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Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program

The Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program provides grants 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.

Important dates

Open: 3 February 2025

Close: 4 March 2025

Aboriginal artwork

A web page with fully accessible guidelines has been developed for this program.

To view it, please go to Aboriginal Sport Participation Program Guidelines.

PDF and Word versions of the guidelines can be downloaded using the links below.

Funding categories

The program has 3 categories.

CATEGORY 1 – Aboriginal Sporting Carnivals

Grants of up to $2,500 per junior team and $1,500 per senior team for travel and accommodation costs for teams to participate in State-wide or National Carnivals.

Eligible organisations can apply for up to 10 separate teams or individuals under one application, however, under category 1 a separate application must be submitted for each specific sporting event.

Eligibility requirements

  • All individuals within teams must identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
  • The teams must participate in an Aboriginal sporting carnival and/or tournament between 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
  • All teams must reside in Victoria unless individuals are located close to state borders that participate in Victorian competitions/carnivals.

Eligible Expenses

  • All costs associated with travel and accommodation for teams to compete in Victorian or national sporting carnivals or tournaments.

Ineligible Expenses

  • Costs other than those directly related to travel and accommodation (for example: food, entrance fees and uniforms are excluded).
  • Travel and accommodation expenses not for the purpose of attending the identified sporting event.
  • Funding sought for individuals that do not identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

CATEGORY 2 – Uniforms or Equipment

Grants of up to $1,000 per team, club and association and up to $250 per individual to purchase sporting uniforms and/or equipment.

Eligible organisations can apply for up to 10 separate teams or individuals under one application.

Eligibility requirements

  • All individuals within teams must identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
  • All teams must reside in Victoria unless individuals are located close to state borders that participate in Victorian competitions/carnivals.
  • Eligible uniforms and equipment must be purchased between 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible uniform and equipment expenditure may include but is not limited to:

  • required uniform, for example, netball uniform, jumpers, singlets
  • tracksuits
  • socks
  • boots
  • sports bras
  • bats
  • match balls
  • team equipment kits
  • items for cultural and/or ceremonial purposes
  • protective equipment including gloves, helmets and batting pads.

A complete list of eligible uniform and equipment items that can be purchased using grant funds is located in the program guidelines.

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 organisations can apply for up to 10 individuals under one application, however, under category 3 a separate application must be submitted for each specific sporting event.

Applications submitted under category 3 will be accepted from the opening of Round 1 until funding is exhausted.

Eligibility requirements

  • All athletes or coaches must identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
  • All athletes or coaches must reside in Victoria unless individuals are located close to state borders that participate in Victorian competitions / carnivals.
  • All athletes or coaches must be invited or planning to compete in a regional, state or national sporting competition or for a representative team.
  • Athletes or coaches must not have previously received an individual grant under this category in the previous funding round.

Eligible Expenses

  • Costs associated with travel and accommodation to compete or train in regional, state and national competitions or representative teams between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025.

Ineligible expenses

  • Costs not directly related to travel and accommodation (for example food, entrance fees or uniforms are excluded).
  • Travel and accommodation expenses not for the purpose of attending the identified sporting event.

Who can apply?

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 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.

Application process

Dates

Category 1 and 2

Round 1

  • Applications open: 14 June 2024
  • Applications close: 11:59 pm 10 July 2024
  • Outcomes to be notified: August 2024

Round 2

  • Applications open: 3 February 2025
  • Applications close: 11:59 pm 4 March 2025
  • Outcomes to be notified: April 2025

Category 3

  • Applications open: 14 June 2024 and will remain open until funding allocation is exhausted.
  • Outcomes to be notified within 4 weeks from the application submission date.

How will applications be assessed?

Eligible applications will be assessed against the program guidelines.

Please note that the assessment process for categories 1 and 2 may take at least 2 months from the closing date, whilst outcomes for category 3 are expected within 4 weeks from the application submission date. Applicants will receive written notification of the outcome of their application.

