Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund

The Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund (Diversity Fund) commenced on 1 January 2008 and subsumed the Collaboration and Structural Reform Fund (CASR). 

Over $200 million has been allocated to the Diversity Fund over four years: 2008-2011.

The Diversity Fund is open to all Table A providers and Table B providers that are universities (as defined in Section 16-15 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003).

The objective of the Diversity Fund is to promote structural reform by eligible higher education providers that supports greater specialisation among providers, more diversity in the higher education sector and better responsiveness to labour markets operating in the local or national interest.

The priority areas for funding are:

a.	Projects that can identify strategies to better meet student and employer demand, particularly where they focus on addressing the capacity of higher education providers to better respond to labour markets operating in the local or national interest; and/or
b.	Projects that enable higher education providers to diversify, specialise their disciplines, build on existing dual sector activities, create new dual sector activities or enhance learning and teaching performance; and/or
c.	Higher education providers in regional and smaller metropolitan areas (including those multi-campus providers that operate in an outer urban context), that can demonstrate the greatest need for structural reform and the greatest relevance to labour markets and teaching and learning; and/or
d.	Community service projects to meet community needs.

Proposals with a focus on graduate employability skills outcomes will be considered under Priority b for the 2008 round.

In 2008, community service projects could include proposals which facilitate, develop or enhance philanthropic effort; or which facilitate social inclusion through aspiration raising activities; or which support student skill development through community engagement.

The Diversity Fund is a grant program with one competitive funding round to be held each year, from 2008 through 2011. The 2008 round is a two stage application process – Stage One: Expressions of Interest; and Stage Two: Full Application.

Stage One: Expressions of Interest

1. Vice-Chancellors (or persons holding equivalent positions) of higher education providers eligible under the Diversity Fund will be advised in writing, each calender-year, that DEEWR is accepting Expressions of Interest for projects that meet the Diversity Fund’s current key funding priorities.
   
   
2. Expressions of Interest must be submitted on the appropriate application form.
   
   
3. One paper copy signed by the authorised person from the university and one electronic copy are required.
   
   

4. In response to representations from the sector, the closing date has been extended from 5.00pm 19 May 2008 to no later than 5.00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Monday 26 May 2008. The electronic copy must be emailed to dsa@deewr.gov.au.
   

5. Expressions of Interest will be assessed against the Diversity Fund’s key funding priorities and assessment criteria    (108.7 KB).
   
   
6. Those proposed projects that meet key funding priorities and assessment criteria to a high degree and warrant further consideration will be invited by the Minister to submit a full application for a grant under the Diversity Fund.

Stage two: Full application

1. Only the proposals that are invited by the Minister to submit a full application will be considered. Full applications must be based on the project that is proposed in the Expression of Interest.
   
   
2. Full applications will be assessed against the Diversity Fund’s key funding priorities and assessment criteria outlined in section 5.1 of Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund - Administrative Information for Providers   (108.7 KB).
   
   
3. Applicants will be notified of the outcome at the end of this period in writing.
   
   
4. Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply in subsequent rounds.
   
   
5. DEEWR will provide feedback to applicants on DEEWR’s assessment of their proposals, on request.

The Program Coordinator on telephone 02 6219 3481 or 02 6219 3469 or email dsa@deewr.gov.au.

• The Expression of Interest form  PDF    (19.1 KB, 3 pages)  RTF    (602.8 KB), 3 pages)
  
  
• Chapter 9A of the Other Grants Guidelines PDF    (19.1 KB, 2 pages)  RTF    (35.7 KB, 2 pages)
  
  
• The Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund 2008-2011: Administrative Information for Providers PDF    (107.8 KB, 12 pages)  RTF    (638.2 KB, 12 pages)

Is the closing date of no later than 5.00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Monday 26 May 2008 for both the electronic copy and the paper copy of the Expression of Interest?

The electronic copy of the Expression of Interest must be emailed to dsa@deewr.gov.au by no later than 5.00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Monday 26 May 2008.

