1. What is the Innovation Fund?
The Innovation Fund is a competitive grants program designed to address the needs of the most disadvantaged job seekers through projects that will foster innovative solutions to overcome barriers to employment which these job seekers face. These groups include, but are not limited to, people in areas of entrenched disadvantage, the homeless and those at risk of homelessness, people with mental health conditions, Indigenous Australians, and job seekers in jobless families.
A panel of 196 organisations was appointed to deliver Innovation Fund projects based on selection criteria in the Request for Tender for Employment Services 2009-2012. In order to receive funding from the Innovation Fund, organisations must be a member of the Innovation Fund panel.
The Innovation Fund ceases on 30 June 2012, as does membership of the panel.
2. How were Innovation Fund panel members chosen?
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) established the Innovation Fund panel through the Request for Tender for Employment Services 2009-2012, which was released on 27 September 2008. Panel membership was open to a wide range of organisations.
A total of 196 successful Innovation Fund panel members were announced in March 2009. Further information on these panel members can be found on at Innovation Fund.
3. Can organisations still submit applications to become a member of the Innovation Fund panel?
No. The tender for Innovation Fund panel membership is now closed.
4. If organisations are not members of the Innovation Fund panel, can they submit project proposals for funding?
Only panel members were able to receive funding. However, non panel members could directly approach panel members to collaborate on project proposals, that a panel member could then submit to DEEWR. Please note as at November 2011, there are no further funds available under the program, and proposals for funding will no longer be accepted.
5. How much funding is available under the Innovation Fund?
The Australian Government provided $41 million over three years to fund Innovation Fund projects. The program commenced on 1 July 2009, and ends on 30 June 2012. At this stage in the program the allocated funds are exhausted.
6. How much funding was provided for individual Innovation Fund activities?
Individual projects were generally not funded for more than $500 000 per year from the Innovation Fund. However, funding was considered on a case by case basis and depended on the scale of the project.
7. Are guidelines for the Innovation Fund available?
Guidelines for Innovation Fund projects, the proposal for funding form and the proposal cover sheet for panel members to submit project applications can be found at Innovation Fund.
8. Where can I get details of the current projects?
Information on funded Innovation Fund projects is published at Innovation Fund.
9. Where can enquiries about the Innovation Fund be directed to?
Enquiries about the Innovation Fund can be sent to innovation.fund@deewr.gov.au. DEEWR will make every effort to respond within 48 hours.
10. Where can I find out about similar funding options, as the Innovation Fund, from DEEWR?
Information on how to apply for grant program funding can be found on the department's Grants page.
Enquires about options for funding from the Department should be directed to the Employment Services Procurement area, and further information can be found at Employment Services Procurement.
11. How could I get information about lessons learnt from the Innovation Fund program?
The Innovation Fund will be evaluated by an external consultant early in 2012, and findings will be posted to the Innovation Fund page in due course. You can ask for updates on closure of the program, including the evaluation, by emailing innovation.fund@deewr.gov.au.