Eligibility does not guarantee success. It is expected that more applications will be received than can be funded.

Submitting an application

There are some important steps to consider before submitting an application.

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Check the detailed information contained in the program guidelines to see if your organisation and your proposed activity is eligible. Other important information about this grant program and the application process can be found on this webpage.

We highly recommend you discuss your project with the Aboriginal programs team. To do that, please contact us.

Step 2: Apply online using the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) Grant Portal

To apply, go to the Apply now section on this web page.

Make sure you have the information you need on hand including required documents and click on ‘Start new application’ to submit your application through the DJSIR Grant Portal.

You will receive an application number when you submit an application online. Please quote your application number in all correspondence relating to your application.

Advantages of applying online

Submitting your application online through the DJSIR Grant Portal ensures it is received by Sport and Recreation Victoria immediately and can be processed in the most efficient way. If you need assistance with applying online, please contact us.

Attaching required information

You can attach documents to your online application as long as they are in an acceptable file type (e.g. Word, Excel, PDF, or JPEG) and don’t exceed 5MB in size.

Apply now

Applications are closed.

Fact sheets and frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program 2024-25 conditions of grant (PDF 131.13 KB) PDF icon

Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program 2024-25 Round 1 Approved Equipment List (DOCX 123.73 KB) DOCX icon

For frequently asked questions, please see our FAQs page.

Grant acquittal

Organisations successful in obtaining a grant from this program will be invited to complete an online grant acquittal process within 12 months after receiving the grant.

Alternatively, organisations can request an earlier acquittal invitation to be issued as soon as all grant funds have been spent, by emailing aboriginal.programs@sport.vic.gov.au

Additional information

To acknowledge the Victorian Government’s support please see our acknowledgement and publicity guidelines.

Program area and assistance

Read more about Sport and Recreation Victoria.

For general Sport and Recreation Victoria grant enquiries contact us.

Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program approved applications

2024-25 approved applications at June 2025

See the list of approved applicants below or download Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant 2025 – Approved applicants at June 2025 (DOCX 272.96 KB) DOCX icon.

Category 1 – Aboriginal Sporting Carnivals

Organisation

Sport

Location

Bairnsdale Regional Unlimited Sports (Aboriginal Incorporation)

Football - AFL / Netball

East Gippsland Shire Council

Black Eagles Basketball Club

Basketball

Greater Shepparton City Council

On Country Pathways LTD

Football / Netball

Wodonga City Council

Victorian Aboriginal Health Service

Basketball

Hobsons Bay City Council

Melbourne Stars

Basketball

Whittlesea City Council

Melbourne Warriors Junior Sports Club Incorporated

Basketball

Darebin City Council

Victorian Aboriginal Health Service

Basketball

Yarra City Council

Victorian Tennis Association

Tennis

Melbourne City Council

Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative - Geelong

Basketball

Greater Geelong City Council

Wurundjeri Sporting Club

Basketball

Casey City Council

Category 2 – Uniforms and Equipment

Organisation

Sport

Location

Arrows Basketball Club Inc

Basketball

Cardinia Shire Council

Black Eagles Basketball Club

Basketball

Greater Shepparton City Council

Brittany Wright - On Country Pathways LTD

Football – AFL / Netball

Wodonga City Council

HC Dallas Phoenix Basketball Club

Basketball

Hume City Council

Koorie Academy Ltd

Basketball

Manningham City Council

Melbourne Warriors Junior Sports Club Incorporated

Basketball

Darebin City Council

Melbourne Warriors Junior Sports Club Incorporated

Basketball

Darebin City Council

Mernda Calisthenics Club

Calisthenics

Whittlesea City Council

Rumbalara Football Netball Club Inc

Netball

Greater Shepparton City Council

Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency

Football – AFL

Melton City Council

Wildcats Basketball Club Inc

Basketball

Ballarat City Council

Wurundjeri Sporting Club

Basketball

Casey City Council

Page last updated: 18 Jun 2025
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