CASA Sponsorship guidelines

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority welcomes requests for sponsorship from organisations active in the promotion of aviation safety in Australia.

Following on from the two sponsorship rounds conducted in 2013-14, this yearCASA is again inviting organisations to apply for sponsorship. The first round for 2014-15 will open on 18 August 2014 and close on 5 September 2014, with the second round opening on 12 January 2015 and closing on 13 February 2015. The decision on whether to provide sponsorship to an organisation will be made by CASA’s Executive Manager, Safety Education and Promotion.

CASA’s sponsorship program is managed by its Safety Education and Promotion Division for the purpose of supporting activities that promote Australia’s civil aviation safety capabilities, skills and services. The relevant part of CASA’s legislation is:

Section 9 (2) CASA also has the following safetyrelated functions:

(a) encouraging a greater acceptance by the aviation industry of its obligation to maintain high standards of aviation safety, through:

(i) comprehensive safety education and training programs; and

(ii) accurate and timely aviation safety advice; and

(iii) fostering an awareness in industry management, and within the community generally, of the importance of aviation safety and compliance with relevant legislation;

(b) promoting full and effective consultation and communication with all interested parties on aviation safety issues.

Activities CASA may sponsor
Sponsorship from CASA can include financial or in-kind support to a third party for an activity that promotes safety in Australia’s civil aviation sector for the benefit of the wider aviation community. Typically CASA will sponsor activities such as:

  • conferences
  • workshops and seminars
  • safety forums
  • educational programs
  • publications
  • recreational or industry events.

In most cases sponsorship takes the form of financial support, but could also be provision of services or goods such as information materials and communication collateral, and CASA staff participation (as a conference speaker for example).In most cases, the total value of CASA sponsorship provided to an individual organisation was $5,000 or less.

Organisations are unlikely to receive sponsorship to cover day-to-day running costs, or for training their own staff. Potential applicantsare encouraged todiscuss the sponsorship request prior to submission with either Toni Guenther, Program Coordinator on (02) 6217 103,7 , or Eleanor Dean, Manager, Safety Education and Promotion on (02) 6217 1221, .

CASA’s current safety promotion priorities
CASA’s sponsorship program is designed to support and complement its safety promotion activities and priorities. In the 2013–14 year, CASA is particularly interested in receiving sponsorship proposals from organisations that are:

  • promoting safety issues with ageing aircraft
  • working with industry and other stakeholders to promote and/or implement Australia’s new aviation rules
  • promoting the development and use of safety management systems
  • promoting the appropriate use of remotely piloted aircraft
  • targeting helicopter pilots with safety information
  • promoting awareness of sport aviation safety.

CASA will also consider sponsorship applications from organisations for activities outside of these priorities where they have a strong safety focus and address known risk factors and/or lead to improved aviation safety.

Sponsorship criteria
CASA will base its decisions on whether to provide sponsorship on the following criteria:

  • the total amount of funding available, and whether there is sufficient funding on balance with other applications, to support the activity
  • the reciprocal benefit to CASA in terms of safety promotion outcomes and appropriate acknowledgment of CASA’s support
  • alignment with CASA’s current safety promotion priorities (see above)
  • an assessment of value based on the size of the audience and the messages to be conveyed
  • the activity presents and refers to CASA’s role in a way that reflects a mutually respectful relationship and the goal of promoting safety in the aviation industry
  • no actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest for either CASA or the organisation being sponsored.

CASA is unlikely to sponsor an activity where it perceives there is not a strong focus on positively promoting safety in Australia’s aviation industry/community. It is also unlikely to sponsor an activity with the commercial objective of promoting Australia’s civil aviation capabilities for the purposes of growing the industry generally. CASA is not charged with performing such a function for or on behalf of Australia’s civil aviation industry.

Reciprocal benefit to CASA
In return for sponsorship CASA expects to receive a reciprocal benefit that acknowledges its contribution. This may include, as appropriate:

  • CASA signage at the event
  • CASA branding on publications and/or other related collateral
  • acknowledgement of support at key events in the program
  • exhibition space/stand and opportunity to distribute information materials to participants
  • distribution of publications/materials in conference satchels, papers etc
  • complimentary registrations for CASA to allocate to selected staff to attend the activity
  • opportunities for CASA staff to participate in the event as speakers, or run sessions or workshops.

Applying for CASA sponsorship
Organisations applying for CASA sponsorship are required to complete a Sponsorship Application form available on the CASA website at

Information on the form should include:

  • a description of the event
  • the safety messages to be conveyed
  • the expected number of participants (or people impacted)
  • the amount of money and/or in-kind contribution sought
  • the reciprocal benefits to CASA.

Application forms can be submitted online. CASA will acknowledge receipt of applications within ten working days and advise applicants on the outcome of their application within one month of the closing date.

Reporting on the sponsorship activity
Organisations receiving sponsorship from CASA must submit a closing report within 30 days of the activity taking place that includes the following information:

  • number of attendees or people impacted by the activity
  • the benefits that were achieved as a result of the sponsorship and overall activity
  • how the funding provided by CASA was used
  • relevant feedback from participants
  • ongoing impact of the activity.

Information about how this should be presented is provided in the attached Closing Report template.