Development grants

Apply

To apply for a development grant:

1. Read the terms and conditions below
2. Complete the application form: Individual Form (PDF), Individual Form (RTF), Group Form (PDF), Group Form (RTF)
3. Scan and email your completed application to develop@mq.edu.au by the closing date.

Use the group application form when more than one professional staff member from the same office wishes to participate in the same development program.

Assessment and selection criteria

Applications will be assessed on:

• The benefits and relevance of the proposed program of activities to your development
• The level of support for the proposed program of activities by your manager and the endorsement of your manager's manager
• The quality and competitiveness of the application

Preference will be given to staff who have not previously received a grant. A financial contribution from the local area (Department, Faculty or Office) is highly encouraged and will strengthen the application.

The time and period of your absence from the activities of the Faculty or Office will not be a primary consideration by the Committee in assessing the application.

Successful applicants will be notified soon after the closing date and funds will be available shortly thereafter.

Terms and conditions

Eligibility

Continuing and fixed-term professional staff with at least twelve months service will be eligible to apply for a professional staff development grant. Fixed-term staff must have at least 12 months remaining on their current employment contract from the application close date.

Accessing grant funding

If you are successful, your grant funds will be paid into a Macquarie University Account to allow pre-booking and where necessary, access to fare discounts.

Funds will be transferred to the department shortly after approval by the Scholarship Committee. Your Faculty or Office, in accordance with the University's Financial Management Policies and Practices, will administer these accounts.

Allowed expenses

Development grant funds can be spent on:

• the development activity itself (e.g. conference/program fees)
• return economy travel costs for travel related to the development activities;
• reimbursement of actual costs up to the travel allowance as in Schedule 4 of the Enterprise Agreement, supported by a diary or original receipts; or
• use of a University credit card, subject to the conditions for its use; or
• payment of a camping allowance as in Schedule 4 of the Enterprise Agreement.

All international travel must be booked via Corporate Travel Management (CTM). Please refer to the staff travel portal page for further information. You must keep evidence of expenses and a travel diary for taxation purposes. The diary must show the date of the entry and document the nature, place, start date and the length of the activity. These funds must be paid for by 30 November.

Professional Staff Development Grant funds cannot be used to pay or supplement other fees (such as student/tuition fees) associated with enrolment in a degree, diploma or certificate, or for other costs associated (textbooks etc.) with such programs.

Reporting learnings

Within one month after your development activity report back to your team on how you have actively applied what you've learned. You may choose to:

• give a seminar or presentation to your team and/or other relevant staff
• run a project applying your new skills and knowledge
• write and distribute a paper, resource guide or toolkit to your team and/or other relevant staff