Native Title Anthropologist Grants Program Guidelines
(March 2013)
Attorney-General’s Department—Native Title Unit
Section 1—Purpose of funding
Anthropologists are vital to the successful operation of the native title system. Native title claimants
rely on experienced anthropologists, usually engaged by their Native Title Representative Body, to
provide high quality expert connection evidence to support their application. Government parties
also require anthropologists to help assess connection evidence in relation to native title claims to
which they are a party.
In 2008, the Australian Government conducted a review of funding for the native title system to
identify blockages within the system and reallocate funds to target priority areas of need. The
review found there is an overall shortage of experienced anthropologists working in native title and
there are a number of challenges to attracting and retaining junior anthropologists within the
system.
As a result of the review, the Attorney-General’s Department introduced the Native Title
Anthropologist Grants Program (the Program), which commenced with an open grants round in
2010-11. Funding for the Program is ongoing.
The amount of funding (exclusive of GST) available is expected to be $574,000 in 2013-14,
$583,000 in 2014-15 and $594,000 in 2015-16. There are no limitations on the amount requested in
individual applications. All allocated funding will be reported on the Department’s website at
www.ag.gov.au.
Section 2—Objective
The objective of the Program is to provide support to native title anthropologists working in the
native title system. This will be achieved through measures encouraging anthropologists to enter or
stay within the system, or assisting those working in native title anthropology through training and
professional development.
The Program supports the Australian Government’s native title strategy and Closing the Gap agenda
with respect to land rights and native title, which has a focus on faster and better claims resolution,
improving agreement-making and promoting good governance and sustainability.
These Program Guidelines come into effect on March 2013 and replace all previous guidelines for
this Program.
The Department is seeking value for money and will invest in an efficient, effective and ethical
manner in projects or initiatives which best meet the requirements and priorities for funding.
Multi-year funding will also be considered.
Assessment and management of funding applications and program delivery will focus on:





accountability to Government and members of the organisation
provision of the best service possible effective use of funds
effective prioritisation and management of risk
demonstration of elements of good practice, and
alignment with the priorities of Government.
Section 3—Priority areas and essential criteria
The Attorney-General’s Department has identified three priority areas of need based on
consultation with stakeholders, including anthropologists currently working in the native title
system.
These three priorities should contribute to an overall outcome of improving claims resolution rates
in the native title system by addressing current constraints or issues regarding native title
anthropologists.
The Department welcomes applications that target one or more of these areas:
1. Training and development for anthropologists to smooth the transition from study to native
title field work. Examples include internships, apprenticeships, mentoring programs, workshops and
applied anthropological training (undergraduate and postgraduate level).
2. Professional development and support for anthropologists, particularly mid-career
anthropologists, working in the native title sector. Examples include initiatives to develop career
pathways, activities to promote cultural change within organisations (particularly relationships
between legal officers and anthropologists in Native Title Representative Bodies/Service Providers)
and providing mentoring and support for junior anthropologists.
This could involve the professional development of anthropologists on a particular claim which
involves a range of tasks from field work, mentoring and professional support to connection report
writing and developing a report for publication.
3. Stronger linkages between academic and applied anthropological work. Examples include more
opportunities for research, publication and teaching for field anthropologists.
Each application will be assessed against the three priority areas as well as two essential criteria:
a. the proposed activity does not replicate existing programs, and
b. the proposed activity demonstrates value for money (i.e. the cost of the proposal is
proportionate to the work involved and expected outcomes).
As a guide, applications may be more successful if they:

