AKF - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Origins

Following head-of-government-level visits in 1988-89, the Governments of Australia and the Republic of Korea agreed to establish a group of influential members from the business, academic cultural and media sectors of Australia and Korea to identify new directions and areas of cooperation in the relationship between the two countries. The group - the Australia-Korea Forum - subsequently met in Canberra and in Sydney and brought down a series of recommendations aimed at broadening and strengthening bilateral ties, including a recommendation that each side establish a foundation to promote the relationship.

Korea-Australia Foundation

The Government of the Republic of Korea also announced the formation of the Korean counterpart of the AKF, the Korea-Australia Foundation (KAF), in 1991. The Board of the KAF is composed of a number of prominent Koreans from government, academia and business.

Funding

Australia-Korea Foundation (‘AKF’ or ‘Foundation’) grants are intended to provide seed funds for innovative proposals relevant to the objectives of the Foundation. This includes proposals which demonstrate the potential for the development of long-term links between individuals and institutions in Australia and counterparts in Korea.

The Foundation's program of activities, staffing and administrative costs are funded by the Australian Government. The Foundation may hold one or two grant rounds each year which are advertised on the following websites:

The process of applying for AKF grants is in two stages. The first stage involves potential funding applicants submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI). The AKF Board will assess the EOIs and compile a short list of the proposals to proceed to the second stage. The second stage involves the AKF inviting applicants short listed from the first stage to submit a full grant application. There is no guarantee about the level of funding available for each round, but it should be noted that there may be less funding available later in any given financial year.

Important Dates for the first 2008-09 general grants round

Description of activity	Date
Closing date for Expressions of Interest	Friday 15 August 2008, 2pm AEST
Notification of unsuccessful Expressions of Interest	Friday 5 September 2008
Successful Expressions of Interest submissions invited to submit an Application	Friday 5 September 2008
Closing date for Applications	Thursday 18 September 2008, 2pm AEST
Notification of successful and unsuccessful Application	Wednesday 1 October 2008

Applying for a grant

Expressions of Interest
Applications
AKF Funding Policies
How to Complete the Expression of Interest or Application Forms
Notification
Responsibilities of Successful Applicants
Funding Agreement

Expressions of Interest

It is important to read the following points before you complete an Expression of Interest:

First read about the activities that the Foundation does not fund
If your project is not one of those activities, then you should read the eligibility requirements for applying for a grant
If you are eligible, then you should read the funding conditions contained in the sample Funding Agreement (Download in word | rtf | pdf)
If you are willing to comply with the funding conditions then you can lodge an Expression of Interest form. (Download in word | rtf | pdf)

Preference will be given to projects in line with the Objectives of the Australia-Korea Foundation and in the fields of:

Science and Technology
Commerce & Industry
Education
Arts, media & sport

Your Expression of Interest will only be accepted by the AKF during one of the advertised rounds. We will not accept EOI’s outside the rounds and we will not consider out of session EOI’s. The EOI must be submitted using one of the forms provided and cannot exceed four A4 pages.

The form must be submitted electronically to australia.korea@dfat.gov.au and by post to the Secretariat at our address by 2:00pm AEST on or before the closing date of 15 August 2008. It is acceptable to submit a fax or pdf file of your signed Expression of Interest by 2:00pm on the due date, if the original is express posted the same day. Late Expressions of Interest will not be accepted.

Applications

Following the assessment of the preliminary Expressions of Interest by the Australia-Korea Foundation Board, a short list will be determined. Those short listed will be contacted and invited to submit a full grant application using a form that will be sent to them. Those who are not short listed will be notified in writing.

AKF Funding Policies

Eligibility

Individual applicants must be Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents. Proof of citizenship or residency may be required. Joint applications may be accepted from non-Australian individuals or organisations who are working in partnership with Australian individuals, groups or organisations.

Individuals and organisations may apply for grants. They should demonstrate an established record of achievement in the development and management of projects relevant to their proposed area of endeavour, and should provide evidence of this.

No person or organisation can hold more than one Australia-Korea Foundation grant at any given time. Grants will not be provided to organisations or individuals that have failed to provide a proper acquittal of an earlier grant provided by the AKF, or any other Foundation, Council or Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Competition for grant money is quite considerable, and the Foundation may decide not to award a new grant to an individual or organisation which has received a grant in the past.

Applicants may submit a maximum of three applications within a three-year period (excluding applications re-submitted with additional information at the Foundation’s request).

As a government organisation, the Australia-Korea Foundation is committed to the principles of equal opportunity and encourages individuals and organisations from target groups to apply for grants under this scheme.

