Board meeting 14 November 2013 – Agenda Item 8.3.1
Radio for the Print Handicapped Grants Advisory Committee (RPHGAC)
Terms of Reference
August 2013
Background:
The Foundation's structure enables peer-group involvement in the grants process and development of
funding categories through a range of Grants Advisory Committees (GACs). GAC members are
appointed by the Board to perform an independent advisory role in grant-making and the formulation of
funding policy. GACs assess applications, review funding categories, grant guidelines and criteria,
monitor grant acquittal rates and provide policy advice.
In 1990 the Department of Communications proposed that RPH funding be processed as part of its
allocation to Public Broadcasting, administered through the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
Since then, funding deeds have identified RPH radio services as requiring core funding in the Budget to
provide financial assistance to community broadcasters to support Radio for the Print Handicapped
community radio broadcasting being primarily for the benefit of print handicapped people. Currently
almost 3.8 million Australians (18.4% of the population) live with a print disability (RPH Australia).
RPH advocates continue to work hard to integrate RPH broadcasting into the broadcast community
broadcasting sector in metropolitan and rural areas. In 1994 RPHGAC introduced Service Support grants
to work towards the establishment of RPH services to print handicapped audiences outside of major
population centres such as sub-metropolitan and rural areas. In principle, RPHGAC considers it
appropriate to fund original RPH program content produced locally. In 1997 RPH Programming grants
were introduced to support general community radio stations on their intent to facilitate genuine RPH
programming. In 2006 that funding changed to a ‘seed model’ whereby stations are funded for the first
two years to help cover the costs of implementing RPH programming. After this time the program would
be included in the National Sponsorship Scheme and earn revenue to support the continuation of RPH
programming in this way.
In 2011 additional Content funding was allocated to RPH funding and a new RPH Content category was
established to support the production of new RPH content. These funds are now administered alongside
Service Support funds.
Composition and Nomination Process:
RPHGAC consists of a Chairperson, a Board Director and two members, each appointed by the CBF
Board from persons nominated by the Australian Council for Radio for the Print Handicapped Ltd at its
general meeting for a two year term.
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Board meeting 14 November 2013 – Agenda Item 8.3.1
The terms of the CBF Constitution require a minimum of three GAC members.
The Chairperson and Board Director can be the same representative, or can be two different roles and
are determined by the GAC.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The Chair sets the RPHGAC meeting agenda and conducts the meetings.
The Board representative presents the RPHGAC report with recommendations to the Board and reports
back to RPHGAC with relevant information from the Board.
RPHGAC will:
 Provide independent, informed advice on grants policy and practice.
 Operate within the boundaries of the CBF Constitution and the CBF Code of Conduct, including
the Conflict of Interest Policy. It is also bound by the CBF Funding Deed with DBCDE.
 Report on the number of hours of RPH reading content for generalist stations supported; and
provide details of any support to RPH Australia and RPH stations.
 Receive advice from sector organisations, in particular RPH Australia and employ appropriate
consultation to inform funding policy recommendations. RPHGAC are not required to implement
RPH Australia recommendations.
 Foster effective sector leadership and advocacy as per the CBF strategic plan through
monitoring the progress and acquittal of sector coordination grants, encouraging improved
sector cooperation and collaboration where appropriate.
 Review grants programs against funding objectives to ensure grant programs meet sector needs
and best practice
 Operate wherever possible to support the five goals outlined in the CBF Strategic Plan
 Assess grant applications and make recommendations on grant allocations to the CBF Board
ensuring they fall within the boundaries of Guidelines for Service Support Grants, Contents
Grants and Program Grants. RPH Content support is based on the levels of RPH content (as
determined in the RPH Protocol and reported through RPH Australia annually) produced and
broadcast for the first time by each station. Eligible hours of funded content are calculated
through RPH Australia reporting criteria and procedures. The funding is non-competitive and
based on an hourly rate, that is, the number of hours of eligible new RPH content broadcast
over the twelve month funding period.
 Recommend sector projects, grant categories, grant guidelines and grant application forms to
best meet funding objectives.
Meeting Schedule, Workload and Expectations:
RPHGAC will meet via teleconference at least annually. Additional teleconference meetings may be
scheduled as required throughout the year.
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Board meeting 14 November 2013 – Agenda Item 8.3.1
Liaise with fellow committee members and Grants Administrator via ‘HQ’; the CBF’s online project
management and communications tool
Read all GAC meeting papers prior to meetings
Assess all grants assigned to them and provide Grants Administrator with their decisions.
Aim and Objectives:
RPHGAC’s Aim and Objectives can be found at Attachment A.
Ongoing Monitoring and Review:
This GAC Terms of Reference document will be included as a standard reference in GAC meeting Agenda
Papers.
The GA will regularly report on progress against the Evaluation Measures established. Ideally, the GAC
can then more easily monitor the success of each Activity, identifying gaps and opportunities to address,
and undertake ongoing monitoring, evaluation and review of the program as a whole.
The intention is for GACs to review the GAC Terms of Reference annually as a part of the Foundation’s
Evaluation Framework. Any substantive change to the GAC Terms of Reference would require Board
approval.
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Board meeting 14 November 2013 – Agenda Item 8.3.1
ATTACHMENT A
Aim:
To provide financial assistance to community broadcasters to support Radio for the Print Handicapped community radio broadcasting being
primarily for the benefit of print handicapped people
Objectives:
This Aim will be met by the following Objectives:
(i) Increase access to information for print handicapped listeners through increased RPH programming hours in the non RPH Sector
(ii) Support existing RPH radio services
(iii) Continue the development of sector coordination and cooperation
Each Objective is detailed below with Activities being implemented and how each Activity can be measured (ideally with established targets to
meet).
(i) Increase access to information for print handicapped listeners through increased programming hours in the non RPH sector
Activity
RPH Program grants – support content production and encourage
participation to increase the hours RPH services on air on General
Stations.
Develop RPH programming on general stations to meet the needs of
print handicapped people outside in sub-metropolitan and rural areas.
Encourage locally produced content
Contribute to the costs of implementing RPH programming as a ‘seed
model’
To assist Australians with a print disability to participate fully in
Australian social, political and economic life.
Evaluation Measures
 Number of RPH programming hours
 Number of participants
 Listener feedback and program case studies
 Number of RPH programming hours



Geographic distribution of participants
Number of programs transferring to National Sponsorship
Scheme after two years
Nature and quality of programming funded
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Board meeting 14 November 2013 – Agenda Item 8.3.1
(ii) Support existing radio services
Activity
Service Support Grants to provide a significant although modest level of
funds to the full time RPH stations
Support RPH Australia in its role of facilitating cohesion amongst its
constituency
Content Grants to encourage locally produced content in existing RPH
Stations
Evaluation Measures
 Projects or staffing funding facilitated
 Each station achieves a minimum of 75% RPH programming
 Nature and results of sector consultation


Geographic distribution of participants
Number of content hours funded
(iii) Continue the development of sector coordination and cooperation
Activity
Sector Coordination grant – to assist RPH Australia to support its 18
AM/FM radio services and 5 digital radio services.
To assist Australians with a print disability to participate fully in
Australian social, political and economic life.
Evaluation Measures
 Nature and results of consultation with RPH Australia
 Number of member stations
 Nature and results of consultation with RPH stations
 Nature and quality of support services provided to member
stations
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