Screen Australia is interested in receiving proposals under this program for partnering with experienced and innovative researchers and publishers.

The objective of the program is:

• to build knowledge about, and audiences for, contemporary Australian screen content through the development and publication of high-quality information, insight and analysis.

Proposals should align with these objectives and with Screen Australia’s goals, objectives and priorities. These may change from to time to time depending on the organisation’s current focus.

The organisation’s key drivers for 2009–2012 are to grow demand for Australian content and support the development of a more sustainable Australian screen industry.

Screen Australia’s Strategy and Research Unit administers the program. The Unit’s function is to gather and provide market intelligence to inform the decisions of Screen Australia and the wider industry and assist the evaluation, design and implementation of Screen Australia programs and screen industry policies more generally.

Eligibility and focus

Screen Australia will accept expressions of interest from:

• publishers; and
  
• researchers associated with tertiary institutions and/or the Australian Research Council

who are looking to build research and publishing partnerships with the agency.

Applicants must meet the general eligibility criteria set out in Screen Australia’s terms of trade.

Screen Australia will not support proposals seeking funding for:

• more than three years continuous support
• conferences or travel in isolation from a research or publication project
  
• capital works or general infrastructure
  
• core organisational operating costs.
  
  

Available support

Screen Australia may offer support in the form of monetary or in-kind assistance. There is potential for access to Screen Australia’s data and for data sharing.

Funds available are limited and dependent on other priorities. In some years, no external research or publication projects may be undertaken.

In 2011, up to $150,000 will be made available for this program.

Applications

When applying for a research and publication partnership, applicants must outline the proposed project and the nature of the partnership, including:

• the relevance to the objectives of the program and Screen Australia’s strategic priorities
• the anticipated outcomes of the project
• the target audience for the project
• the details of the project team including names, titles and brief description of roles and experience
  
• the details of any other industry partners
  
• the start and end dates of proposed partnership (if a multiple-year partnership is proposed)
  
• the budget outline for the project
  
• the proposed role and contribution of Screen Australia.

In addition, for research partnerships, applicants must outline:

• the principal research question, aims, methodology and expected outcomes and deliverables; and
• details of the participating higher education institution or other research partners.
  

Assessment process

Applications will be assessed by a minimum of two people, with at least one being a staff member of Screen Australia. Industry specialists/peers may be used.

We will advise applicants of the success or otherwise of their application. Where an application is unsuccessful, the applicant will be advised of the reasons, with a written statement of reasons provided on request.

Assessment criteria

When assessing applications for research or publication funds, we will take account of:

• the alignment of the subject matter and focus of the proposal with the objectives of the program, and the current priorities and areas of interest arising from the agency or from industry
• the applicant’s qualifications and record of work
• the originality of the research project or publication
• practical outcomes and opportunities for the target audience to engage with these outcomes.

Terms of funding

• Funding arrangements will be determined in each case based on the submitted proposal.
• Funding is in the form of a grant and is not recouped by Screen Australia. Funding recipients will, however, be required to submit regular progress reports based on the outcomes set out in their proposal and according to their funding agreement.
• Receipt of funding should not lead to any expectation of continued assistance from Screen Australia beyond the terms of the funding agreement.