Grant Writing – Policy Not Politics

Grant Writing - Policy Not Politics

Duration: Full day (9:30am–4:00pm)
Investment: $670 incl GST per person
Delivery: Face to face ONLY
 

Target Audience

This course is designed for local government professionals responsible for preparing grant submissions, managing projects, and aligning funding proposals with government priorities. It’s ideal for grant writers, project officers, planners, senior staff, and executives seeking to improve their success rate in securing Australian Government funding.
 

Overview

This new, in-person workshop has been developed in direct response to the changing grant landscape following the Albanese Government’s re-election in 2025. With a strong policy mandate now shaping Australian Government decision-making, traditional grant writing approaches are no longer enough. To be competitive, councils must demonstrate how their projects deliver on national policy priorities.

Because of the collaborative and practical nature of the content, this workshop is offered exclusively face to face. Participants will actively engage in discussion, explore real case studies, and work through examples together, making it a dynamic and hands-on learning experience, not just a presentation.
Delivered by Section51, this program shares the latest knowledge, strategies, and frameworks needed to navigate today’s funding environment. Drawing on recent legislative changes and successful applications, it offers a clear, policy-focused approach to writing compelling, competitive grant submissions.
 

Key Learnings

Section 1 – The Legal Foundation Has Changed
Explore the impact of the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles 2024 and the Federation Funding Agreements Framework. Learn how these reforms are shaping the expectations, structure, and compliance requirements of every federal grant program.
Section 2 – Policy, Not Politics
Understand how to translate your council’s projects into compelling applications that align with national priorities. This session introduces key Australian Government policy objectives and uses real-world case studies from programs such as Growing Regions and Regional Partnerships.
Section 3 – Evidence and Attachments
Grant writing today demands more than good narrative. This session breaks down the supporting documentation now standard in high-performing submissions, including the 18 attachments Section51 used in recent successful applications.
Section 4 – Reporting, Tools, and Tips
Get across best-practice delivery and reporting strategies. Learn what works and what doesn’t when using tools like ChatGPT in the grant-writing process, and gain insights on navigating both state and federal programs with confidence.
 

Facilitator

Colin Steele, Managing Director, Section51
Colin brings more than two decades of experience across local, state, and federal government. He has worked as a planner, policy developer, and grants administrator, and served as Director of the Local Government Policy Team in the Department of Infrastructure under Minister Albanese, designing and managing the forerunners to today’s Growing Regions and Regional Partnerships programs.

As Managing Director of Section51, Colin has supported councils to prepare hundreds of grant applications, with a proven track record of success. In the Albanese Government’s first term, Section51 helped secure funding for 5 out of 6 Growing Regions applications. Colin’s insider knowledge and practical, policy-driven approach make this workshop an essential learning experience for anyone involved in grant preparation.

 

Additional Information

What ‘Delivery Options’ are available for this session?
If a session is scheduled, the delivery options can be found below in the location field of the ‘Upcoming Workshops’ section. (Address = Face 2 Face delivery, Webinar = Virtual delivery)
 
No ‘Dates’ scheduled?
Complete our ‘Enquiry Form’ to be added to our waitlist and notified of upcoming dates.
 
Interested in having this program brought ‘In-House’ to your council?
Check your eligibility by requesting an ‘In-house eQuote’.
 
For further information about the content of this program, please contact LGA Training on 8224 2000 or at training@lga.sa.gov.au.
 
Please understand that by registering, you are accepting our policy conditions. For a copy of our policies, please click here.


 

Upcoming Short Courses