First Nations Arts

d/Deaf and/or Disabilities Project Fund

Grants to support projects and professional development opportunities across all art forms, nationally and internationally, from $5,000 to $10,000.

About the program

This initiative is part of Creative Australia’s First Nations First industry development programs in response to extensive community consultation on priorities and needs of the sector in response to Pillar 1, First Nations First – Revive, the Australian Government’s shared vision for Australia: a place for every story and a story for every place. These new initiatives aim to elevate existing programs and deliver new funding that build on a 50-year legacy of First Nations leadership and investment at Creative Australia.

First Nations Arts: d/Deaf and/or Disabilities Project Fund

First Nations Arts: d/Deaf and/or Disabilities Project Fund supports projects and professional development opportunities across all art forms, nationally and internationally. It is open to:

Australian First Nations d/Deaf artists and arts workers
Australian First Nations artists and arts workers with disability
Australian First Nations d/Deaf artists and arts workers groups
Australian First Nations artists and arts workers with disability groups
Australian First Nations organisations.

This opportunity is open to Australian First Nations individuals, groups and organisations.

Individuals must:

identify as Australian First Nations
identify as d/Deaf and/or with disability
be 18+ years
be based in Australia.

Organisations must:

identify as Australian First Nations organisations:
- at least 51% First Nations on the board
- be known as a First Nations organisation that provides programs for First Nations community
Demonstratable history of working and supporting Australian artists and/or arts workers who identify as:
- First Nations
- Deaf and/or with disability
Be based in Australia.

Applications must have:

eligible funding amount requested ($5,000 – $10,000)
eligible project’s start date is on or after 1 July 2025 and end date must be completed within 2 years of your starting date.

Please note: You can only submit one application to this grant initiative.

Individuals cannot apply if:

you are not an Australian First Nations d/Deaf artist and arts worker
you are not an Australian First Nations artist and arts worker with disability
you are not an Australian First Nations d/Deaf artist and arts worker group
you are not an Australian First Nations artist and arts worker with disability group
you are based outside of Australia
you have received funding for the same project from Creative Australia
you have an overdue grant report with Creative Australia
you owe money to Creative Australia.

Organisations cannot apply if:

you are not an Australian First Nations organisation
you do not work with First Nations d/Deaf artists or arts workers, and/or artists or arts workers with disability
you are based outside of Australia
you have received funding for the same project from Creative Australia
you have an overdue grant report with Creative Australia
you owe money to Creative Australia.

Arts and culture activities can include but are not limited to:

skills development
mentoring
residencies
creation of new work
creative development
experimental arts
practice-based research
research into access and inclusion best practice
presentation and promotion
collaboration
productions
exhibitions
performances
publishing
music recording
materials costs associated with a particular project/program
presenting and/or attending conferences and network opportunities.

Activities can take place nationally, internationally, online, or in a combination of in-person and online.

If you are not sure if your project is suitable for this round, please contact the Project Manager, Tammy Close at (02) 9215 9145 or tammy.close@creative.gov.au.

Accessibility Costs

Access costs are legitimate expenses and must be included in your application expenditure. Access costs may include but are not limited to:

using Auslan interpreters
captioning
translation to other languages
audio description
temporary building adjustments
materials in other formats
specific technical equipment
carer, or support worker assistance
sensory spaces for events and festivals.

If you are not sure if your access costs are suitable for this round, please contact the Project Manager, Tammy Close at (02) 9215 9145 or tammy.close@creative.gov.au.

If your application involves working with other First Nations artists, arts and culture workers, communities, or subject matter you must adhere to these Protocols, and provide evidence of this in your application and support material. More information on the First Nations Protocols is available here.

The First Nations Industry Advisory Panel will identify as First Nations d/Deaf artists or arts workers, or as artists or arts workers with disability that may represent each state, territories and areas of artistic and cultural expression, including music, dance, visual arts, theatre, literature, experimental arts and community arts and cultural development.

The First Nations Industry Advisory Panel will review and score eligible applications and attend an Assessment Meeting to discuss the applications resulting in the recommendation of the top applications to be funded.

The First Nations Industry Advisory Panel will assess your application against the three assessment criteria, Project Quality, Project Impact and Project Viability.

Application responses

Your answers to the Project Quality and Project Impact questions can be submitted as:

written responses
videos responses
audio responses.

Your answers to the questions do not need to respond to every bullet point mentioned below, please speak only to the bullet points that are relevant to your project.

If you would like to download a copy of the assessment criteria questions, please click this link.

Project Quality

This will include:

clear project vision, process, and outcome
experience and skills
quality of past works
evidence of working in both First Nations and disability spaces and/or communities
project access design.

Project Impact

This will include:

what significance the work will have within the relevant area/s of practice
how the project will strengthen the skills of the artist and/or everyone involved
what the benefits will be for career development and/or artistic and cultural practice
how the project will benefit cultural expression (if applicable)
what impact the project will have on both First Nations arts and disability sectors
why this project is relevant now and for both First Nations and disability discourse.

Project Viability

This will include:

realistic and achievable timeline
realistic and achievable budget with a breakdown of:
- project costs
- access costs
- other income such as in-kind support, (optional for individuals and groups)
relevant letters of support and/or confirmation from both First Nations and disability artists and/or organisations:
- Elders
- mentors
- community.
Evidence that the Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts have been adhered to (if applicable).
Organisations should demonstrate and evidence:
- a comprehensive Disability Access Plan (DAP)
- strong record of working within First Nations and disability spaces.

Support material may include:

examples of your artistic and or cultural work
examples of past and current work
short bios of artist/s and creative team
disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) for organisations.
letters of support/confirmation may include:
- creatives to confirm their support and/or collaboration in the project
- partnerships to confirm their support and/or collaboration in the project
- communities confirm their support and/or collaboration in the project
- First Nations Elders to confirm their support and/or collaboration in the project
- organisations to confirm their support and/or collaboration in the project.

