About The WIA Grants Scheme
What is the grants scheme
The Grants Scheme is for providing funding assistance to worthwhile projects that are judged to be of benefit to the amateur community and are consistent with, or advance, the aims and objectives of the WIA, as set out in our Constitution.
How it works
The Scheme is open to proposals from Affiliated Clubs and individual members, as well as non-affiliated organisations and non-members so long as the project is for the benefit of amateur radio and the non-member or non-affiliated organisation contributes at least 50% of their own funds, with the WIA contribution paid retrospectively on completion of the project or at an agreed project stage.
But most importantly, the WIA will only fund projects that are in accordance with a strategic direction set by the WIA Board, and announced yearly, prior to a call for project proposals.
Assessment of Proposals
Project proposals will be vetted by an independent assessment committee, appointed by the WIA Board. The current assessment committee comprises:
 Peter Freeman VK3PF (Leader, and Editor of AR magazine);
Gary Beech VK2KYP;
Drew Diamond VK3XU;
Peter Hartfield VK3PH; and
Scott Watson VK4CZ.
Committee members have a diverse range of backgrounds, skills and perspectives.
The committee's job is to evaluate project proposals based on its:
benefit to the amateur radio community;
consistency with the WIA Board's specific criteria (ie. strategic direction);
alignment with the aims and objectives of the WIA;
not for-profit or non-commercial nature;
stage of completion at the time of the application; and
likelihood of being completed within 12 months from the date of the grant.
The process of calling for proposals, assessing them and ultimately providing grant payments is set out in the flow chart below.
2015 Grants
The first WIA Special-Purpose Grant was awarded in support of the Beacon GPS-Locking Project, which is now complete. The WIA now calls for project proposals to the second round of WIA Special-Purpose Grants. This year's strategic direction is: The advancement of amateur radio in Australia through innovation, experimentation and education.
The project should be new, realistic, achievable within 12 months from the date of the grant or partly achievable through a staged process, and should broadly benefit amateur radio in Australia. Complex projects with developmental risk can be staged over several years with ongoing funding dependant on meeting staged targets. An example of a staged process may be: concept development and regulatory investigation - proof of concept or prototype - technology roll out - publication in AR Magazine. The WIA Board has allocated up to $6,000 for this round of grants.
The grant committee will evaluate proposals based on: benefit to the amateur radio community; not for-profit or non-commercial nature; stage of completion at the time of the application; likelihood of being completed within 12 months; and consistence with the WIA Board's specific criteria (ie. strategic direction). The Board has not placed a quota on the number of grants per year.
Applicants should refer to the WIA Special-Purpose Grant Rules, and the Flowchart which explains the selection process.
The closing date for Grant submissions the 18th December, 2015. We look forward to some interesting projects in the years ahead. Please send your project proposals to:
Special-Projects Grants Committee
Wireless Institute of Australia
Unit 20, 11-13 Havelock Road
Bayswater, Vic 3153
Or Email your proposal to:
nationaloffice@wia.org.au
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