Social Impact Grants FAQs
What is the theme for the Social Impact Grants this year?
The 2024 Social Impact Grants are focused on supporting community-engaged research and practice, where UTS staff and students work in reciprocal partnership with the community to drive the purpose, design, implementation and use of research or practice.
The grants must also demonstrate UTS’s contribution to social impact in line with the purpose and vision of the Social Impact Framework. Grant applications must articulate how projects will contribute to the transformation of community(ies), and respond to one or more of the desired impact areas:
- A healthier, more sustainable, and socially just society
- Increased public benefit
- Increased social mobility and equity
- Enabling environments for communities to thrive.
Does my proposed research or practice project need to involve a community partner?
Yes. 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.
What do you need from our community partners to demonstrate their partnership?
One of the preconditions of the Social Impact Framework requires trust - we absolutely trust our grant recipients. We need your word that your community partner is involved in an authentic way. You’ll find that the application is not onerous, and we have intentionally kept it this way as we understand our community is very busy.
What we ask is that you demonstrate the partnership by clearly explaining to this to us in your application. We want to know how your partner is involved with the project, how you are working together and how you are ensuring they are co-led.
How have you partnered with the community, how have they engaged and been a co-lead in your project, and how are you working together?
What we ask is that you tell us how. How have they partnered? How have they engaged in this? How are you connecting and working together?
May I apply as part of a team with researchers or practitioners from other universities?
Yes. If successful, we would grant and expect you to manage the relationships with external university partners.
I received a grant last year. May I apply again for the same project?
You are welcome to apply for the grants this year. New projects, however, will be preferred. This is because the grants are designed to be an enabling source of funding to assist and build the capacity of our community. An ideal outcome for the grants would be to leverage this grant to gain other support. If you do decide to apply, you will need to articulate how a second round of funding will build the capability of the project team in a way that the initial grant did not.
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.
Do you get many successful applications from students, and are there any additional requirements for student recipients?
We welcome student applications. They do need to have a nominated staff supervisor, as we will release the funds to that staff member. Our intention is for the nominated staff supervisor to be supportive throughout the process and to act as a mentor in the particular area of research or practice.
We encourage students to work with their staff mentor 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 mentor.
What if I am not able to attend the information session on 19 February 2024?
The 2024 Social Impact Grants information session will be recorded and made available on the Social Impact Grants website approximately one week following the session.
What if I am not able to attend the evaluation workshops on 20 May or 23 May 2024?
The workshops are mandatory. If you are unable to attend for a reasonable reason (e.g. you’re teaching), please don’t let this stop you from applying. Please identify that you are unavailable for those dates in your application, and we will negotiate with successful applicants if these dates are an issue.
May we have access to the application questions prior to completing the online application form?
Are we able to discuss a project with a Social Impact staff member prior to submission?
Yes. If you would like to discuss a project and/or the application form, please get in touch: socialimpactgrants@uts.edu.au.
What ethics process do I need to follow?
There are no ethics requirements for the grant application process; however, your project will need to adhere to UTS Ethics and Integrity guidelines. You can read about these here.
What if the tangible/measurable social impact of our project cannot be generated now, but our aim is to use the grant to collect valuable data that will inform the impact we have in the next stage of our project?
That is fine. You must, however, ensure there is a clear connection between the data you collect now and how this will inform the next stage of your project. You should also explain how this data collection will take place in an ethical and authentic way with your community partner.
We very often see that the grant is not used for a project or piece of work in its entirety but most often is being used for stages of work, and we support that.
Are the grants specifically for research staff, or can UTS professional staff also apply?
All UTS staff members – including professional, casual, research, continuing, and sessional – can apply.
What is the difference between the Research and Practice Grant and the Local Community Voice Grant?
There are two kinds of grants on offer this year as part of the Social Impact Grant program.
The first is the Research and Practice Grant, which covers all projects that meet the assessment criteria (as above).
The second category is the Local Community Voice grant. This is for projects based in Glebe, Haymarket, Pyrmont and/or Ultimo area, and in partnership with an organisation in these same communities, and address one of the following priority areas:
- How might we influence attitudes and behaviours in our community to create a sustainable and thriving environment?
- How might we use public spaces more effectively to connect people in our community?
- How might we ensure that community voice informs decision-making?
- How might we ensure that people have affordable and adequate housing so that everyone in our community feels safe?
- How might we improve public transport so that it is accessible and meets the needs of our community?