ACCAN administers an Independent Grants Scheme aimed to support consumer research and consumer representation that helps us achieve our strategic goals
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ACCAN is committed to best serving telecommunications consumers by administering a high quality Grants Program that is responsive to consumer needs. We have a two-stage application process, with only Streams depending on the type of work you are planning to do.
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2024 Grants Round
The next round of the ACCAN Indpendent Grants Program will open: Tuesday 30th January, 2024.
If you are thinking of applying, we encourage you to contact us in advance. The Grants Team is available all year round* to provide feedback on your project idea and answer any questions you have. Please Contact Us.
*Note that the ACCAN office will close December 22nd 2023 and reopen Monday 8th January 2024.
When the round opens, we will publish updated Guidelines and Priority Themes, which are expected to be similar to previous years. Below you can find information about last year's Round for your reference:
- 2023 Round Guidelines
- 2023 Round Priority Themes
- 2023 Round Timeline
- Who can apply?
- What is eligible?
- What won't get funded?
- Contact us
2023 Round Guidelines (2024 Guidelines COMING SOON)
Consult the Guidelines for everything you need to know about how the ACCAN Grants Program works, including eligibility, how to apply, the timeline and what to expect. These guidelines contain the rules for the Program and the assessment approach.
Download:
ACCAN Grants Program Guidelines 2023.docx4.69 MB
Download:
ACCAN Grants Program Guidelines 2023.pdf1020.47 KB
2023 Round Priority Themes (2024 Priorities COMING SOON)
All applications MUST be framed in terms of a specific consumer problem aligned with ACCAN's strategic plan.
If you are applying under the Research Stream, you MUST ALSO demonstrate alignment with one of the below Priority Themes. Priorities are formulated in consultation with ACCAN's stakeholders and change year to year.
2023 Priority Themes:
- Communications privacy and security e.g., cyber-security.
- Digital exclusion e.g., policy issues; practical responses; economic cost.
- Communications affordability e.g., Obstacles to device and service upgrades; mis-selling; sales tactics; financial hardship.
- Solutions to communications issues for remote consumers.
- Other topics which can demonstrate direct alignment with ACCAN’s strategic plan.
2023 Round Timeline (2024 Timeline COMING SOON)
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Expressions of Interest round OPENS |
30 Jan 2024 |
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Expressions of Interest round CLOSES |
TBA |
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EOI Applicants informed of outcome |
TBA |
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Full Application round OPENS (for invited applicants only) |
TBA |
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Full Application round CLOSES |
TBA |
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Full applicants informed of outcome |
30 June 2024 |
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Funded projects can begin from |
1 July 2024 |
Who can apply?
Eligible projects come from a range of applicants, such as individual researchers, community organisations, local councils and universities – all you need is an ABN and some great ideas. Check our website to see previous grant recipients. We strongly encourage partnerships, so if you're interested in a partnership with industry, a community organisation or university, get in touch with us as we may be able to make an introduction.
What is eligible?
Eligible projects address telecommunications consumer issues. A telecommunications consumer issue is one that is systemic, persistent and generally widespread, affecting consumers in their use of telecommunications and internet services. The issue could be something that affects the general public or it might be an issue affecting a particular part of the community such as children, older people, or people with disabilities, but preferably one where multiple sectors would benefit from a solution.
It could be a project that addresses consumer rip-offs or people getting into debt over their phone or internet usage. Or you may be studying the regulatory space for telecommunications services in Australia. These are just some examples. Whatever your project, it fills an identified gap and improves telecommunications goods, services or information for Australian consumers.
Make sure you have a look at ACCAN's strategic plan, our policy priorities and website before applying.
What won't get funded?
We often see applications which use apps, websites or other technologies to benefit Australian consumers in some other way eg. to improve their health, educate them about community services, or deliver arts or wellbeing programs to Australians in need. While these are all worthwhile projects, they do NOT fall within ACCAN's remit and would be deemed ineligible under the ACCAN Grants Program. Your project needs to demonstrate outcomes for telecommunications consumers.
Questions to ask yourself include:
- How does my project improve the purchase or use of phone and internet services in Australia?
- What are the outcomes for the telecommunications sector? Is my project directed at telcos, telecommunications regulators, government or consumers with regards to their telecommunications use? - If so, then your project is likely within scope. If your aim is to improve other sectors, then your project is ineligible.
ACCAN's scope generally does NOT include content, unless that content is related to telecommunications eg. phone plans, billing, privacy of telco contracts, consumer rights with regard to phone or internet services.
If you're unsure if your project fits our Program, or even if you're sure it does, talk to us. If you give us enough time, we may even be able to provide feedback on application drafts.
For the full list of eligibility criteria, see the Guidelines.
Will ACCAN fund overheads?
ACCAN won't fund overheads, such as administration levies, general office space and so on. We don’t cover normal operating costs for an organisation to do its business either. The grant program funds clearly defined projects and project activity towards specific outputs.
We do cover all costs that are directly attributable to the project itself, e.g. project labour, project management, project accounting, or even office space and room hire if it can be justified as directly attributable to the project.
It all depends on how clearly the cost is related to the project - If you weren’t doing this project would the cost still exist? If yes, then we won’t cover it. Is it an arbitrary levy added by your organisation on top of the project? If yes, we won't cover it. We only cover costs for activities inside the project.
Contact us
We strongly encourage prospective applicants to phone or email ACCAN's grants team to discuss your project idea. Remember, applications are assessed independently, so we are able to help you develop your idea and hone it appropriately for the ACCAN Program. We're also available for any other questions you might have about ACCAN Grants.
Email: grants @ accan.org.au
Phone: 02 9288 4000
Or contact us via the NRS.
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2025 Grants Round
See our 2024 grantees on our Projects Page.
Applications are next expected to open in January 2025, for funding commencing July 2025.
You can Contact Us at any time. We are here to help!
If you are thinking of applying next year, we encourage you to speak with us in advance. The Grants Team is available to help, including providing feedback on your project idea and answering any questions you have.
Below you can find all the information from the 2024 Round, to help inform your planning for 2025:
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Women's Legal Services NSW
Project title: Technology-facilitated stalking and abuse
Grant round: 2014
Grant: $54,123.40
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Vision Australia
Project title: Document Accessibility Toolbar (DAT)
Grant round: 2014
Grant: $34,158
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Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University
Project title: Personal Cloud Use in Australia: Consumer expectations, experience and impact on communications consumption
Grant round: 2014
Grant: $38,699.60
Read more: Demystifying personal cloud services for Australian consumers
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Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media
Project title: Yarning and Learning: Communication use and issues in remote Indigenous communities
Grant round: 2014
Grant: $42,100
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Justice Connect
Project title: Don't just sign on the dotted line
Grant round: 2014
Grant: $40,113
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Australian National University: School of Accounting and Business Information Systems
Project title: Competition and comparability in the consumer mobile telecommunications sector
Grant round: 2014
Grant: $30,806
Read more: Investigating competition in the mobile phone marketplace