What is the amount / total an organisation can apply for in this program?
Funding of $1.4million is available for print disability service organisations to produce digital masters of print material. The aim of this selection process is to offer a proportion of the funding to organisations dependent upon a successful service delivery model that meets the requirements of the Program.
An organisation would need to decide how much of this funding to apply for (see Application Form Question 19) and submit a budget telling us how the organisation proposes to allocate the requested funding (see Application Form Question 20).
Is there an electronic version of the application form that will allow us to directly type onto the form?
There are two links to the Application Form documentation in alternate formats on the right of the webpage. The second of these two documents will allow you to type directly onto the Application Form. You should also be able to download the document, save to your computer and type directly onto it.
Here is the direct link to the Print Disability Services Program Application Form
How long will the funding agreements be provided for?
The term of the Funding Agreement is one year until 30 June 2011.
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Is an educational facility eligible to apply for funding?
The following list identifies activities that are not eligible for Program funding:
- Production of digital masters where the entire FaHCSIA Program funding would be limited to specific or specialist areas, for example only educational or religious material; and
- Material that is eligible for funding by or is the responsibility of another sphere of Government.
You would need to refer to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations at www.deewr.gov.au/highereducation/programs/equity/hedisabilitySupportProgram/Pages/Home.aspx and your relevant state government to determine if the activities your organisation is proposing fall within the responsibility of another sphere of government.
Will this program provide funding to produce an Auslan (Australian Sign Language) version, in a video format of print material?
Funding is available for organisations that currently provide print disability services to produce digital masters of print material that can easily be converted into an alternate format of choice for the target group of people with print disability. Applicants must meet the outcome of the Program which is that people with print disability have increased and timely access to a broader range of print material in alternative formats to enable them to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life including work and education.
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What is a print disability organisation?
Funding is available for organisations that currently provide print disability services to produce digital masters of print material that can easily be converted into an alternate format of choice for the target group of people with print disability. Applicants must meet the outcome of the Program which is that people with print disability have increased and timely access to a broader range of print material in alternative formats to enable them to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life including work and education.
Funding for the Print Disability Services Program (the Program) is provided under the Disability Services Act 1986. Under the Disability Services Act 1986 print disability services means services to facilitate access to, or the use of, printed materials by persons who, because of disabilities, are unable to read, hold or manipulate printed materials in standard form.
- For the Program, a print disability services provider must currently provide support to people with print disability as their core business.
Why is the funding being directed to the production of digital masters?
As per the Program Guidelines, page 14:
Service providers funded under the Program are required to convert a range of print material, covering a range of subject matter, into digital masters which can be readily converted into alternative formats to meet the needs of people with print disability.
Digital masters are required to be produced so as to enable a range of requested formats to be delivered, dependent upon the requirements of the customer. Digital platforms allow the production of information in a variety of formats and almost any printed document can be readily converted into a digital document that can then be automatically printed in any font size, converted to Braille ready format, e-text, or digitally synthesized audio format.
The most significant change noted by providers in recent years is an increase in the use of technology by consumers and in particular, requests for digital access to material. Internet delivery of digital material (electronic & audio) provides major benefits to consumers, including immediate access to higher quality material and provides opportunities to create and transmit information and materials in a timely and cost effective manner. The increase in consumers using a range of platforms, including computer, iPod, DAISY and most low cost portable players, enables books, magazines and other material to be downloaded within hours of a request to a provider (sometimes immediately). This means that more people are experiencing greater access to material, including a range of the daily papers in audio version.