Australia-China Council (ACC)

Up to $40,000 is available for projects across China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and Australia that broaden and strengthen Australia-China relations.

Australia-China Council (ACC)

The Australia-China Council (ACC) is intended to strengthen foundations and develop new frontiers of Australia-China partnership. The function of the Council is to make recommendations to the Australian Government through the Minister for Foreign Affairs on strengthening the Australia-China relationship in ways that support Australia’s foreign and trade policy interests (Australia-China Council Executive Order, 30 May 2008).

The strategic goals of the Australia-China Council are:

1. To strengthen the foundations of engagement – China literacy, business and cultural capabilities of Australian institutions and people
2. To seek and foster new areas of engagement between Australia and China across business, knowledge and creative sectors
3. To enhance understanding in China of Australian society, economy, politics and culture through the Australian Studies in China Program
4. To showcase Australian creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation in China
5. To generate, disseminate and make accessible high-quality, relevant and up-to-date information about Australia-China relations
6. To facilitate dialogue, develop professional and institutional networks between Australia and China and harness the leadership of Australian communities in strengthening bilateral connectivity

Objectives

The objectives of the Australia-China Council 2017-18 grant round are centred on four areas – Education, Economic Diplomacy, Arts and Culture and Australian Studies in China – and are underpinned by three cross-cutting themes – Mobility, Technology and Capabilities and New Areas of Engagement.

1. Education: Support practical and effective solutions to enhance China literacy, business and cultural capabilities of Australian institutions and people to effectively engage with China, and promote education, science and innovation connectivity between Australia and China
2. Economic Diplomacy: Promote diversity, growth and innovation of Australia’s trade and investment relationship with China
3. Arts and Culture: Showcase Australian arts and creative industries to Chinese audiences and build closer and broader cultural and artistic partnerships
4. Australian Studies in China: Consolidate and strengthen the Australian Studies in China Program

Consistent with these objectives, in 2017-18 the Australia-China Council welcomes applications that are relevant to the following:

1. Australia-China Year of Tourism (2017);
2. The 45th anniversary of Australia’s diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China (2018); and
3. The 40th anniversary of the founding of the Australia-China Council (2018).

Funding

Grants of $40,000 are available to fund innovative projects that align with the priorities of the ACC. Grants of over $40,000 are only awarded in exceptional circumstances.

If you are requesting for more than $40,000 in your application, you need to show that the project will make a long-term positive impact on:

• the Australia-China relationship
• the funding priorities of the ACC.

ACC grants intend to provide modest funding to encourage partnerships between government, corporate sponsors and private donors. Applicants should show that they are seeking funding assistance from other sources.

The ACC has limited grant funds for each financial year. The ACC will consider how to best use the available funds across the applications received.

Eligible Projects

You must use the grant for the following activities:

• The project outlined within the application.

You can use the grant to pay for costs detailed in your budget and grant agreement, including:

• Economy flights, modest accommodation costs, meals and travel allowances, other transport
• Communication and translation
• Venue hire and catering,
• Advertising and promotion, graphic design, photography and printed material,
• Production costs, including freight and artists’ wages
• Only one participant per conference or meeting and only where the participant is a principal speaker and the subject of the conference is of direct relevance to the grant opportunity.

You can only spend grant funds on eligible grant activities as defined in the grant details in your grant agreement.

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible you must:

• be one of the following entity types:
  • an Australian entity with an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Australian Company Number (ACN)
  • a consortium with a lead organisation
  • a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation
  • an Australian local government body
  • an Australian State/Territory government body
  • a corporate Commonwealth entity
  • an Australian statutory authority
  • be an Australian or permanent resident of Australia
  • or be a well-established organisation in a country specified in Section 2.2 above with a business purpose to advocate for Australian business, education and/or cultural interests (e.g. an Australian Chamber of Commerce).
• and be willing to provide or develop child protection guidelines for your project if it involves people under the age of 18 years.

Applications from consortia are acceptable, provided you have a lead applicant who is the main driver of the project and is eligible as per the list above.

Individuals who intend the grant to be administered by a university should apply on behalf of the university, i.e. your university is the applicant.

Timing

Applications close 28 March 2018.

More Information

• Source
• Application Guidelines