Before you begin
Professional Development Grants support a train-the-trainer approach, strengthening the knowledge, skills and confidence of educators, tutors, facilitators, staff and volunteers working in Adult and Community Education (ACE).
These grants do not fund courses, workshops or programmes delivered directly to adult learners. The focus must be on developing the capability of those who teach or support adult learners, with improved learner outcomes resulting from stronger teaching practice.
Before completing a Professional Development Grant application:
✓ Read the Information Guide.
✓ Check that your proposed activity focuses on educator capability rather than direct learner delivery.
✓ Ensure your activity involves collaboration between ACE providers or organisations.
✓ Contact the Grants Team if you are unsure whether your idea is eligible.
What you'll need
Your application asks you to describe:
Your organisation
Tell us about:
- your organisation
- your connection to Adult and Community Education
- the organisations involved in the professional development.
Your professional development activity
Describe:
- What professional development you want funding for.
- Which ACE educators, tutors, facilitators, staff or volunteers will participate.
- What teaching knowledge, skills or capabilities participants will develop.
- How participants will apply and share their learning in their organisations.
- Who will facilitate the professional development.
- When the activity will take place.
- How you will evaluate improvements in educator capability and teaching practice.
Remember: Your activity must focus on developing the people who teach or support adult learners, not on delivering education programmes directly to learners.
Explain:
- How the professional development will strengthen ACE educator capability.
- How educators will apply their new knowledge and skills in their teaching practice.
- How the learning will be shared across participating organisations.
- How improved teaching practice will contribute to better outcomes for adult learners.
- How the activity will strengthen collaboration across the ACE sector.
- How the professional development will help educators reduce barriers for priority learner groups.
- How it aligns with the Tertiary Education Strategy.
The primary outcome should be stronger educator capability. Improved learner outcomes are the longer-term benefit of this professional development.
What makes a strong application?
Strong applications demonstrate how professional development will strengthen educator capability and improve teaching practice across the ACE sector.
Describe the need
Instead of:
We want funding to run three workshops.
Try:
Four ACE providers have identified a shared need to strengthen their educators' skills in supporting neurodivergent adult learners. The proposed professional development will equip tutors with practical strategies they can apply in their teaching.
Describe the learning
Instead of:
Participants will learn about inclusion.
Try:
ACE educators will develop practical inclusive teaching strategies, including adapting activities, resources and assessment approaches to better support diverse adult learners.
Describe the benefit
Instead of:
This training will help our staff.
Try:
Participating educators will apply their new skills in their teaching practice, share their learning with colleagues and improve learning experiences across the participating organisations.
Describe the collaboration
Instead of:
Other organisations may attend.
Try:
The four ACE providers named in this application will jointly plan, participate in and evaluate the professional development. Each organisation will share the learning with other educators, extending the benefits across the ACE sector.
Train the trainer: What can and cannot be funded?
Professional Development Grants are intended to develop the capability of people working in ACE, rather than fund programmes delivered directly to adult learners.
For example:
| Train-the-trainer professional development | Direct learner delivery (not funded) |
| Training tutors to teach digital literacy effectively | Delivering digital literacy classes to learners |
| Developing educators' skills in supporting neurodivergent learners | Delivering a course specifically for neurodivergent learners |
| Training tutors in culturally responsive teaching | Delivering cultural education classes to learners |
| Developing educators' skills in teaching financial literacy | Delivering budgeting courses to learners |
| Training facilitators in literacy and numeracy teaching strategies | Delivering literacy and numeracy classes to learners |
These examples illustrate the difference in purpose. All proposed activities must also meet the other grant eligibility requirements.
Ask yourself: Is our activity developing the skills of people who teach or support adult learners, or are we delivering a programme directly to learners?
If the main purpose is direct learner education, the activity is not eligible for a Professional Development Grant.
Budget guidance
Provide a realistic budget that clearly explains each cost.
Eligible costs may include:
- facilitator fees
- venue hire
- catering
- domestic travel
- evaluation
- workshop resources.
All budgeted costs must relate directly to the proposed professional development activity.
Costs associated with delivering courses or programmes directly to adult learners are not eligible. This includes learner programme delivery costs, teaching materials for direct learner provision and other expenses associated with an organisation's normal education delivery.
Show how each amount has been calculated.
Example:
| Item | Calculation |
| Facilitator | 2 days × NZ$900 = NZ$1,800 |
| Venue | 2 days × NZ$350 = NZ$700 |
| Catering | 25 participants × NZ$25 × 2 days = NZ$1,250 |
Also explain:
- any cash contribution from participating organisations
- staff or volunteer time
- venue contributions
- administration support
- how any funding shortfall will be met.
Before you submit
Before submitting your application, check that you have:
✓ Confirmed that your activity follows a train-the-trainer approach and focuses on developing ACE educator capability.
✓ Confirmed that funding will not be used to deliver a course or programme directly to adult learners.
✓ Explained how participating educators will apply and share their learning.
✓ Answered every question.
✓ Attached any required information.
✓ Completed the budget.
✓ Included two referees.
✓ Signed the declaration.
What happens next?
- Applications are received.
- Applications are checked for eligibility.
- Eligible applications are assessed by the Grants Panel (this can take up to a month to complete).
- Funding decisions are made.
- Applicants are notified of the outcome.
Funding decisions are generally made within one month of the closing date.
Contact us
Questions are welcome before you apply.
If you are unsure whether your idea fits the funding criteria, we encourage you to get in touch before putting time into a full application. A brief conversation early on can save you considerable effort.
Email: grants@aceaotearoa.org.nz
Phone: 04 473 6625