Social Impact Grants FAQs

Social Impact Grants FAQs

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• How much funding is available?

  Twelve grants of $5,000 available.   

  
  There are no restrictions or requirements on how the grant funding should be used. However, you must provide a clear description detailing how you plan to allocate the funds with estimated costings.

     
  The grant can be used flexibly to fund entire projects or specific aspects of initiatives. For example, it could support a project from the ideation phase to the delivery phase. It can also act as a catalyst to advance a current project or assist in evaluating a project. 

• Does my proposed research or practice project need to involve an external community partner?

  Yes, if you are applying as part of the ‘Healthy Communities’ theme.  

   
  We would like to see evidence that the community partner has a significant level of interest and involvement. It’s important for them to be engaged in the design and implementation of the project.   

  
  If you are applying to the ‘Equity and Inclusion’ category, you do not need to have an external community partner, but you must have an internal partner from a different faculty, unit or area across the university.  

• Who qualifies as a community partner?

  Examples of community partners may include:   

  • An NGO or charity   
  • A peak body organisation   
  • A local health district or school  
  • An individual community member  
  • A grassroots community organisation   
  • Traditional Owners or Elders
  •  An activist/advocacy group  

  
  Industry partners, commercial entities, and other universities are not considered eligible community partners under the Healthy Communities theme. 

  
  Applicants are permitted to be active members or involved with their community partner/organisation. 

• What do you need from our community partners to demonstrate their partnership?

  You need to provide a short letter of endorsement from your community partners to demonstrate their support and engagement in the project.

   
  In your application, you will also need to clearly explain how you and your partner are collaborating. We want to know how your partner is involved in the project, how you are working together and how you are ensuring the project is co-led.

• If I’m applying under the Equity and Inclusion theme, do I need an internal partner?

  Yes. All applications under the Equity and Inclusion theme must be an internal UTS cross-faculty/unit/area collaboration. This means it must be a joint project between two different areas of the university. Some examples of what this could look like include: 

  • Faculty of Health and the Faculty of Science (cross-faculty collaboration)  
  • Faculty Engineering and IT and UTS Library (cross-faculty/unit collaboration) 
  • Jumbunna & Institute of Sustainable Futures (cross-unit collaboration) 

   
  Applications under this theme with no collaboration (e.g. an application solely from one faculty, area or unit) will not be considered eligible for a grant. 

• What counts as an internal partner for the Equity and Inclusion theme?

  • Faculties 
  • Units/Divisions 
  • Other UTS areas (such as UTS Activate, UTS Housing) 
  • Student groups 
  • Staff groups  

• What approvals do I need to get before I submit my application?

  For the Equity and Inclusion theme, you must get endorsement from: 

  • The Dean (faculties) or relevant Pro-Vice Chancellor/Deputy Vice Chancellor (Units, Centres, Divisions etc). 

  
  For the Healthy Communities theme, you must get endorsement from both: 

  • Your external community partner  
  • The Dean (faculties) or relevant Pro-Vice Chancellor/Deputy Vice
  • Chancellor (Units, Centres, Divisions etc). 

  Applications from the Business Faculty must also get endorsement from the ADR (Isa Hafalir) and additionally our ADES (Katie Schlenker) for teaching-related research.

• How do I gain the approvals I need from my relevant Dean and external partner?

  For external community partners, we require a letter of endorsement from your community partner to be uploaded alongside your application. 

  
  For Dean or PVC/DVC approval, we operate on a trust-based system. You do not need to attach proof of approval with your application, but we expect that you will have sought and received it (via email or verbal confirmation) before submitting.

• Are the grants specifically for research staff, or can UTS professional staff also apply?

  All UTS staff members, including professional, academic, casual, continuing, and sessional can apply.   

  
  Projects and staff from the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion will not be considered for funding.  

• Can students apply?

  Yes! Both undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply for the grants. They will need to have a nominated staff supervisor for their project, who will receive the funds, act as a mentor throughout the process, and take joint responsibility for the project. 

  
  We encourage students to work with their staff supervisor to develop their application.   

  
  The application does ask for evidence of experience and understanding in the area you will be working on – so you’re encouraged to outline your experience, as well as the experience of your supervisor.   

  
  As a student applicant, you need to understand your responsibilities if you are successful in gaining a grant, such as: 

  • Time commitment: you should ensure you have the capacity to deliver the project within the grant timeline, balancing your study and other responsibilities. 
  • Financial accountability: the staff supervisor is formally responsible for the grant funds, but you should understand and be involved in basic budgeting and acquittal process.  
  • Partnership expectations: when working with community/external partners or internal UTS partners, you must be mindful of the importance of respectful, timely communication and shared decision-making.  
  • Communication  with your staff supervisor: You must communicate to your supervisor if you achieve different milestones in your projects, are having challenges, acquire new funding or stakeholders, or want to deviate from the activities or outcomes in your approved project.
  • Following proper research ethics: You must understand the importance of following proper ethics processes for projects and be aware of how to seek support or expertise you may not have.
  •  Project outcomes: You must understand the importance of adhering to the activities, plans and outcomes in your application.  

• I’ve been asked to be a staff supervisor for a student project – what’s involved?

  As a staff supervisor for a student, you act as a co-lead for the project and have joint responsibility for its delivery. This means we expect you to: 

  • have regular communication and check-ins with your student 
  • be aware and across project updates and milestones, including challenges or changes to the project 
  • if necessary, escalate project risks or concerns or take action 

  
  This is also inclusive of helping students with the financial, academic, and administrative aspects of the project, such as supporting them through ethics process, grant acquittals, required documentation, appropriate engagement with internal and/or external stakeholders and research participants, and risk mitigation.   

  
  It’s important for you to set out a collaborative way of working with your student that will work for both of you at the outset of your project, so you both feel comfortable raising issues or addressing any challenges that may arise.  

• Can I talk to someone about my project/application before submitting?

  Yes! Please email socialimpactgrants@uts.edu.au with your inquiry and we will find a time to talk to you about your application.   

• I have multiple projects that meet the criteria. Can I apply for more than one grant?

  Yes, you can. Please ensure you lodge a separate application for each individual project.

     
  Previous Social Impact Grant recipients may apply but will not be considered for a similar or related project in the 2027 round.   

• What ethics process do I need to follow?

  Yes. You can access the form by starting an application on GoodGrants or clicking the links below.  

• Can I see the application questions before completing the online form?

  Yes. You can access the form by starting an application on GoodGrants or clicking the links below. 

  
  You can also email us at socialimpactgrants@uts.edu.au for a blank copy, citing either Healthy Communities or Equity and Inclusion.

• What if I can’t attend the information session or evaluation workshop?

  The information session will be recorded and made available on the Social Impact Grants website roughly one week after the session.  

  
  The evaluation workshop is mandatory for successful applicants. If you are unable to attend for a reasonable reason (e.g. you’re teaching), please don’t let this stop you from applying. We will negotiate with successful applications on dates to ensure everyone can attend. 

• May I apply as part of a team with researchers or practitioners from other universities?

  Yes, we encourage project teams to apply, noting the lead of the project must be a UTS staff member.  

  
  Please note, fellow academics and practitioners from other universities are not counted as community partners in the ‘Healthy Communities’ theme.    

• How do I apply?

  Applications open on 1 September and close 26 October 2026 at 11.59pm.  

  All applications must be submitted online, through the Good Grants platform.   

  
  The Good Grants platform will allow you to save your application progress as you go. Late and incomplete applications will not be accepted for review.  

  
  If you require more information or have any issues with GoodGrants, we encourage you to email us at socialimpactgrants@uts.edu.au