There are four types of support material you may submit:

Artistic support material

This should include relevant, recent examples of your artistic or cultural work:

images of previous works
scripts
video
audio.

Please Note: Where possible please ensure support material can be made accessible such as:

closed captioning
audio description
image descriptions for visual material.

Biographies and CVs

You can include a brief bio and/or curriculum vitae (CV) of the:

applicant (artist/group/organisation)
key artists/creatives involved in your project
personnel involved in your project
other collaborators involved in your project.

Please note: Brief bios or CV information should be presented as a single document no longer than two A4 pages in total.

Letters of support

Individuals, groups, or organisations can write letters in support of your project. A support letter should explain how the project or activity will benefit you, other artists or key creatives, personnel and other collaborators involved, participants, or the broader community.

If relevant to your activity, letters of support may also provide evidence of appropriate cultural protocols, and permissions or outline the support of key project partners. You can include up to five letters of support.

Letters of confirmation

If your application involves an invitation to a residency, to present your work or attend a conference, either nationally or internationally, you must evidence this by providing letters of confirmation.

Each letter must include confirmation of any invitations, partner fees, or contributions to the activity, whether cash or in-kind.

Please provide a single link to all letters or scan them into one PDF file and attach it to your application. You can include up to five letters of confirmation.

Ways of providing your support material

Our preferred method of receiving support material is via URLs (weblinks).

You can provide up to three URLs (weblinks) that link to content that is relevant to your project activity. This may include video, audio, images, or written material.

These URLs can include a total of:

10 minutes of video and/or audio recording
10 images
10 pages of written material.

Please note: If you are linking to media files that are private or password protected like Vimeo, please provide the password in the password field on the application form.

Other accepted file formats:

If you cannot supply support material via URLs, you may upload support material to your application in the following formats:

video (MP4, QuickTime, and Windows Media)
audio (MP3 and Windows Media)
images (JPEG and PowerPoint)
written material (Word and PDF).

Please note: We do not accept application-related support material submitted via post. Application-related material received by post will not be assessed and will be returned to the sender.

If you think you will have difficulty submitting your support material online or need advice on what type of material to submit, please contact the Project Manager. Tammy Close on (02) 9215 9145 or tammy.close@creative.gov.au.

Digital

Key dates

Applications close:

Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 3pm AEDT, for activities beginning after 1 July 2025.

Amount: $5,000 – $10,000

Notifications: June 2025

Please note: To apply you must be registered in our application management system a minimum of two business days prior to the closing date.

Apply now

Application support resources

National Relay Service

The National Relay Service is an Australia-wide telephone access service available to anyone who is Deaf or has a hearing or speech impairment.

Creative Australia uses the National Relay Service to increase access to our programs and services for people who are Deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment.

Visit the National Relay Service website to find out more information and register to use the National Relay Service.

Voice Relay number: 1300 555 727

TTY number: 133 677

Email: helpdesk@relayservice.com.au

Auslan Interpreter Service

Creative Australia can provide an Auslan Interpreter Service for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. If you require this service for a meeting with the Project Manager, Tammy Close to discuss your project idea, and ask questions about the guidelines and application, please contact please email tammy.close@creative.org.au with a request to book an interpreter at a suitable date and time for you.

The Interpreter Service is available throughout Australia, including in regional areas.

Please note: To ensure an interpreter is available, we will need to receive your request at least one week before the application closing date.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Download our FAQs for using the Application Management System in Word and PDF.

You can only make one application for each funding round. This means you can apply for other Creative Australia funding rounds at the same time if they are open.

You can check what other rounds are currently open via this link: Investment and development.

You will still have time to complete and submit your grant report before the closing date of the round. If you have an overdue grant report at the time of the pre-eligibility check, you will not be eligible to apply for any further grants at Creative Australia.

We do not accept applications submitted via post. Any material received by post will not be assessed and will be returned to the sender. If you think you will have difficulty submitting your application online, please contact the Project Manager, Tammy Close to discuss your project idea and receive support at (02) 9215 9145 or tammy.close@creative.gov.au.

If you are unsure if your project idea fits this funding round, please contact the Project Manager, Tammy Close to discuss your project idea and receive support at (02) 9215 9145 or tammy.close@creative.gov.au.

We define a ‘group’ as two or more individuals who do not form a legally constituted organisation. This can include co-collaborators and collectives.

An ‘organisation’ is a legally constituted organisation that is registered or created by law. For example, incorporated associations, companies limited by guarantee or government statutory authorities are all defined as organisations.

Organisations that are not legally constituted are not eligible to apply for funding in grant categories that are open to organisations only. Organisations may be required to provide a certificate of incorporation or evidence of their current legal status. Funding programs for organisations are not intended for sole traders or partnerships.

Yes. Having your grant ‘auspiced’ or ‘administered’ means that you are nominating another person or entity to receive the grant funds on your behalf.

You must decide when applying whether you want your grant to be administered. If your application is successful and you change your mind, we can only change these arrangements in exceptional circumstances.

Whether or not your grant will be administered is not part of the First Nations Industry Advisors’ considerations. You do not need to provide a letter of confirmation from the entity that will administer your grant.

While we can support screen-based art, we do not generally support activities associated with short and feature films, television, or documentaries. Please contact your state Screen organisation or Screen Australia, the Federal Government’s primary agency for the production of Australian screen activity.

Applications that focus solely on academic studies or are for activities that are part of assessable coursework are unlikely to be successful with our assessment panels. Assessment panels are also unlikely to support applications requesting the costs of academic fees or courses.

If you wish to apply for study costs, explain to the panel how your project extends, or supplements, the course’s standard curriculum requirements. Also, bear in mind that your project will be assessed on the artistic merit of the work.

If you are applying for an art project grant for funding to complete a training program, course, workshop, or diploma, explain how doing so will impact positively on your career or practice.

