Strengthening capability across Adult and Community Education
Professional Development Grants support collaborative professional learning that strengthens teaching capability and practice across the Adult and Community Education (ACE) sector.
Funding focuses on a train-the-trainer approach, developing the knowledge, skills and confidence of educators, tutors, facilitators, staff and volunteers who work with adult learners.
The purpose is to equip these people with the skills and resources to improve their own teaching practice and share their learning with others.
These grants do not fund programmes or courses delivered directly to adult learners. Improved learner outcomes should result from stronger educator and provider capability.
Professional development activities must involve at least two ACE providers, community groups or regional offices.
Small Professional Development Grants provide up to NZ$5,000 (GST exclusive) for a limited series of workshops or a one-off professional development activity.
Applications are closed.
Download the Application Form
Download the Information Guide
Contact the Grants Team
Start here
What is this grant trying to achieve?
The purpose of Professional Development Grants is to strengthen the capability of people working in the ACE sector.
Funding supports a train-the-trainer approach, where educators and others involved in adult education develop skills, knowledge and resources that improve teaching practice and can be shared across organisations.
The grants are not intended to fund:
- Courses, workshops or programmes delivered directly to adult learners.
- The development or delivery of an organisation's normal education programmes.
- Mandatory or routine staff training that employers are responsible for providing.
A simple way to think about it is:
Are we developing the skills of people who teach adult learners, or are we funding the teaching of adult learners themselves?
The first may be eligible. The second is not the purpose of these grants.
It is not intended to fund training that organisations are normally responsible for providing to their employees.
A simple way to think about it is:
Does this activity strengthen Adult and Community Education, or does it simply meet an employer's responsibility to train staff?
If the activity is primarily an employment or compliance requirement, it is unlikely to be eligible.
Is your idea likely to fit?
You may be eligible if you can answer Yes to all of the following questions.
About your organisation
□ We are a charitable, non-profit organisation or community group.
□ We provide or support Adult and Community Education.
□ We operate within the Adult and Community Education sector.
About our professional development
□ Our activity focuses on developing the capability of ACE educators, tutors, facilitators, staff or volunteers.
□ Our activity follows a train-the-trainer approach, enabling participants to apply and share their learning in their teaching practice.
□ Our activity is not a course or programme delivered directly to adult learners.
□ The learning will improve outcomes for Adult and Community Education learners.
□ The activity will help reduce barriers for Māori learners, Pacific learners, disabled learners or learners with additional learning support needs.
□ At least two providers, community groups or regional offices will actively participate.
□ The activity can be completed within twelve months.
Is this professional development?
Professional development means learning that increases the capability, knowledge and effectiveness of people providing or supporting Adult and Community Education.
Professional development focuses on improving practice.
It is different from staff training that organisations are expected to provide as part of employment.
| This grant is intended for | This grant is generally not intended for |
|---|---|
| Trainer the trainer activities | Direct learner delivery |
| Training tutors in culturally responsive teaching | Delivering a new cultural learning programme to learners |
| Inclusive teaching workshops | First aid training |
| Improving educator capability | Health and safety training |
| Collaborative professional learning | Staff induction |
| Culturally responsive teaching | Food safety certification |
| Digital teaching capability | Compliance training |
| Assessment and feedback practice | Mandatory refresher training |
| Leadership development that strengthens ACE practice | Qualifications required as part of employment |
| Collaborative planning between providers | Core organisational training |
Why aren't these activities eligible?
Some professional learning is the responsibility of the employer rather than the purpose of this grant.
For example:
First aid training
First aid is important, but organisations are generally expected to fund this themselves as part of employing staff.
Health and safety training
Training required to meet workplace obligations is considered part of normal organisational responsibilities.
Staff induction
Introducing new staff to your organisation is an employment responsibility rather than sector capability development.
Compliance training
Training required by legislation or organisational policy is generally not eligible.
What we do not fund
Professional Development Grants are intended to strengthen capability across the Adult and Community Education (ACE) sector through collaborative professional learning. Funding is not available for:
- Direct delivery of education to adult learners: Funding is not available to develop, establish or deliver courses, workshops or programmes directly to adult learners. Grants must focus on strengthening the capability of educators, tutors, facilitators and others who support adult learning through a train-the-trainer approach.
- Businesses, profit-making organisations or consultants: These are not eligible to apply for funding.
- Individuals: Funding is not available for individual professional development, including course attendance, qualifications, conference registration fees or other personal training costs.
- Individual organisations: Activities that benefit only one organisation are not eligible. Professional development must actively involve at least two providers, community groups or regional offices.
- International travel: Costs associated with overseas travel are not funded.
- Research: Research projects or activities primarily focused on conducting research are not eligible.
- Existing programmes: Funding cannot be used to continue, maintain or deliver programmes that are already established.
- New programmes that are part of an organisation's core business: Funding is not available to develop or deliver new programmes that fall within an organisation's normal purpose, services or responsibilities.
- Mandatory or routine staff training: This includes first aid, health and safety, staff induction, compliance training and qualifications required for employment.
Please note: Consultants and external facilitators may be engaged to deliver an approved professional development activity, and reasonable facilitation fees may be included in an application. However, consultants cannot apply for funding themselves.
If you are unsure whether your proposed activity is eligible, please contact ACE Aotearoa before submitting an application.
Common questions
Can we apply to deliver a course or programme to adult learners?
No. Professional Development Grants are not intended to fund the direct delivery of education to adult learners. Funding must focus on developing the capability of the people who teach or support adult learners.
Can we apply to train our tutors to deliver a programme?
Yes, potentially. A train-the-trainer activity may be eligible where it strengthens educator capability, involves collaboration between at least two ACE providers, community groups or regional offices, and meets the other grant requirements.
Funding cannot be used to develop or deliver programmes that form part of an organisation's normal core business.
Can adult learners be involved in the professional development?
Yes. Adult learners may contribute through consultation, feedback or demonstrations that support educator learning. However, the primary purpose and use of funding must remain educator professional development, not direct learner education.
What does train the trainer mean?
Train the trainer means developing the knowledge, skills and confidence of educators, tutors, facilitators or others who support adult learning, so they can improve their own practice and share their learning with colleagues.
The aim is to build capability that benefits multiple educators and organisations across the ACE sector.
Can one organisation submit an application?
Yes. One organisation may lead and submit an application on behalf of a collaborative group. However, the professional development must actively involve at least one other provider, community group or regional office. Funding is not available for activities that benefit only one organisation.
Can we apply to develop a new learning programme?
No. Professional Development Grants do not fund the development or delivery of programmes that form part of an organisation's core business. Funding is intended to strengthen the capability of ACE educators and providers, rather than support direct programme delivery.
Can we apply for funding to attend a conference or complete a qualification?
No. Grants are not available to support individual attendance at conferences, courses or qualifications. Funding must support collaborative professional development that benefits the wider ACE sector.
Can we pay a facilitator?
Yes.
Reasonable facilitator fees may be included where they are directly related to the professional development activity.
Can consultants apply?
No.
Consultants may deliver approved professional development, but consultants and profit-making businesses are not eligible applicants.
What if I'm unsure?
If you're not sure whether your idea fits the purpose of the grant, please contact us before completing an application.
Many successful applicants discuss their ideas with us before applying.
Click here for guidance on preparing a strong Professional Development Grant application.
Email: grants@aceaotearoa.org.nz
Phone: 04 473 6625