What is the CDF Assessment Panel and what does it do?
Council officers from the Community Partnerships team support the Panel with advice and technical support and undertake the preliminary eligibility checks of all CDF applications.
CDF grant applications are assessed by the CDF Panel over a series of evening meetings in August each year. The Panel's recommendations are then referred to Council for approval. The number of applications submitted over the past three years has ranged from 60-112. All eligible applications are assessed individually by each Panel member using an on-line assessment program (Smarty Grants). The Panel then meets to work through the final recommendations.
Who is eligible to be a community member on the Panel?
To be eligible as a member of the CDF Assessment Panel you must:
- be a resident of Knox
- have an interest and understanding of local community groups and their benefit to the Knox community; and
- be able to participate within the annual timeframe and meeting schedule for the CDF grants round.
Community members also need to:
- have a well-developed knowledge of the local Knox community and its diverse range of community groups
- be committed to consensus decision making
- be interested in supporting the capacity and effectiveness of community groups that contribute to the community's wellbeing
- be prepared to represent a cross-section of community interests and priorities without bias
- provide assessment responses within the necessary timeframes
- be available to attend evening Panel meetings
- be comfortable utilising an on-line assessment system as part of the Panel process; and
- be prepared to commit to the Panel for up to four years.
What do community members get for participating?
Community members on Council Committees participate in a voluntary capacity and do not receive any remuneration or fees.
Past and current members have enjoyed learning about all of the many and varied activities and projects being undertaken across the Knox community. The Panel process also provides the opportunity to learn more about what Council does and how Council's grants processes work.
What time commitment is required?
There is a minimum of six meetings over the year, including the Grants Celebration evening in November which is held to acknowledge the year's grant recipients and celebrate the achievements of previous grant projects.
The CDF Panel meetings commence with an introductory meeting in July to brief Panel members about the assessment process and an overview of applications received.
All Panel members need to make time throughout July-August to read and score all the eligible applications against the specified criteria and provide comments as appropriate. As an example, if you allow 20 minutes per application, this could amount to 28 hours based on the average number of applications.
There are then 3-4 evening meetings over two weeks in August to discuss individual assessments and to finalise and agree recommendations.
The Panel re-convenes at an agreed time after the Grants Celebration event to reflect on the grant assessment process and provide any comments or feedback to Council officers in preparation for the following year.
- July – introductory meeting for induction and training of new panel members (1-2 meetings)
- July to August – panel members are expected to make time to read and score all eligible applications against the specified criteria and provide comments as appropriate. As an example, if you allow 20 minutes per application, this could amount to 28 hours based on the average number of applications.
- August – over 3-4 evening meetings, the panel will meet to discuss individual grant assessments and to finalise and agree recommendations.
- November – Grant Celebration, a special event to acknowledge successful grant recipients
- Early December – Panel re-convenes to reflect on the grant assessment process and provide any feedback to Council officers in preparation for the following year.
What must I do to nominate for the Panel?
We highly recommend interested candidates to read the CDF procedures and guidelines as well as the Knox Community and Council Plans.
Applications will open on Monday 3 April and must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 24 April 2023.
Previous applicants, who have not exhausted their allowable Panel terms, are welcome to apply again.
Any enquiries please contact the Community Partnerships Team on 9298 8000.
Selection Process
Council will be responsible for appointing members to the Community Development Fund Assessment Panel and will consider recommendations in June.
Interviews with short-listed applicants will be held in mid-May 2023, and those applicants will be contacted as soon as possible to arrange a suitable time.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process by the last week in June.
Need help?
Contact us and we will get back to you.
Or call our Customer Service team on 9298 8000.