We do not amend, correct, update, or change any part of your application once it has been submitted. However, if you receive additional confirmations for activities or artists after the closing date you may alert us to these, and we may bring them to the attention of the First Nations Industry Advisors at the assessment meeting. These updates could include confirmation that a proposed activity will take place, a partnership that has been secured, or funding from another source that has been confirmed or received.

Please email the Project Manager, Tammy Close with your name, Application ID, and additional confirmation details at tammy.close@creative.gov.au.

No, you must submit your application on the closing date stated in the Guidelines, 1 April 2025 at 3:00pm AEDT.

Administrative and technical support is only available during office hours (Monday-Friday) 9am to 5 pm AEDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

Please contact the Project Manager, Tammy Close before the closing date and time if you are having difficulty submitting your application at (02) 9215 9145 or tammy.close@creative.gov.au.

First Nations Arts and d/Deaf and Disability Project Fund can commence on or after 1 July 2025 and must be completed within 2 years from your proposed start date.

Creative Australia does not fund activities retrospectively. You may work on your project before then but make it clear in your application that you are not seeking funding support for any stage of the project occurring before 1 July 2025.

It is best to confirm creative artists or collaborations, partnerships, sources of cash or in-kind, or venue at the time that you apply.

If there are too many unconfirmed elements of your proposal, the assessors may question its viability.

The activities timeline and budget are an opportunity to show how well you’ve planned your project. Complete these as thoroughly as you can to show the assessors that your project is organised, well-planned, and viable.

Break your budget down, so that assessors can evaluate how realistic your budgeting is. Present large budget items in multiple lines and talk about the description next to each dollar ($) amount item.

Show each major project stage and milestone in your Project Timetable. This allows assessors to see how you plan to work and evaluate how achievable your objectives are.

Any costs that can be directly related to the project you are proposing are eligible. They may include artist fees, venue hire, consultation fees, childcare costs, travel costs, and costs associated with providing access for people with disability can all be included if they are directly related to your project.

Creative Australia expects to see artists paid for their work. There is no need to cut back on these expenses or forgo your own fees. We can’t tell you what rate of pay to use. You should consult the relevant representative association for guidance on this question. Whatever rate you use, be clear about how you have calculated your figures, and what rate of pay you are using, and refer to any standards or industry rates in your application.

The online application has a Support Material section which allows you to provide us with a URL linking to your support material. Alternatively, you can directly upload files. 

You will receive an ‘Acknowledgement of submission’ email from us acknowledging our receipt of your online application. You should keep a copy of this email as proof of your submission.

There will be no further communication from us until a decision has been made on your application. We aim to notify you of the outcome of your application no later than 12 weeks after the published closing date for the grant round.

Yes, you can request that your application be withdrawn at any time up to the start of the assessment meeting. You will need to email us with your request, providing your six-digit application ID number. Please speak to the Project Manager, Tammy Close at (02) 9215 9145 or tammy.close@creative.gov.au.

All applications that are submitted to the First Nations Arts and Culture Strategic Funding will be assessed by a First Nations Panel.

The First Nations Industry Advisors are contacted to participate in the First Nations Panel for First Nations Arts and Culture Strategic Funding Arts. These First Nations Industry Advisors have experience and experience on specific art forms and provide a breadth of knowledge in those art form sectors. Some Industry Advisors can be the previous recipients of past funding rounds.

The First Nations Panel will assess your application on their Assessment Criteria of Project Quality, Project Impact, and Project Viability.

If you would like to express an interest (EOI) in becoming an Industry Advisor, please speak to Project Manager, Tammy Close at (02) 9215 9145 or tammy.close@creative.gov.au.

We aim to notify you of the outcome of your application no later than 12 weeks after the published closing date for the grant round.

You will receive your grant payment within two weeks of accepting your funding agreement.

Grants may be considered part of your income in a financial year and may be subject to tax. You must determine your taxation liabilities. We suggest you consult your financial adviser or contact the Australian Taxation Office.

Yes, if you have been notified that your application was unsuccessful, you can request feedback on your application. Please contact the Project Manager, Tammy Close at (02) 9215 9145 or tammy.close@creative.gov.au.

Download: Online

Digital Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) Online Workshop Series 

About the opportunity

Download: Online is a series of Zoom workshops for First Nations artists and arts workers at all career stages, who are engaging or wish to engage with digital practice and learn more about ICIP.

This is a program developed in partnership with Arts Law Centre of Australia to provide practical advice on how to manage and protect ICIP when working digitally.

Four online workshops will be held across May and early June. Workshops will be 2 hours in duration and will be grouped by art form area to provide tailored advice to attendees around IP and ICIP considerations and protections.

First Nations artists and arts workers are welcome to register for one or more workshops depending on art form area practice and interest.

Date	Art forms	Time
Thursday 8 May 2025	Writing, storytelling, playwriting, literature	12 – 2pm AEST	REGISTER
Thursday 15 May 2025	Theatre, dance, contemporary performance, CACD	12 – 2pm AEST	REGISTER
Thursday 22 May 2025	Music	12 – 2pm AEST	REGISTER
Thursday 5 June 2025	Visual arts, craft, digital arts	12 – 2pm AEST	REGISTER

These online workshops complement a series of in-person workshops delivered nationally over the last 18 months. More details on upcoming workshops in South Australia and Northern Territory can be found here.

Workshops will cover:

Intellectual Property (IP) laws, including Australian copyright laws, and strategies to protect, use, and share copyright material in digital arts practice
Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), focusing on its protection within the Australian legal framework
protocols for working in digital arts practice, including industry standards and guidelines for collaborating with institutions, government, and businesses in Australia
techniques for managing and safeguarding ICIP across digital platforms, especially when creating, sharing, using, or selling digital artworks
strategies for managing and protecting rights through contracts and partnership arrangements, particularly in commissioned or funded projects, creative collaborations, and co-authorship
insights into current policy and legal developments regarding ICIP protections in Australia
guidance on accessing legal, consumer law, and licensing services, and understanding how organisations like Arts Law and other support or agent organisations can provide assistance.

This is an identified workshop for First Nations artists and arts workers.

Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts

More information on the First Nations Protocols is available here.

This program is generously supported by The Sun Foundation.

This workshop series will be delivered by Arts Law Centre of Australia and Artists in the Black.

Key dates

Thursday 8 May, 12-2pm AEST: Writing, storytelling, playwriting, literature:
REGISTER

Thursday 15 May, 12-2pm AEST: Theatre, dance, contemporary performance, CACD: REGISTER

Thursday 22 May 2025, 12-2pm AEST: Music: REGISTER

Thursday 5 June 2025, 12-2pm AEST: Visual arts, craft, digital arts: REGISTER

Digital

Contact

Please direct your enquiries to:
digital@creative.gov.au

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) refers to the rights of Indigenous peoples to protect their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and intellectual property. This encompasses a wide range of elements including but not limited to: 

Traditional knowledge: Practices, innovations, and wisdom developed by Indigenous communities over time.

Cultural expressions: Art, music, dance, stories, symbols, and rituals that are integral to the cultural identity of Indigenous peoples.

Genetic resources: Biological materials and their derivatives that hold cultural significance or traditional use.

Cultural heritage: Tangible and intangible heritage, such as sacred sites, artifacts, languages, and oral traditions.

ICIP aims to ensure that Indigenous communities have control over the use, representation, and dissemination of their cultural and intellectual property, safeguarding it from misuse or exploitation. 

No. First Nations artists and artworkers are welcome to register. You could, for example, be working as a curator, the general manager of an arts centre, in a role focused on digital archiving, in marketing for an arts organisation or as an independent artist. Your arts practice may or may not include work in digital. This workshop would also be suitable for those who are working directly in digital arts including gaming, AR/VR, AI and those with an interest in e-commerce.

This workshop is open to those interested in digital arts practice and individuals who might already be using digital tools, platforms or approaches to creating work. You do not need to be actively using digital approaches in your work.

We use the term ‘digital’ broadly. Digital includes both online and other technologies that extend or impact on the creation, presentation and distribution of creative content.

Importantly, we refer to digital as a way of doing things and a way of thinking: a digital mindset. We also use the term when referring to the technology that enables these actions.

Digital is constantly evolving. The pace of change is speeding up, as are the expectations of arts audiences and consumers, so shifting from fixed and historical mindsets to a flexible, growth mindset and culture is how new opportunities will be identified and realised.

DELIVERY PARTNERS

Dance Services

About the Program

As part of Creative Australia’s multi-year investment program, we have introduced a new stream of investment – Delivery Partners – to support the provision of services to the arts and creative industries.

Creative Australia’s Delivery Partners are entities which provide services for artists, creative workers, organisations and enterprises, and which benefit our creative ecology, communities and audiences.

Delivery Partners have separate, service-based investment agreements with Creative Australia.

This ensures that clear expectations with Delivery Partners are set regarding the main services they will offer, enabling us to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of investment in these services.

To respond to this Delivery Partner opportunity please ensure you refer to the service delivery statement below.

We strongly encourage you to contact us to discuss your proposal in the context of your circumstances.

We also offer the following additional resources to these guidelines:

frequently asked questions (bottom of this page)

our guide to preparing a business plan.

Delivery Partner proposals are reviewed and decided upon through a single stage process.

Organisations are invited to apply for up to $250,000 per annum for a total of $1,000,000 over the four-year investment period.

Your Business Plan must cover the full four-year investment period of 2025-2028.

Please note: Only one Delivery Partner investment will be offered for this opportunity.

Creative Australia is seeking proposals to deliver the following services in support of the national dance sector.  

This provision of services can be delivered by a single organisation or by a consortium of organisations. If a consortium applies, we will require only one proposal be submitted from a nominated lead agency and that agency would agree to contract expertise to manage, collate or provide key elements (standards, website) and to service the devolvement of funds and manage data, acquittals and liaise with Creative Australia.

Creative Australia is seeking proposals that respond to the below services evidencing:  

1. how they will provide the services 

2. how the budget will be applied.  

Key information 

Organisations responding to the open proposal request for the following services will need to address the approved Service Delivery Statements in their Business Plan. You can find the template here.

Organisations are invited to apply for up to $250,000 per annum for a total of $1,000,000 over the four-year investment period, 2025-28.

Aligning with pillars 2, 3, 4 & 5 of the National Cultural Policy – A Place for Every Story; Centrality of the Artist; Strong Cultural Infrastructure; Engaging the Audience. 

Deliver the following national services in support of the national dance sector: 

1. Presentation Opportunities for Existing Work 

develop a national network for the presentation of existing Australian dance work

proposals could explore a range of programming opportunities, which might include: the presentation of works within existing dance programming, panel discussions, workshops, forums – and can include diverse partners (e.g., presentation partners, festivals, tertiary institutions)

presenting a variety of dance styles is encouraged (e.g., street dance, contemporary, participatory)

investment could be used annually or biannually depending on the proposed programs.

2. Audience Development 

develop and implement a strategic audience development and/or diversification plan

strategies for the development of audiences may be integrated into plans for the presentation of existing works.

3. Ability to leverage additional investment and partnerships 

proposals must detail any additional investment to deliver these services from the organisations’ core budgets, local, state or federal funding agencies, private or philanthropic sources and partnerships. It should include projected income from ticket sales.

4. Evaluation 

this Delivery Partner will be expected to contribute to Creative Australia’s evaluation of the initiative over the period of investment.  Additional evaluation, within the allocated investment, is also desirable.

Who can submit a proposal

Only organisations may submit proposals for this opportunity.

A consortium of organisations may submit a proposal in certain circumstances, but the proposal must be funded and contracted through one member of the consortium acting as ‘lead organisation’.

Creative Australia requires that organisations be registered under Australian law (for example, incorporated association or company limited by guarantee) or created by law (for example, a government statutory authority).

organisations that are not legally constituted are not eligible to apply

organisations that are registered as Trusts are not eligible to apply.