achieve broad outcomes across the priority areas of need, or


create sustainable outcomes through either:
o benefiting the native title system as part of a larger project, perhaps with benefits
across States or regions, or
o a targeted localised project which directly benefits a small number of
anthropologists, or
meet more than one of the identified priority areas.
However, applications will also be considered if they can have a targeted impact on a particular
organisation or group and provide identified support or assistance. There is no weighting attached
to individual priority areas. Applicants are not required to address all priority areas to be eligible.
Collaboration between organisations, such as academic institutions with Native Title Representative
Bodies, is encouraged if more anthropologists in the system would benefit, for example through
tailored training or support initiatives that provide sustainable outcomes for the native title system.
One organisation must be listed as the primary applicant.
Section 4—Allocation of funding
Funding options and assessment process
It is anticipated that for the 2013-14 funding round, an open competitive grant funding round will be
conducted, with applications opening in March 2013. Depending on the outcome of the open
competitive grant funding round, and whether there is funding still available, the Department may
choose to also provide funding via other sources, as detailed below.
a) Open competitive grant funding round
All eligible persons and organisations will be able to apply for available funding. The available
funding amount will be advised on the Department’s website. Applications will be open for a period
of at least three weeks and applicants will be required to submit a formal application for funding. It
is preferred if applications are submitted online at the Department’s website www.ag.gov.au, but
hard copy applications will also be accepted.
Eligible applications will be assessed by a selection panel appointed by the Department, comprising
internal and external persons with anthropology, native title and grants expertise who do not have
conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest with the applicants or identified personnel
named in the applications. Applicants are welcome to propose multi-year projects up to three years
in duration. However, applicants should note that funding for future years will be provided annually
and ongoing funding will be subject to the approval of progress reports and any other specified
reporting requirements.
Contingent on the outcomes of these processes, and the funding committed over the 2013-14
financial year and future funding years, a funding round may not be held in 2014-15 or 2015-16.
b) Other funding processes
Depending on the results of the open competitive grants round and whether there is funding still
available, the Department may choose to also or instead provide funding via other methods,
including:



direct engagement with a single grantee or group of potential grantees based on the
specialised requirements of the Program
one-off grants (Department identifies individuals or organisations to fund), or
other initiatives as determined by the Department.
The Department may also allocate funding to support the ongoing development and continued
improvement of the Program. Activities considered for funding may include training, reviews,
evaluations, publications, domestic conferences, meetings, websites, strategic planning and advisory
services. This will be determined by the Department.
Eligible applications will be assessed by the Department. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will
be notified by telephone and in writing.
Ongoing funding for the Program is subject to Government priorities.
Section 5—Eligibility
In order to be eligible for funding under this program, applicants should ensure they are able to
meet the selection criteria outlined in these guidelines. Applications should clearly outline how their
project satisfies one or more of the priority areas as well as the overall objective.
All individuals or organisations are eligible to apply for funding.
Applications for joint or partial funding of a larger project with other contributors will be eligible for
funding under this program.
Applications will be assessed on their merit against the priority areas and essential criteria as stated
in Section 3 and any identified requirements.
After an application round, all applications will lapse on 30 June, at the end of that financial year.
This means the Department will not keep applications from previous rounds, and applicants will
need to apply again for future funding rounds, with the exception of multi-year projects.
The application form is available online at www.ag.gov.au.
Funding will not be provided for:



activities that duplicate existing programs provided by the Commonwealth Government,
State and Territory governments, educational institutions and/or non-government
organisations
activities that already receive significant funding through other Commonwealth Government
programs, or
retrospective activities.
Each application should be able to be considered individually on its merits and not be reliant on the
success of other applications or a later funding round.
Funding will generally not be considered for the following, unless the budget in the application can
demonstrate that costs are directly associated with the proposed project for the funding period:


administrative expenses—the ongoing operation or running costs of an organisation. For
example, general operation/secretariat/ support expenses, and
capital equipment and capital works—such as the purchase of large scale capital equipment
or capital works, including the purchase or lease of land and the purchase, construction or
maintenance of building and vehicles.
Section 6—Performance and monitoring framework
Reporting requirements
The Department seeks to work in partnership with successful applicants to ensure accountability and
transparency. Successful applicants will be required to submit performance reports, financial
statements and acquittal documentation. In most cases, financial and performance reporting will be
required on a half-yearly or annual basis.
The frequency of reporting will be determined as part of the risk assessment of each grant. Acquittal
requirements will include providing sufficient information to determine whether the objectives of
the projects have been met and if funding has been expended in accordance with the funding
agreement.
More information is available in the Commonwealth’s short-form funding template on the
Department’s website at www.ag.gov.au.
Each funding recipient will need to develop baseline data and performance information to show the
impact of the project. The level of performance information required may vary according to the
project identified. This could include surveys of participants, feedback forms and information
obtained at the beginning and end of the project. This will be addressed in the funding agreement.
Applicants awarded a grant must enter into a funding agreement with the Department. The funding
agreement will set out the terms and conditions relating to the grant, including funding
arrangements and project reporting requirements.
In relation to each funded activity the Department will assess:



