library or other state or national archives
• support the development and promotion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, knowledge and cultural heritage through language focused arts initiatives.

Eligibility

Who can apply?

An applicant wishing to apply for an Indigenous Languages Grant must:

• be based in Queensland and the proposed activity must be delivered in Queensland
• have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN).

Eligible applicants include:

• a company incorporated in Australia
• a company limited by guarantee*
• an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
• an incorporated association
• a partnership
• a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation
• a local government body
• a Queensland Government approved kindergarten program provider
• a school parent association (schools are encouraged to work with their school parent association).

*A “company limited by guarantee” is a specialised form of public company designed for non-profit organisations. In Australia companies limited by guarantee are subject to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and administered to by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Who cannot apply?

• a Queensland Government department, agency or statutory authority
• an Australian Government department, agency or statutory authority
• a Member of Parliament
• an individual
• an unincorporated association without an auspicing body
• an organisation not delivering services in Queensland
• a state or non-state* school (schools are encouraged to work with their school parent association or another eligible local community organisation to apply for school-based initiatives).

 *Where a school does not have a school parent association, please contact the Culture and Reconciliation Team via email at ilg@datsip.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 3003 6394 for further guidance.

Activity eligibility criteria

The activity must be aligned with the objectives of the Indigenous Languages Grants 2020.

If the activity produces a language learning resource/tool/service it should be made freely available to the public and/or be reusable to allow as many people as possible to benefit from it.

You are encouraged to think about how your activity can be inclusive and accessible to people with a disability.

Types of activities that will be considered for grants include:

• production of culturally appropriate language learning apps that can be adapted for different Indigenous languages across Queensland
• visual or performing arts projects that utilise and promote Aboriginal languages or Torres Strait Islander languages
• language revival programs that support community members to speak language again
• preservation and renewal projects drawing on communities’ oral tradition where language speakers do not have full language knowledge
• language reclamation programs relying on historical and archived sources
• statewide youth or adult language leaders and language champion initiatives
• language teaching study tours and professional learning activities between different language owner groups
• language learning programs where language is taught to a range of learners in school or community settings
• initiatives that support the transfer of language from older to younger generations
• projects to record Elders and community members and provide safe local storage of recorded material, to be used in the production of community resources or education programs
• projects focused on increasing awareness of the ongoing loss of First Nations languages
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language signage, place names and projects developing bi-lingual communications.

This list is not exhaustive and you are encouraged to submit a proposal for a different type of program that fits within the criteria listed in the guidelines.

Grant funding cannot cover costs associated with:

• staffing (including matching of volunteer fees)
• insurances
• prizes or gifts
• administration and overhead costs
• routine operations of the applicant
• retrospective activities
• capital equipment or works
• activities or goods not directly related to the activity.

Grant tiers and criteria

Applications for grants of up to $25,000 (exclusive of GST) are now being accepted. 

The distribution of grant tier funding will be at the discretion of the assessment panel.  The assessment panel will determine final grant tier allocations based on how applicants address each eligibility criteria and the benefit to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities.

Key dates

Assessment criteria 

Applications are assessed by an independent assessment panel against the following five criteria:

1. Quality

• Addresses one or more of the objectives of the Indigenous Languages Grants program.
• Presents a creative activity outline that is culturally safe and accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

2. Reach

• Identifies and engages specific audiences along with the broader community in an Indigenous Languages initiative.

3. Impact

• Commits to evaluation and continuous improvement through monitoring participant satisfaction, measuring outputs and outcomes and completing required reports.
• Clearly outlines the relevance of the activity and the expected outcomes and benefits for the targeted participants.

4. Viability

• Demonstrates links and established relationships with stakeholders including language owners, and other relevant organisations.
• Presents a budget that clearly outlines how the grant funding will be spent, is realistic, and provides value for money.
• Demonstrates capacity and suitable experience to undertake the proposed activity (planning, consultation, promotion, implementation, reporting and evaluation) within budget.

5. Co-contribution

• Contributes in-kind or financial support towards the activity.

Support material

Applicants must include the following items in support of their application:

• letter(s) of support from the relevant language owners, communities and partner organisations that provide confirmation of involvement and evidence that the required protocols, particularly Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights, have been followed
• for school parent associations, evidence of support and confirmation of involvement from the relevant school principal
• for statewide and regional impact initiatives, quotes for substantial budget items (goods and/or services over $5,000).

Submitting an application

Applications close 11.59 pm (AEST) Tuesday, 6 October 2020.

You can lodge your application:

• online through SmartyGrants website

or

• if you are unable to access SmartyGrants, a paper copy application form (DOCX, 662 KB) can be completed, scanned, and emailed to ilg@datsip.qld.gov.au.

The application form is designed to provide information to allow detailed consideration of all submissions by the assessment panel. All sections of the application form must be completed. Late or incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible and will not be assessed.

Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DATSIP) staff from regional offices can assist applicants to upload an application form on SmartyGrants. You can download an application form (DOCX, 662 KB) on the DATSIP website. Forms are also available from the department’s regional offices.

Acquittal process

By submitting an application, all applicants acknowledge that, if successful, they will be required to provide the DATSIP with a brief final report detailing the outcomes of the project, and a financial statement detailing how departmental funds were spent.

Where there is any unspent funding, the department may require you to refund the unspent funding.

Contact us

For more information about the grants, including the guidelines, terms and conditions and how to apply, visit or contact us via:

• Web: www.datsip.qld.gov.au/ilg
• Email: ilg@datsip.qld.gov.au
• Phone: (07) 3003 6394

Regional offices

For more information about local or regional support, please contact the DATSIP regional office closest to you.