Organisations may be required to provide a certificate of incorporation or evidence of their current legal status.

Who can’t submit a proposal

You can’t submit a proposal if:

you have an overdue grant report

you owe money to Creative Australia

your organisation is not registered in Australia

you are an individual or group.

What you can submit a proposal for

activities that respond to the scope of the Delivery Partner service statement for the opportunity for which we are seeking proposals.

What you can’t submit a proposal for

You can’t submit a proposal for the following activities:

activities outside of the scope of the Delivery Partner service statement

activities that do not involve or benefit Australian practicing artists, arts professionals, audiences or communities

activities that have already taken place

activities engaging with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to the Creative Australia  First Nations Cultural & Intellectual Property Protocols.

Your application must comply with the following Protocols. We may contact you to request further information during the review process, or if approved, as a condition of our investment.

Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts

All proposals involving First Nations artists, communities or subject matter must adhere to these Protocols, provide evidence of this in their proposal and any supporting material. More information on the First Nations Protocols is available here.

Commonwealth Child Safe Framework

All approved proposals must comply with Australian law relating to employing or engaging people who work or volunteer with children, including working with children checks and mandatory reporting. Delivery Partners who provide services directly to children, or whose funded activities involve contact with children, will additionally be required to implement the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

Proposals are reviewed by expert industry representatives called Industry Advisors.

Industry Advisors are experts in their field with relevant experience and knowledge of an arts practice or sector. Industry Advisors will make recommendations for Creative Australia to consider when making the final decisions on which proposals to approve.

proposals will be reviewed by Industry Advisors who will make recommendations for us to consider when making the final investment decisions for organisations

the Industry Advisors will review proposals under arts practice areas relevant to their knowledge and experience

Industry Advisors will be published on our website following notification. Further detail on Industry Advice can be found  here.

We will review your proposal against three selection criteria listed below.

Under each criterion are bullet points indicating what may be considered when reviewing your proposal. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed.

First Criterion

Quality

We will review the quality of your organisation’s services, program and business plan. We may consider your organisation’s track record and vision to support:

the potential quality of the services to be delivered as demonstrated in your response to the Delivery Partner Service Statement

the appropriateness of the submitted business plan as it relates to delivery of the services outlined in the Delivery Partner Service Statement

the diversity of stakeholders that may be involved in the delivery of services

the diversity of stakeholders that may be beneficiaries of the services to be provided.

Second Criterion

Viability

We will review your organisation’s track record of delivery, and capacity to deliver its vision. We may consider:

value for money as evidenced in your proposed business plan and budget to deliver the services outlined in the Delivery Partner Service Statement

the experience of the people leading and governing your organisation

the financial health of your organisation, including the effective use of resources

the diversity and scale of income and co-funding you generate and receive

whether your work is supported by meaningful evaluation

how you demonstrate cultural competencies and adherence to relevant cultural protocols, particularly if your organisation works with diverse artists, audiences or communities. Where relevant, evidence that the  Protocols for First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts  have been adhered to

factors that have impacted your organisation’s financial health, planning and priorities.

You may wish to refer to our guide on  Essential Governance Practices.

Third Criterion

Alignment

We will review how your organisation’s vision and business plan align with one or more of the strategic objectives in the current Creative Australia  Corporate Plan  2024-2028. The objectives are:

First Nations creativity is central to Australian arts and culture, supported by self-determined decision-making

a dynamic creative sector tells the many stories of contemporary Australia

our creative workforce have sustainable careers and control of their creative assets

arts and culture are valued and of value to all Australians

local and global audiences can engage in meaningful Australian creative experiences.

Delivery Partner proposals must be submitted through our application management system by the advertised closing date: Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 3pm AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)

To receive access the proposal form in our application management system please contact a member of our Multi-Year Investment Team: myi@creative.gov.au.

In the proposal form, you will be asked to provide the following information:

the annual and total amount of investment as directed by Creative Australia for the Delivery Partner opportunity.

a brief summary of your organisation or consortium of organisations, including an outline of your core activity and the role you play in the arts sector (approx. 500 words)

a list of key staff in your organisation, with information on their demographic attributes roles and tenure

the members of your Board or governing committee (to whom the head of your organisation reports), with information on their demographic attributes, length of service and the structure and composition of the Board

whether you report your financial information on a calendar or financial year basis

a summary of your audited financial information for each of the previous two years, including assets, liabilities, total income and total expenditure*

projected high level income and expenditure for each year of the funding period offered through the Delivery Partner opportunity.

*Organisations who report on a calendar year basis: 2022 and 2023. Organisations who report on a financial year basis: 2022/23 and 2023/24

You will be asked to provide the following support material:

1. Delivery Partner support material

Please provide up to 3 URLs (weblinks) that best demonstrate your organisation’s activity as it relates this Delivery Partner proposal. These URLS may include video, audio, images, audio and written material.

2. Audited accounts or equivalent

Please upload your latest two years of your audited accounts or equivalent.

Audited Accounts 2022 (or equivalent)
Audited Accounts 2023 (or equivalent).

3. Business Plan

A business plan that details how you will realise the deliverables related to this Delivery Partner proposal. Please click this link for guidance on a Business Plan. This can be uploaded as a written document (Word, PDF). The plan should be no more than 20 pages. You can find a Business Plan template here.

Reporting requirements for approved Delivery Partners

Organisations that are approved as Delivery Partners for Creative Australia should be aware of the reporting requirements associated with this investment. These requirements are not negotiable and will be part of the conditions of the funding agreement, so be sure to include the resources required to do so in your future budget projections.

Payments to organisations in receipt of a Delivery Partner Investment are dependent on the provision to Creative Australia of financial reporting three times a year, as well as annual reports against Key Performance Indicators and on statistical information relating to the delivery of services.