Activities not funded

The Australia–Korea Foundation has a policy of supporting innovative proposals in a broad range of areas. Grants are not normally available for the following purposes:

Capital expenditure in real property, equipment or computer software.
Conference travel. An exception to the general rule may be made for participants in conferences when the subject of the conference is of direct relevance to the Australia–Korea relationship and the applicant is a leader in the field. Applicants must also demonstrate that a substantial program will be arranged before and/or after the conference.
Funding support to grant-giving organisations for activities mainly involving their own personnel.
Activities that are properly the responsibility of other funding bodies or other government agencies (e.g. development assistance projects, activities under bilateral science and technology agreements, projects normally handled by Austrade, etc.).
Activities that are properly the responsibility of the host institution, e.g., post graduate students applying for travel assistance to do field work as part of their thesis will not normally be considered.
Activities that are commercially viable in their own right.
Any project in which the Australia–Korea component is incidental to the main aims of the project.
New applicants will receive preference over applicants who have received a grant or travel grant in the past 3 years.
Activities undertaken by schools where travel by a significant number of students is the principal element of the proposal.
Employment of research assistants, administrative staff, etc., or the payment of administrative charges levied by the applicant’s organisation.
Funding of completed projects, or recurrent funding of projects.
Salaries and Honorariums.

Guidelines for Grants and Assessment Criteria

All applications are assessed against the Foundation’s guidelines for grants and assessment criteria (see below). Applications for grants must therefore comply with these guidelines before being submitted for consideration:

Applicants should have an established record of achievement in their proposed field of endeavour.
The project should be an initiative relevant to the Foundation’s objectives. Such initiatives may promote new areas of contact between Australia and Korea or may serve to build on or develop existing contacts.
Provision should be made in the application for publicity or promotion of the project. Full acknowledgement of the Foundation’s support is required in all promotional materials and publications associated with AKF-funded projects.
Where projects are to be undertaken in conjunction with, or part funded by an Australian/Korean organisation, applicants must demonstrate that sufficient support is available from the counterpart to ensure the success of the project. An example of such support might be accommodation and other services provided free of charge by host institutions. Copies of documentation to this effect should be provided. Where the support takes the form of guarantees by governmental or other agencies, documentary evidence of this should also be provided.
Foundation support should constitute seed funding intended to encourage financial support from other sources, including corporate sponsorship. Preference will be given to projects which are able to demonstrate that they have obtained part of their funding from other sources and can provide evidence of such support.
The project should establish prospects for future independent activity as a result of initial Foundation funding.

All eligible applications will be assessed by the Foundation’s Board against the following assessment criteria:

The extent to which the project’s objectives are clearly defined and consistent with the Foundation’s objectives.
The project’s potential to be wide-ranging and offer prospects of long-term links and continuing exchanges.
The applicant/s ability to deliver the project successfully and the quality of the application.

Information about Grants

The Foundation assesses grant applications on the likely benefits a given project will bring, rather than the amount actually requested, and it therefore exercises considerable flexibility in the amounts disbursed as grants and the conditions attached to those grants.

While grant amounts will be considered on a proposal basis, major grant funding of AUD 20,000 or more for any single activity will only be provided in exceptional circumstances and where the Foundation decides the project will become a priority activity of the AKF in that financial year.

Where a project is of high quality, but financially beyond the Foundation’s resources, the Foundation may decide to award the applicant a grant conditional on funds being raised from other sources.

In any financial year the Foundation will look to fund a diverse range of activities that further the Foundation’s objectives and are preferably under the AKF’s funding priority areas, both in Australia and throughout Korea, including projects which have a reach outside the major cities.

All AKF funding is given on the condition that the applicant will provide a report on the project and an adequate financial acquittal within 30 days of the completion of the activities for which the funding is provided. Failure to do so will prevent the applicant from being given further funding and may lead to grant recovery action.

AKF grants must normally be taken up in the financial year for which they are granted. If a grant cannot be taken up within the specified period, it will be withdrawn in order to give other applicants an opportunity to carry out a project. Any likely delay should therefore be reported in good time to the AKF, to allow it to consider the circumstances and take any appropriate action.

How to Complete the Expression of Interest or Application Form

In order to give your Expression of Interest or Application the best chance possible, please be aware of the following:

Do not supply covering letters as they are not forwarded to the AKF Board Members.
The applicant should be the owner of the bank account into which the grant (if successful) will be paid. This person or entity will be required to enter into a funding (grant) agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia (represented by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), and legally responsible for the proper acquittal of any funds awarded. Persons signing application and funding acceptance forms must be duly authorised to do so.
The start date for the project should take into account project preparation time.
Normally the AKF does not pay a grant to a successful recipient until four to eight weeks prior to the project’s start date. However, you may be required to pay project expenses before this. In either case, advice of the date you estimate you will need AKF funds will help the Foundation plan its grant payments. For example, you would use the date airline tickets must be paid for, not the departure date or the booking date.
The amount applied for should be exclusive of GST. If you are registered for GST, the AKF will add that amount to your grant.
Remember that the AKF may have little or no knowledge of what you do. As decisions are based on information provided, ensure that your forms are clear, comprehensive and concise.
We must receive a signed form by the closing date/time. An electronic copy (in Word, pdf or rtf) is essential and must be followed by the original signed document in the post (address details are on the forms). If you think the Secretariat will not receive your signed form by the deadline, you may also submit a facsimile copy of your form to show that it is signed.

