Spark Grants

With the amazing support of our sponsors, the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia is excited to announce a new grant program, commencing in 2025, that will award grants of up to $1,000 to “spark” new ideas and diverse Social Sciences Week events to reach more audiences across Australia (total program funding available is $10,000, excl GST).

Applications closed at 5pm AEST Monday 30 June, 2025.

Who should apply?

Applications are invited from:

• Social science or related disciplinary organisations, professional associations or networks
• University academic units and centres in the social sciences
• Local government (e.g., Councils, libraries, youth, and family services)
• Specialist interest groups, local clubs, and societies
• Arts, community and environmental organisations and societies
• Individuals working with community groups on social science topics.

Schools are not eligible to apply at this time.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible you or your organisation must meet the following conditions.

For all applicants:

• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• Ensure the event is open to the general public – online or in-person – and advertised on the Social Sciences Week website
• Ensure the event is social-science themed
• Agree to organise the event during Social Sciences Week 2025 (8-14 September) or if necessary in the week immediately before or after.
• Agree to provide information and images to the Academy’s communications team for purposes of promoting Social Sciences Week.
• Agree to receive a short survey on the experience with Social Sciences Week and the Spark Grant program after the conclusion of SSW2025, irrespective of the outcome of the grant application.
• Individual applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

For in-person events:

• Ensure appropriate public liability or other insurance is held by the organisation or hosting venue.
• Ensure that risk assessment and risk mitigation is completed as part of event planning, and that all staff or volunteers have current working with children/vulnerable people checks, as required.

Eligible expenditure includes:

• Venue hire, security charges and equipment hire
• Consumable materials for your event
• Speaker/content creator/facilitator(s) gifts/honoraria
• Promotional material and advertising (e.g. design, printing, distribution)
• Online platform subscriptions/software/online storage costs (for the duration of the event)
• Catering expenses, excluding alcohol.

Selection criteria and conditional random selection process

All applications will be checked by Academy staff for eligibility, and eligible applications will be reviewed by a committee of Fellows and SSW partner representatives against yes/no criteria of:

• Alignment with the goal of Social Sciences Week
• Feasibility

Applications assessed as meeting these criteria will go into the pool for conditional random selection, taking into account geographical distribution and available funding. This process is intended to increase the diversity of grant recipients.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome following this process, including whether their application was screened into the selection pool.

Successful applicants will receive payment within 30 days of receipt of a tax invoice showing ABN and GST amount if applicable. If your application is successful, you will receive marketing support from the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.

Closing date and further information

Applications must be made using the online form by COB (AEST) Monday 30 June 2025

Questions and requests for further information can be directed to: Vanessa Barratt, Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, vanessa.barratt@socialsciences.org.au or 0450 018 752.