You must provide your organisation’s annual financial statements audited in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards by an Approved Auditor, and discloses separately the Delivery Partner funding as both income or unexpended grants. An Approved Auditor means a person who is: (a) registered as a company auditor under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), or a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, or of CPA Australia or the National Institute of Accountants; and (b) not a principal, member, shareholder, officer or employee of the Organisation or of a related body corporate as defined in Section 50 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Data and outcomes reporting provides Creative Australia with valuable information to monitor the performance and activity of each organisation and ensures accountability for the investment of public funds. It also informs research and communication by Creative Australia, allowing us to demonstrate the impact of our funded organisations.

Key dates

Proposal forms available from:

Tuesday 21 January 2025 at 12pm AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)

Proposals close:

Tuesday 1 April at 3pm AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)

To request a proposal form please contact the Multi Year Investment Team at myi@creative.gov.au.

Please note: To submit a proposal, you must be registered in our application management system a minimum of two business days prior to the closing date.

Organisations will be notified of the outcome of their proposal approximately 12 weeks after the closing date

Contact

If you need help with your proposal or would like to request a proposal form please contact the Multi Year Investment Team at myi@creative.gov.au.

Frequently asked questions

All proposals are submitted through our online system.

We have anticipated a few of the questions about the proposal process below.

Delivery Partner investment stream is part of the Creative Australia’s multi-year investment program for 2025–28. It is a new stream of investment to support the provision of services to the arts and creative industries.

Creative Australia’s Delivery Partners are entities which provide services for artists, creative workers, organisations and enterprises, which benefit our creative ecology, communities and audiences.

Delivery Partners investment stream will support organisations from 1 January 2025.

Read the frequently asked questions below  for information on selection criteria, the selection process, support material, and how to submit your proposal. 

Information on the proposal process and key dates is specific to each Delivery Partner opportunity and is available on our website.

Yes, all proposals will need a Business Plan submitted. A template for this Business Plan is available within the proposal form in FLUXX and here.

In the proposal form we have requested information on the demographic characteristics and tenure of key staff and Board members. This assists in our review of applications to understand the diversity and experience of key staff and Board members. This is in alignment with our corporate objective that Australian arts organisations reflect the communities which they serve.

This data is used in accordance with our  privacy policy.

You need a director identification number (director ID) if you’re a director of a company, registered Australian body, registered foreign company or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation. Refer to the ABRS website for detailed information on why this is required.

This data is used in accordance with our  privacy policy.

In the proposal form we have included a section regarding a remuneration fee matrix. information. This matrix is to assist us to clearly see remuneration (excluding superannuation) of people working directly on the Delivery Partnership activity.

This data is used in accordance with our  privacy policy.

For the purposes of this matrix, please gross-up any part-time remuneration to the full-time equivalent amount. The Casual Hourly rate should be inclusive of loading.

Types of organisations we can support include incorporated associations, companies limited by guarantee or government statutory authorities. Organisations may be required to provide a certificate of incorporation or evidence of their current legal status.

Proposals can also be accepted from consortiums if the lead organisation is an incorporated association, company limited by guarantee or government statutory authority.

No, only organisations that are registered under Australian law can apply. Further detail on who can apply to the program is available on our website.

Yes, if you can demonstrate that:

the investment will support activities that address the service needs specified
there is a compelling financial rationale for subsidising these activities
none of Creative Australia’s investment will be distributed to shareholders or directors.

Further detail on who can apply to the program is available on our website.

Yes, multi-year investment organisations are eligible to apply and must demonstrate that:

the investment will support activities that address the service needs specified
these services are distinct from your funded core activity.

as a multi-year investment organisation, you may be not eligible to apply for the Arts Projects for Organisations category. Eligibility will be determined based on the level of annual investment you receive
other proposals you submit to Creative Australia will need to demonstrate the activities are outside the scope of your Delivery Partner Investment proposal or agreement
eligibility for other investment opportunities will be published in the guidelines for each program.

Yes. You will need to demonstrate that your organisation generates diverse income streams; however, those income streams can come from any source.

Further detail on who can apply to the program is available on our website.

Trustee companies and Trusts are not eligible to apply.

We will accept your eligibility to submit an application based on your intention to change the company structure prior to receiving our investment.

If you have an overdue acquittal or outstanding reporting with us, you are ineligible to submit a proposal.

Yes, if your organisation is registered under, or by, Australian law. If you do not have a board or governing committee, you will need to explain what mechanisms you do have in place to oversee the effective management and sustainability of your organisation.

Information on the funding level is specific to each Delivery Partner opportunity and can be found in the relevant service delivery statement available on our website.

Organisations that have proposals approved may be offered an investment amount lower than what was requested.

Delivery Partners proposals will be reviewed by Industry Advisors who will make recommendations to Creative Australia. If approved, the Delivery Partner will enter into a negotiated investment agreement with Creative Australia. This agreement will include key performance indicators that measure the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.

Proposals will be reviewed by Industry Advisors who will make recommendations for Creative Australia to consider when making the final investment decisions for organisations. The Industry Advisors will review proposals relevant to their knowledge and experience.

The full list of Industry Advisors will be published on our website following notification.

Further detail on Industry Advice is available in the guidelines on Creative Australia website.

Industry Advisors will be people with relevant experience and knowledge.

We are using the Industry Advisor method of review so that we can take account of the recommendations of experts in the industry while also taking a strategic overview of the entire national landscape. Industry Advisors will make recommendations after reviewing proposals within an arts practice area. Creative Australia will then consider their recommendations within the context of a national investment portfolio.

Industry Advice involves a significant process of review, commentary, and deliberation by external experts. However, it also involves Creative Australia staff allowing for greater strategic oversight and capacity to shape the investment portfolio to meet the needs of the entire sector.

To ensure that our investment in the national landscape is effective, we need to take into consideration a range of investments including state and territory investments, the National Performing Arts Partnership Framework (NPAPF), Visual Arts, Craft and Design Framework (VACDF) and Four-Year Investment for Organisations (FYIO).

Importantly, this model of review and decision-making remains at arm’s length from government.