The paper copy must be signed by the person duly authorised by the university.  It can be either posted or couriered to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and must be received within four working days.

The signed paper copy of the Expression of Interest should be addressed to:

The Diversity Fund
Equity and Structural Reform Branch
Higher Education Group (Loc 033)
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
GPO Box 9880
CANBERRA  ACT  2601

Couriered signed paper copies must be delivered to:

The Diversity Fund
Equity and Structural Reform Branch
Higher Education Group (Loc 033)
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Level 3
71 Northbourne Avenue
CANBERRA  ACT  2601

My proposal requires funding over the four year period of the Diversity Fund.  The table under Point 6 of the Expression of Interest only has rows to show funding for three calendar years – 2008:2010. Am I able to add another row to show funding required in 2011 for my proposal?

Yes. You may add an extra row into the table titled 'Indicate the amount of Diversity funding sought by calendar year and the purpose to which it will be put' to indicate funding sought for 2011.

How do I apply for funding? 

The 2008 round is a two stage application process – Stage One: Expressions of Interest; and Stage Two: Full Application.

Can a consortium apply? 

As outlined in subsection 3.1.2 of the Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund - Administrative Information for Providers   (108.7 KB), DEEWR will accept applications from consortia. DEEWR requires that consortia appoint a lead member who is authorised to deal on behalf of all members of the consortia. The lead member must be a Table A provider or a Table B provider that is a university (as defined in Section 16-15 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003).

For the purposes of a funding application, all consortia members must be clearly identified and the identity of the lead member must be clear. DEEWR may subsequently require all consortia members to execute statutory declarations stating that the lead member has the authority to bind other members.

Can my organisation submit more than one Expression of Interest each funding round? 

Yes. Please refer to subsection 3.2.6 of The Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund 2008-2011: Administrative Information for Providers    (108.7 KB), which states there is no limit on the number of Expression of Interest applications a university may submit for funding under the Diversity Fund.

Is there a limit to the amount of funding that can be sought through the Diversity Fund?

No, however applicants should be mindful that the degree to which the proposal represents ‘value for money’ forms part of the assessment criteria.

How do I submit my Expression of Interest application? What format should the document be in?

Please ensure that your Expressions of Interest    (64.4 KB) is submitted on the appropriate application form.

One paper copy and an electronic copy are required. The electronic copy should be in rich text format (for example, as an MS Word document) and emailed to dsa@deewr.gov.au by no later than 5:00 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Monday 19 May 2008.

For further information, please refer to section 3.3 of The Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund 2008-2011: Administrative Information for Providers  (108.7 KB).

Which documents do I need to read before submitting an Expression of Interest?

The following documents should be read in conjunction with the Expression of Interest application form Chapter 9A of the Other Grants Guidelines Chapter 9A of the Other grants Guidelines    (19.1 KB, 2 pages) and The Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund 2008-2011: Administrative Information for Providers    (108.7 KB).

My funding was approved under Collaboration and Structural Reform Fund (CASR). Do I need to re-apply?  

No. Funding has been allocated from the Diversity Fund each year to meet existing grant commitments made under the Collaboration and Structural Reform Fund. For further information, please refer to section 9.15 of Chapter 9A of the Other grants Guidelines    (19.1 KB, 2 pages). 

I have existing Commonwealth grant funding. Am I eligible to apply for funding under the Diversity Fund?

Yes. An existing grant through another program does not prevent you from applying for funding under the Diversity Fund provided that the funding does not overlap in scope or fund the same activities.  Complementary projects that do not overlap are potentially eligible.
For further information please refer to section 2.5 of the The Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund 2008-2011: Administrative Information for Providers    (108.7 KB).

How will successful proposals be notified? 

Applicants will be notified in writing at the end of the assessment process.

If you require further information, please contact the Program Co-ordinator on 02 6219 3481 or 02 6219 3469 or via email dsa@deewr.gov.au.