how much has been done, including achievement of key milestones
how well it has been done, and
whether the activity achieved what was expected.
Applicants should frame their applications based on these criteria and ensure they provide a clear
purpose of the activity, an outline of the services to be delivered, and how they will be measured.
Reporting
If an organisation is successful in obtaining a grant, the Department is required to publish, on its
website, information about the grant no later than seven working days after the relevant funding
agreement takes effect (or 14 days working days from 1 June 2013 or as implemented earlier
according to the Commonwealth Grant Guidelines).
If an organisation has concerns about grant information being published, they should raise these
concerns with the Department as part of the application process. If the organisation is successful in
obtaining a grant, the Department will discuss these concerns with them.
Administration details
The Program is administered by the Native Title Unit, Social Inclusion Division of the Commonwealth
Attorney-General’s Department. The Unit may be contacted via email at native.title@ag.gov.au.
Where the Department has called for applications or approached an organisation to apply for
funding, applications should be preferably made online, but can also be submitted by email or by
hard copy.
Approver of funding
The responsible person for approving all grants under the Program is the First Assistant Secretary,
Social Inclusion Division.
Conflicts of interest
Departmental officers involved in the assessment of applications and management of the Program
are required to declare whether they have a conflict of interest. Staff are required to abstain from
any decision where a conflict of interest is identified. A conflict of interest includes:


any personal financial interest, or those of immediate relatives, in the acquisition of funding
under the Native Title Anthropologist Grants Program, and
any personal bias, obligation, interest or loyalty that affects decision-making in relation to
the Program.
Privacy
Any personal information collected by the Department is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
The Department collects personal information to carry out its functions properly and efficiently, and
only uses personal information for the purposes for which it was given to the Department and for
directly related purposes (unless otherwise required by, or authorised under, law).
Taxation
The Department does not provide advice on whether or how organisations pay GST. All applicants
are advised to seek advice from a qualified professional or the Australian Taxation Office
www.ato.gov.au.
Social and Community Services (SACS) Equal Remuneration Order
In November 2011, the Prime Minister committed the Government to paying the Commonwealth’s
share of wage increases awarded as a result of an equal remuneration order (ERO) by Fair Work
Australia (FWA) in the Social and Community Services (SACS) equal remuneration case.
For further information about SACS please visit the Fair Pay for Social and Community Services
Workers page on the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
website at www.fahcsia.gov.au.
Complaints mechanism
The Department regards complaints as a way of both assessing and improving our performance. The
Department will endeavour, where possible, to ensure that complaints are resolved promptly, fairly,
confidentially and satisfactorily and that our procedures are improved as a result.
Complaints regarding an application under the Program should first be made in writing to:
Assistant Secretary
Native Title Unit
Attorney-General’s Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
If you believe that the matter has not been resolved satisfactorily, you can then direct your
complaint to the Attorney-General’s Department complaints handling maiIbox
(complaints@ag.gov.au), by contacting the Compliments and Complaints Officer on (02) 6141 2525,
or by mail or facsimile:
Compliments and Complaints Officer
Attorney-General’s Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
Fax: (02)6141 4096
All complaints referred to the Department will be fully investigated and the complainant should
receive a written response within 28 calendar days. You may also forward any positive feedback
about the program.
Where a complainant is dissatisfied with the way the complaint has been handled by the
Department they can seek further review and investigation by the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman can be contacted on:
Phone: 1300 362 072 (toll free)
Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.au
Website: www.ombudsman.gov.au
Section 7—Further information
Applicants are welcome to contact the Native Title Unit within the Attorney-General’s Department
for further information.
Phone: (02) 6141 4730
Email: native.title@ag.gov.au
All written communications with the Department should be through this email address.
Post:
Native Title Unit
Attorney-General’s Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600