The proposal requires you to supply:

projected high level income and expenditure for each financial year of the investment period, i.e., 2025/26, 2026/27, 2027/28, 2028/29
The latest two years of your audited accounts (or equivalent), i.e., 2022/23, 2023/24.

The proposal requires you to supply:

projected high level income and expenditure for the next four years, i.e., 2025, 2026, 2027 & 2028
The latest two years of your audited accounts (or equivalent), i.e., 2022, 2023.

Yes. However, to be competitive, you will need to demonstrate your organisational capacity and viability. Factors that will strengthen your organisation’s capacity and viability include confirmed future funding and the track record of your key staff and board.

Yes, please be sure to include the relevant support material and data with your proposal, so Industry Advisors can assess your proposal.

You can use the certified accounts that you do produce to complete the financial data in the proposal, and you can attach these accounts as support material.

If you are approved for Delivery Partner Investment you will be required to provide us with accounts verified by an external certified accountant as part of your regular reporting, so be sure to include the resources required to do so your future budget projections.

No late support material may be submitted.

The only support material we will accept after the closing date is audited accounts for the most recent financial year.

If you need to submit these accounts after the closing date, please send them to myi@creative.gov.au. Be sure to include your proposal reference number in the email.

Please note: late support material is not distributed to Industry Advisors with your proposal. We make a note of it on file and bring it to the attention of Industry Advisors at our discretion.

Although letters of support are not specifically requested, you may supply them if you wish. You can include up to five letters of support, with each letter not exceeding one A4 page. We encourage you to use one of the three URLs allocated for further Support Material to supply letters of support, but if you prefer you can upload a PDF document in the ‘uploaded support material’ section of the online form instead.

You will not be penalised for providing additional support material beyond the recommended limit of 3 URLs, but we do advise against overwhelming the assessors with material. Make the selection that best demonstrates the quality of your organisation’s artistic output.

Your Business Plan should address how your organisation plans to deliver the services and cover all of the investment period outlined in the relevant service delivery statement.

Please upload your Business Plan with your support material. A template for this Business Plan is available here and within the proposal form.

DELIVERY PARTNERS

First Nations Writing Services

About the Program

Delivery Partners have separate, service-based investment agreements with Creative Australia.

This ensures that clear expectations with Delivery Partners are set regarding the main services they will offer, enabling us to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of investment in these services.

To respond to this Delivery Partner opportunity please ensure you refer to the service delivery statement below.

We strongly encourage you to contact us to discuss your proposal in the context of your circumstances.

We also offer the following additional resources to these guidelines:

frequently asked questions (bottom of this page)
our  guide  to preparing a business plan.

Delivery Partner proposals are reviewed and decided upon through a single stage process.

Organisations are invited to apply for up to $280,000 per annum for a total of $1,120,000 over the four-year investment period.

Your Business Plan must cover the full four-year investment period of 2025-2028.

Please note: Only one Delivery Partner investment will be offered for this opportunity.

Creative Australia is seeking First Nations-led proposals to support specific services to First Nations writers and illustrators.  

Creative Australia is seeking First Nations-led proposals that respond to the below services evidencing:  

1. how they will provide the services 

2. how the budget will be applied.  

Key information 

Organisations are invited to apply for up to $280,000 per annum for a total of $1,120,000 over the four-year investment period, 2025-28.

Aligning with the first and fourth pillars of the National Cultural Policy – First Nations First; and Centrality of the Artist. 

Deliver First Nations led services to First Nations writers and illustrators and support a strong, connected and vibrant First Nations literature sector: 

convene a biennial National First Nations writers and illustrators gathering ensuring attendance, accommodation, flights and catering is fully subsidised for attendees

in alternate years deliver supplementary activities for First Nations writers and illustrators that provide opportunities for networking, connection, capacity building and craft development

profile the work of First Nations writers and illustrators nationally and internationally. e.g. International Network of First Nations Writers (Canada, NZ, UK)

build and maintain partnerships and provide guidance, advice and leadership within the literature sector.

In addition to the mandatory deliverables listed above, other possible services and activities that may be considered for inclusion in your proposal, where appropriate, are: 

connections between storytellers and writers

provide services to publishers and writers festivals including advice and referrals for guest speakers, sensitivity readers and contributors

collaboration with Australian Publishers Association, Australian Society of Authors and other key literary organisations where relevant.

Who can submit a proposal

Only organisations may submit proposals for this opportunity.

A consortium of organisations may submit a proposal in certain circumstances, but the proposal must be funded and contracted through one member of the consortium acting as ‘lead organisation’.

Proposals for this opportunity must come from First Nations-led organisations. For an organisation to be eligible for this opportunity, the majority of their governing body and senior management must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Organisations that are not legally constituted are not eligible to apply.

Organisations that are registered as Trusts are not eligible to apply.

Organisations may be required to provide a certificate of incorporation or evidence of their current legal status.

Who can’t submit a proposal

You can’t submit a proposal if:

you have an overdue grant report

you owe money to Creative Australia

your organisation is not registered in Australia

you are an individual or group.

What you can submit a proposal for

activities that respond to the scope of the Delivery Partner service statement for the opportunity for which we are seeking proposals.

What you can’t submit a proposal for

You can’t submit a proposal for the following activities:

activities outside of the scope of the Delivery Partner service statement

activities that do not involve or benefit Australian practicing artists, arts professionals, audiences or communities

activities that have already taken place

activities engaging with First Nations content, artists and communities that do not adhere to the Creative Australia First Nations Cultural & Intellectual Property Protocols.

Your application must comply with the following Protocols. We may contact you to request further information during the review process, or if approved, as a condition of our investment.

Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts

All proposals involving First Nations artists, communities or subject matter must adhere to these Protocols, provide evidence of this in their proposal and any supporting material.  More information on the First Nations Protocols is available here.

