Project summary

The project was managed by the LG SA Grants Network, a network of grant professionals from SA councils, and supported by a consultant. It delivered a set of tools to support best practice grant management in local and regional governments in South Australia.

The Network found there was a significant need for an all-encompassing guide to support staff to attract or deliver adaptable grant programs within local governments and their communities.

The guide is designed to grow the capacity of councils to deliver simple, timely and accessible grant funding. It provides support to upskill the local government sector and for the community to create solutions for unmet gaps and services.

Project outcomes

This guide was built to improve the experience of grant managers in successfully delivering grant funding projects.

The Network acknowledged that the delivery of a grant can sometimes become long-winded and over-burdened with administration. Yet the outcomes can change people’s lives in the community. The Local Government Grants Best Practice Guide is an integral tool to support the grant process and help deliver great outcomes for the community.

This project has raised awareness of the Grants Network within SA and nationally. There were 19 expressions of interest to join the Network and contact from interstate councils to replicate the network or join in with SA. The final guide was delivered with in depth information collected from 14 councils at 3 workshops.

This collaboration saw an increase in skills across the Network in project management, tender delivery, promotion, workshop facilitation, research, engagement, governance and administration.

Find out more about the LG SA Grants Network

Grant officers in SA councils or other interested grant professionals are welcome to join the LG Grant Network. For further information please contact:

• Andrea Satireyo (Chair 2024) via email andrea.satireyo@cityofpae.sa.gov.au
• Lorinda Bayley (Notetaker 2024) via email lbayley@light.sa.gov.au

About the guide

The Best Practice Guide offers a comprehensive guide with information, guidelines, templates and further references for more in-depth examples and instructions.

The topics covered includes:

• policy and governance
• administration including record keeping
• the purpose of the grant scheme
• internal and external requirements
• alignment with strategic context
• risk assessment and management
• engagement
• approval process
• acquittal process
• forward planning
• involvement of Elected Members
• eligibility criteria
• round specific objectives…and many, many more.

The Best Practice Guide also offers templates for grant funding letters and agreement contracts, including editable areas within the document that aren’t conditional to legislation.

Project approach

The LG SA Grants Network Steering Group worked with a consultant to seek input from a diverse range of stakeholders.
The principles of the project were:

• extensive engagement for information and experience across grant practitioners to increase interest in good practice and facilitate networks
• the Guide provides guidance, but is not a mandatory policy
• the Guide must meet the diverse needs of councils, notably a smaller, less-resourced council