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Guidelines for Applicants

Australian Institute of Quarrying Education Foundation Grants

The Australian Institute of Quarrying Education Foundation (AIQEF) was established in 1982 with the following objectives:-

  • to establish and support national educational courses in quarrying and surface mining; and
  • to support advanced training for persons in technological fields related to quarrying exploration, development, production, organisation and management.

In the years since its establishment the Foundation has made grants totaling over $1.3 million. 

The AIQEF website www.aiqef.com.au includes instruction on preparing and submitting applications for AIQEF grants.  The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance on the types of educational expenses that can be included for payment by an AIQEF grant.

The AIQEF has in the past been provided grants for the following types of educational projects:

  • The development of training resources.
  • The delivery of training programs. 
  • Assistance with the conduct of:
    • seminars, and
    • industry dinners and technical meetings.
  • Employment of an Education Officer by The Institute of Quarrying Australia.
  • Educational Scholarships.
  • Awards to recognise excellence in vocational training in the quarrying and surface mining industries.

Training Resource Development

The types of training resources that could be considered for AIQEF grants may include:

  • Training reference material
  • Self-paced learning material
  • Videos
  • Training program audio-visual presentation material
  • Assessment tools

The training material developed using an AIQEF grant would be the property of the AIQEF.  Joint ownership may apply where development costs are shared.

Training Program Delivery

There are two circumstances where it may be appropriate for an AIQEF grant - these are:

  • for the conduct of a pilot course to trial training developed using AIQEF grants or developed by others and proposed for inclusion in the IQA Professional Development Program (PDP); or
  •  to subsidise the conduct of PDP workshops in remote locations where attendance fees may not cover the delivery cost of the workshop.

In the case of a pilot course the grant could cover the following expenses:

  • The presenter fee, travel, accommodation and meal costs
  • Venue and audio-visual equipment hire

It would be expected that, where possible, speaker travel, venue and audio-visual equipment hire will be minimised and that the attendees at pilot courses would be charged for the cost of their meals and refreshments.

In the case of PDP workshops to be conducted in remote locations a grant could be made to cover the difference between the income and cost of the conduct of the workshop.  The purpose of these grants would be to make PDP workshops available to those in remote locations.  The participants in these workshops would, however, be expected to pay the same registration fee as those attending workshops in metropolitan areas, where the fees should be set to cover the cost, and based on a reasonable minimum attendance. 

Seminars

Seminars often involve a combination of education (or training) activities and social activities as they are intended to provide both education and networking opportunities.  AIQEF grants will only be made for the education (or training) aspects of these seminars.  AIQEF grants in support of educational seminars may be made for the following purposes:

  • The educational presenter fees, travel, accommodation and meal costs.
  • Venue and audio-visual equipment hire.
  • Gifts for the educational speakers (often the speakers will not charge for their time). .
  • Publishing of training materials to be provided to the seminar training session participants.

It is expected that participants at educational sessions of seminars will be charged registration fees to cover their meals and refreshments. 

All costs of any transport, meals, refreshments and entertainment associated with the social component of the seminar would be paid for by the participants and sponsorship by other than the AIQEF.

Industry Dinners and Technical Meetings

From time to time, industry dinners and technical meetings will include paid speakers on matters with an educational purpose.  In these circumstances AIQEF grants may be made to cover the educational presenter’s fee, travel, accommodation and meal costs.

It is expected that attendees at these functions will be charged a registration fee that will cover the venue and audio-visual equipment hire and their meals and refreshments.

Education Officer

The AIQEF has for some time provided a grant to the IQA for them to employ an Education Officer to provide educational support for both its own members and others in the industry.

This grant covers:

  • the employment of Education Officer, and
  • the Education Officer’s travel, accommodation, meal and communication expenses related to his/or her educational activities.

Other education expenses incurred by the Education Officer, such as publishing of documents, would normally be covered by the IQA or by separate grants from the AIQEF.

As the Education Officer is a contractor to the IQA it is expected that his/or her office maintenance expenses would be covered by the contract payments.

Educational Scholarships

The AIQEF has in the past granted scholarships to enable students to obtain qualifications in extractive industry management.  These scholarships have covered:

  • Travel, accommodation and meals costs for individuals from remote locations to attend training sessions.

Awards

The AIQEF makes an annual award of $2,500 (The Alex Northover Award) to recognise the best Portfolio of Evidence prepared and submitted by an individual to an RTO in support of the applicant seeking accreditation for either Certificate IV or Diploma against the Extractive Industries Training Package.

The AIQEF also makes available a grant of up to $2,000 each to the three Alex Northover Award finalists to assist them in attending the IQA national conference at which the winner will be announced.