Commonwealth Child Safe Framework

Proposals are reviewed by expert industry representatives called Industry Advisors.

proposals will be reviewed by Industry Advisors who will make recommendations for us to consider when making the final investment decisions for organisations

the Industry Advisors will review proposals under arts practice areas relevant to their knowledge and experience

Industry Advisors will be published on our website following notification. Further detail on Industry Advice can be found  here.

We will review your proposal against three selection criteria listed below.

Under each criterion are bullet points indicating what may be considered when reviewing your proposal. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed.

First Criterion

Quality

We will review the quality of your organisation’s services, program and business plan. We may consider your organisation’s track record and vision to support:

the potential quality of the services to be delivered as demonstrated in your response to the Delivery Partner Service Statement

the appropriateness of the submitted business plan as it relates to delivery of the services outlined in the Delivery Partner Service Statement

the diversity of stakeholders that may be involved in the delivery of services

the diversity of stakeholders that may be beneficiaries of the services to be provided

Second Criterion

Viability

We will review your organisation’s track record of delivery, and capacity to deliver its vision. We may consider:

value for money as evidenced in your proposed business plan and budget to deliver the services outlined in the Delivery Partner Service Statement

the experience of the people leading and governing your organisation

the financial health of your organisation, including the effective use of resources

the diversity and scale of income and co-funding you generate and receive

whether your work is supported by meaningful evaluation

how you demonstrate cultural competencies and adherence to relevant cultural protocols, particularly if your organisation works with diverse artists, audiences or communities. Where relevant, evidence that the Protocols for First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts have been adhered to

factors that have impacted your organisation’s financial health, planning and priorities.

You may wish to refer to our guide on Essential Governance Practices.

Third Criterion

Alignment

We will review how your organisation’s vision and business plan align with one or more of the strategic objectives in the current Creative Australia  Corporate Plan  2024-2028. The objectives are:

First Nations creativity is central to Australian arts and culture, supported by self-determined decision-making

A dynamic creative sector tells the many stories of contemporary Australia

Our creative workforce have sustainable careers and control of their creative assets

Arts and culture are valued and of value to all Australians

Local and global audiences can engage in meaningful Australian creative experiences.

Delivery Partner proposals must be submitted through our application management system by the advertised closing date: Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 3pm AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)

To receive access the proposal form in our application management system please contact a member of our Multi-Year Investment Team: myi@creative.gov.au.

In the proposal form, you will be asked to provide the following information:

the annual and total amount of investment as directed by Creative Australia for the Delivery Partner opportunity

a brief summary of your organisation or consortium of organisations, including an outline of your core activity and the role you play in the arts sector (approx. 500 words)

a list of key staff in your organisation, with information on their demographic attributes roles and tenure

the members of your Board or governing committee (to whom the head of your organisation reports), with information on their demographic attributes, length of service and the structure and composition of the Board

whether you report your financial information on a calendar or financial year basis

a summary of your audited financial information for each of the previous two years, including assets, liabilities, total income and total expenditure*

projected high level income and expenditure for each year of the funding period offered through the Delivery Partner opportunity.

*Organisations who report on a calendar year basis: 2022 and 2023. Organisations who report on a financial year basis: 2022/23 and 2023/24.

You will be asked to provide the following support material:

1. Delivery Partner support material

Please provide up to 3 URLs (weblinks) that best demonstrate your organisation’s activity as it relates this Delivery Partner proposal. These URLS may include video, audio, images, audio and written material.

2. Audited accounts or equivalent

Please upload your latest two years of your audited accounts or equivalent.

Audited Accounts 2022 (or equivalent)

Audited Accounts 2023 (or equivalent)

3. Business Plan

A business plan that details how you will realise the deliverables related to this Delivery Partner proposal. Please click this link for guidance on a Business Plan. This can be uploaded as a written document (Word, PDF). The plan should be no more than 20 pages. You can find a Business Plan template here.

Reporting requirements for approved Delivery Partners

Key dates

Proposal forms available from:

Tuesday 21 January 2025 at 12pm AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)

Proposals close:

Tuesday 1 April at 3pm AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)

To request a proposal form please contact the Multi Year Investment Team at myi@creative.gov.au.

Please note: To submit a proposal, you must be registered in our application management system a minimum of two business days prior to the closing date.

Organisations will be notified of the outcome of their proposal approximately 12 weeks after the closing date

Contact

If you need help with your proposal or would like to request a proposal form please contact the Multi Year Investment Team at myi@creative.gov.au.

Frequently asked questions

All proposals are submitted through our online system.

We have anticipated a few of the questions about the proposal process below.

Delivery Partners investment stream will support organisations from 1 January 2025.

Read the frequently asked questions below  for information on selection criteria, the selection process, support material, and how to submit your proposal. 

Information on the proposal process and key dates is specific to each Delivery Partner opportunity and is available on our website.

Yes, all proposals will need a Business Plan submitted. A template for this Business Plan is available within the proposal form in FLUXX and here.

This data is used in accordance with our  privacy policy.

This data is used in accordance with our  privacy policy.

For the purposes of this matrix, please gross-up any part-time remuneration to the full-time equivalent amount. The Casual Hourly rate should be inclusive of loading.

Proposals can also be accepted from consortiums if the lead organisation is an incorporated association, company limited by guarantee or government statutory authority.

No, only organisations that are registered under Australian law can apply. Further detail on who can apply to the program is available on our website.

Yes, if you can demonstrate that:

the investment will support activities that address the service needs specified
there is a compelling financial rationale for subsidising these activities
none of Creative Australia’s investment will be distributed to shareholders or directors.

Further detail on who can apply to the program is available on our website.

Yes, multi-year investment organisations are eligible to apply and must demonstrate that:

the investment will support activities that address the service needs specified
these services are distinct from your funded core activity.

as a multi-year investment organisation, you may be not eligible to apply for the Arts Projects for Organisations category. Eligibility will be determined based on the level of annual investment you receive
other proposals you submit to Creative Australia will need to demonstrate the activities are outside the scope of your Delivery Partner Investment proposal or agreement
eligibility for other investment opportunities will be published in the guidelines for each program.