In addition to the points above, the following tips for completing your Application Form are also important:

Ensure your Budget (incoming funds) matches your Expenditure Statement (project costs) in the Application Form.
Provide the most detailed and accurate Expenditure Statement possible. Ensure the items you wish the AKF to fund or partially fund are clearly indicated with an asterisk (*). Unless the AKF specifies otherwise, these will be the only activities for which you can use the grant. Unspent grant funds must be returned to the AKF.
AKF funding of international air fares is at the applicable economy excursion rate. The Foundation will not reimburse applicants for additional expenses incurred because of late bookings or other problems requiring tickets to be paid at a higher rate.
Applicants should note that misleading the Australian Government on financial matters may have serious consequences. Under section 136.1 of the Criminal Code (Cwlth), it is an offence to provide false or misleading information to an Australian Government body in an application for a benefit, punishable by up to 12 months imprisonment.
Referees should be independent of the project and be able to comment on your ability to undertake the project, in addition to commenting on the project itself.
The AKF will not accept un-signed referees’ reports.
Follow up with your referees to ensure that their signed written references are received by the Secretariat before the closing date. It is advisable that you include references when submitting the application if possible. Late references will not be accepted.
Please note that CVs are strictly limited to one page.
Typed applications are preferred wherever possible. If you must hand-write the application, write neatly with a dark pen (i.e. black or blue).
All main documentation should be in black and white. Colour photographs, books, DVDs and other supporting material may not be seen by Foundation Board members.
If any supporting material is to be returned to you, please include a stamped self-addressed envelope.
Do not staple or bind the application.
All documentation must be in English or accompanied by a translation.

If you have any queries or problems, please contact the Secretariat

Notification

All applicants for Foundation funding will be advised in writing of the outcome of their application on or around the notification date specified above. Successful applicants will receive the Foundation’s Funding Agreement and Funding Acceptance forms and will be advised of any additional special conditions which the AKF may specify for the grant.

Responsibilities of Successful Applicants

Funding recipients are responsible for all administrative costs and arrangements associated with their activities, including visa and travel arrangements, visa charges, airport taxes, ground transport, travel and health insurance and accommodation.

Funding recipients are also responsible for making their own arrangements regarding any taxation liabilities, which may arise from the award of funding. Payment will only be made after receipt of the signed Funding Acceptance form, and a Tax Invoice (with GST included in the case of GST-registered funding recipients).

Funding recipients who do not have an ABN are required to provide the Secretariat with a completed ATO Statement by a Supplier form.

The AKF reserves the right to withdraw funding if a grant recipient fails to comply with the Foundation’s Funding Agreement. Applicants should therefore read the conditions contained in the Funding Agreement carefully before submitting an Expression of Interest and/or Application.

Objectives of the Australia-Korea Foundation

In 1993, the AKF Board adopted the following as its statement of objectives:

A. To promote within Korea an increased understanding of contemporary Australia and its importance to Korea, as well as of its history, culture, traditions and languages, particularly through targeted educational and media activities.

B. To develop within Australia a better appreciation of contemporary Korea and its importance to Australia, and to promote understanding of Korean traditional society, culture, history and language especially through educational initiatives, media activities and the promotion of Korean language studies.

C. To promote better understanding and more extensive discussion of mutual economic and foreign policy interests between Australia and Korea, and to encourage the development of closer associations between Australian and Korean business.

D. To foster opportunities for increased collaboration between Australian and Korea in industry, science and technology, both through greater mutual awareness and through collaborative ventures.

E. To present Australia to the Korean people as a nation capable of outstanding creative and innovative achievement in cultural and artistic spheres, and a source of high quality productions in these areas.

Organisation

The Australia-Korea Foundation currently consists of a Board of eight part-time members. The Chairperson is appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Board members are appointed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Board meets several times each year to consider policy directions, and to decide on projects and grants. AKF members are drawn from a wide cross section of the Australian community. While some members have particular expertise in the field of Australia-Korea relations, others have been selected for their particular skills and knowledge in relation to aspects of Australian society.

The business of the foundation is carried out by a secretariat located within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The secretariat is staffed by officers of the department.

Australia- Korea Foundation Board Members

AKF Homepage | Councils | FOI