Indigenous Grants Advisory Committee (IGAC)
Terms of Reference
November 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 grants disbursement and the formulation of
funding policy. GACs assess applications, review funding categories, grant guidelines and criteria,
monitor grant acquittal rates and provide policy advice.
The (then) PBF consulted with the National Aboriginal & Islander Broadcasting Association (NAIBA) from
1984 on grants from funds provided to the PBF by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Three members
of the Aboriginal Grants Advisory Committee (AGAC) were appointed by NAIBA in August 1985, plus a
PBF Board representative.
The Foundation now provides complementary funding to the Indigenous Broadcasting Program (IBP).
Whilst IBP provides general operational and some training support for Indigenous broadcasting, the
Foundation provides funding opportunities for content development, equipment and broader sector
development through special project funding. The CBF Funding Deed with government specifies the CBF
should “provide financial assistance to community broadcasters to support Indigenous community radio
broadcasting being primarily for the benefit of Indigenous people.”
The IGAC responds to the specific needs of Indigenous broadcasters in remote, regional and
metropolitan environments.
Composition and Nomination Process:
IGAC consists of four members, nominated by the Australian Indigenous Communications Association
(AICA).
IGAC nominees are elected biennially at the AICA Conference as part of the AGM. Members may stand
for re-nomination.
IGAC elects its Chair and nominates a member to serve as a Director on the CBF Board.
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Roles and Responsibilities:
IGAC will:
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Provide independent, informed advice on grants policy and practice.
Assess grant applications and make recommendations on grant allocations to the Board.
Receive advice from sector organisations, and employ appropriate consultation to inform
funding policy recommendations.
Recommend sector projects, grant categories, grant guidelines and grant application forms to
best meet funding objectives.
Review the effectiveness of funding policy against funding objectives.
Abide by the requirements of the CBF Code of Conduct, including the Conflict of Interest Policy.
Meeting Schedule, Workload and Expectations:
IGAC will:
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Meet in person at least twice per year, to consider grant applications and to make
recommendations on the allocation of grants and the development of funding policy.
Liaise with fellow committee members and Grants Administrator (GA) via ‘HQ’; the CBF’s online
project management and communications tool.
Meet via teleconference at other times during the year.
Read all IGAC meeting papers prior to meetings.
Assess all grants assigned to them and provide assessment scores to the GA prior to GAC
meetings.
Aim and Objectives:
IGAC’s Aim and Objectives can be found at Attachment A.
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ATTACHMENT A
Aim:
To provide financial support for the continued development and sustainability of Indigenous broadcasting, prioritising the support of Indigenous
programs on generalist community radio stations.
Objectives:
This Aim will be met by the following 3 Objectives:
(i) Increase participation in Indigenous broadcasting
(ii) Assist with the maintenance and development of Indigenous broadcasting throughout Australia
(iii) Other activities in support of the Aim, including contributing to Closing The Gap principles and self-determination for Indigenous
broadcasters.
Each Objective is detailed below with Activities being implemented and how each Activity can be measured (ideally with established targets to
meet).
(i) Increase participation in Indigenous broadcasting
Activity
Remote Indigenous Program Grants – to support the production of
regular remote Indigenous programs to serve a defined local Indigenous
community.
Indigenous Program Grants – provide assistance to those Indigenous
broadcasting organisations producing weekly programs on community
radio stations.
Indigenous Content Development Grants – to support the development,
production and distribution of weekly specialist radio content
distributed nationally.
Consultation – with the sector to encourage opportunities for
Indigenous broadcasters
Evaluation Measures
 Number of hours broadcast each week
 Number of Indigenous participants
 Demand for funding
 Monitoring of programs
 Number of communities contributing to programming
 Percentage of language content broadcast each week
 Geographic distribution of contributing broadcasters
 Number of applications to national distribution platforms
 Number of hours broadcast
 Number of participants
 Nature and diversity of content produced
 Nature and result of consultations
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(ii) Assist with the maintenance and development of Indigenous broadcasting throughout Australia
Activity
Indigenous Equipment Grants – to assist with establishing or upgrading
Indigenous community radio production and/or broadcasting facilities.
Indigenous Special Projects Grants – to support special one-off
Indigenous radio programs and resource projects for regional or
national distribution, as well as sector-wide conferences or seminars.
Encourage locally produced content
Evaluation Measures
 Successful installation outcomes
 Increased participation opportunities
 Event participation numbers
 National representation at sector events
 Program monitoring
 Nature and quality of projects funded
 Geographic distribution of participants
 Number of languages broadcast each week
(iii) Other activities in support of the Aim, including contributing to Closing The Gap principles and self-determination for Indigenous
broadcasters.
Activity
Contributing to the career development of Indigenous people in the
media industry
Encouraging participation from Indigenous broadcasters in the
community broadcasting sector
Encourage the maintenance and development of Indigenous arts,
culture and heritage.
Encourage culturally relevant discussion on social and political issues,
community information and services.
Support Indigenous control of Indigenous broadcast funding through
consultation with relevant sector organisations on significant decisions
regarding funding policy for Indigenous broadcasters. This includes
supporting the development of a First Nations Media Foundation.
Evaluation Measures
 Number of employment opportunities created for Indigenous
peoples
 Number of Incorporated Indigenous broadcast groups
auspiced
 Number and nature of broadcast projects supported
 Geographic distribution of programs and projects supported
 Number of hours of produced content shared between
distribution platforms
 Amount and nature of spoken word content within funded
programming.
 Nature and results of consultation
 Development of First Nations Media Foundation through
AICA
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