Grants are fun

Policy nerd and managing director of Section 51 Colin Steele. (Supplied).

For policy nerds like Colin, grants are fun.

At Section51 they have the privilege of working with wonderful councils, helping secure funding for awesome projects and great communities in different parts of Australia.

The fun bit comes from the diversity, and that change is constant. One of the biggest, yet quietest, changes they have seen in a very long time happened right in the middle of Growing Regions Two being open.

They suspect few people noticed except us policy nerds. As the announcement says ‘The Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles 2024 (CGRPs) will replace the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 2017 (CGRGs) from 1 October 2024. The CGRPs will apply to new grant opportunities and to grant rounds that are in progress on 1 October 2024. These changes have been made to reflect the need to continue improving integrity, accountability and transparency in grants administration to achieve government policy outcomes and ensure equitable access of grants to, and for, the benefit of the Australian public.’

From Section51 perspective the changes are excellent as they reinforce what they have been saying from day one, that the purpose of grants is to deliver policy outcomes. Another subtle but significant change is that these are now mandatory principles, not guidelines. The way you write Australian Government Grants is now different in a nice way.

Section51 is running policy and grants workshops from December through to March 2025. The workshops focus on preparing your applications in line with the new Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles 2024.

To find out more have a look at their website at www.section51.com.au or send an email to admin@section51.com.au or call Colin on 0423337563 to chat.