Innovation Fund program
Welcome to the Innovation Fund program. The Innovation Fund is a component of the Australian Government's national employment services, Job Services Australia. It is designed to address the needs of the most disadvantaged job seekers through funding projects that will foster innovative solutions to overcome barriers to employment which they may face. Innovation Fund projects also contribute to the achievement of the Australian Government’s Social Inclusion Agenda by supporting innovative strategies to help the most disadvantaged job seekers find and retain employment.
The Australian Government has provided $41 million over three years from 2009-2012 for Innovation Fund projects.
A total of 83 projects have been funded through the program from three general funding rounds, a disability specific call, and a number of projects approved outside a formal funding round. Please visit the Minister’s media website for more information on recent announcements.
To view a list of Innovation Fund projects
Innovation Fund panel members
Please note: As of November 2011, allocated funds have been exhausted, and no further proposals will be accepted.
The Innovation Fund program ceases on 30 June 2012, membership of the Innovation Fund panel will also cease at that time.
How Innovation Fund projects were funded
In order to receive funding from the Innovation Fund, organisations had to be a member of the Innovation Fund panel. Selection of panel members was conducted through the Request for Tender for Employment Services Process 2009-12.
Contact details for Innovation Fund panel members are available on Innovation Fund contacts page.
Proposals for funding had to follow the Guidelines and were submitted using the proposal for funding form and proposal cover sheet as below:
While only Innovation Fund panel members were eligible to receive funding under the program, an organisation that wished to be involved in the program, was able to approach a panel member directly to collaborate on proposals, which the panel member can then submit. Organisations could also forward ideas for projects to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). If determined to be suitable, DEEWR could then seek panel members to be involved in further development of such projects.
Proposals had to be submitted in electronic form to innovation.fund@deewr.gov.au. A complete hardcopy, with a signed Legal Authorisation Form, also had to be sent to the Department.
Further information on the Innovation Fund
Further information on the Innovation Fund is available on Frequently Asked Questions or by emailing innovation.fund@deewr.gov.au.
Additional information on DEEWR Grants is available on DEEWR Grants.
Family Centred Employment Project
The Guidelines for Innovation Fund projects also apply to the Family Centred Employment Project (FCEP). The FCEP is a discrete program that seeks to demonstrate good practice in breaking the multiple and entrenched barriers experienced by jobless families with children.
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