What is the Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant?
The Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant is a program to assist Aboriginal Victorians to participate in Aboriginal sporting carnivals, buy sports uniforms and equipment, as well as funding for travel and accommodation expenses for athletes to compete in state and national competitions.
Background
The Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program (Program), administered by Sports and Recreation Victoria (SRV), Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (Department), contributes to the Victorian Government’s sport and active recreation policy priorities and provides a single entry point for Aboriginal Victorians to access funding in relation to sport and active recreation that will assist in addressing a range of barriers to the community’s participation in sport and active recreation across the state. Sporting carnivals, local sporting clubs, “Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations” (as defined in the https://www.absec.org.au/acco.html) (ACCOs), Aboriginal community groups and sport and active recreation associations play a big part in shaping and supporting Victorian Aboriginals. This provides a socially valued role and creates a sense of community cohesion, connectedness and wellbeing.
Objectives
The Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant program will assist Victorian Aboriginals to increase participation in sport and active recreation. Grants under the Program will be provided to:
- teams, clubs and associations to participate in Aboriginal sporting carnivals and tournaments;
- individuals, teams, clubs and associations to purchase uniforms and/or equipment;
- individuals to travel to and pay for accommodation expenses for athletes and coaches related to regional, state and national competitions or representative
teams.
Funding
The program has three categories:
CATEGORY 1 – Aboriginal Sporting Carnivals
Grants up to $1,500 for travel and accommodation costs for teams to participate in State-wide or National Carnivals
CATEGORY 2 – Uniforms or Equipment
Grants of up to $1,000 for individuals, teams, clubs and associations to purchase sporting uniforms and/or equipment.
CATEGORY 3 – Athlete Participation Support
Grants of up to $750 for athletes and coaches to assist with travel and accommodation costs to compete or train in regional, state and national competitions or representative teams.
Eligible Projects
CATEGORY 1 – Aboriginal Sporting Carnivals
Eligible items may include but are not limited to:
Travel, for example:
- Coach/Bus hire
- Fuel
- Expenses need to travel to Aboriginal Sporting Carnivals
OR
Accommodation, for example:
- Booking Fee
- Accommodation expenses
CATEGORY 2 – Uniforms or Equipment
Eligible items may include but are not limited to:
Uniforms, for example:
- jumpers
- tracksuits
- socks
- boots
- sports bras
OR
Equipment, for example:
- bats
- match balls
- team equipment kits
- first aid equipment
- boomerangs and traditional games equipment kits
- protective equipment including gloves, helmets and batting pads.
CATEGORY 3 – Athlete Participation Support
Eligible items may include but are not limited to:
Accomodation expenses and travel, for example:
- Coach/bus travel fairs
- Flights
- Fuel
- Expenses needed to travel to compete or train in regional, state and national competitions or representative teams.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include:
- Aboriginal Individuals and teams that are not affiliated with a club or association can apply for a grant in categories 1 and 2 but must arrange an auspice to manage the grant funding on their behalf through a funding agreement with the department.
- Aboriginal Community groups that are not incorporated may also apply for a grant for their community members (Aboriginal individuals or teams) but must have an incorporated association acting as an auspicing body to manage the funding on their behalf through a funding agreement with the department.
- Incorporated sporting clubs and associations or Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations may apply for a grant on behalf of the members (Aboriginal individuals or teams) and will be expected to manage the funding through a funding agreement with the department.
- Auspice organisations – Please note that individuals or teams that are not affiliated with a club or association must contact the Aboriginal Programs team advising they require an auspice. The Aboriginal Programs team will advise the individual or team what the process is when entering an auspicing arrangement.
- Previous beneficiaries – Applicants that meet the criteria set out in these guidelines and have received a grant in previous rounds of the Program may apply under this round of the program but eligible applicants who have not previously received funding from the Program will be prioritised.
Auspice or Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation supporting eligible applicants must:
- be non-government, not-for-profit and registered as an incorporated body at the time of application and for the project duration. If an applicant organisation is not registered as an incorporated body, it must arrange for a legally constituted organisation to manage the grant funds
- possess an Australian Business Number (ABN) or provide a completed Australian Tax Office form (Statement by a supplier) so that no withholding tax is required from the grant payment
- be an incorporated separate legal entity that can be sued in child abuse proceedings and be appropriately insured against child abuse if the funding is for the delivery of services to children. Further information got to Child sexual abuse insurance requirements for non-government organisations
- adhere to and enforce the Fair Play Code (or) their relevant state sporting association code of conduct/member protection policy, which incorporates the Fair Play Code
- comply with the expectations of the Victorian Anti-doping Policy 2012
- have satisfactorily met reporting requirements on any grants previously received from Sport and Recreation Victoria
- have not received any sporting club grants in any round from the previous financial year.
- be aware that it is a requirement of this grant that if an institution has been named in an application or receives a Notice of Redress Liability, they must join or intend to join the National Redress Scheme (the Scheme).
Timing
Applications close 10 December 2021.
