The program has three 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 team must participate in an Aboriginal sporting carnival and/or tournament during September 2023 to February 2024 (for Round 1) and February to August 2024 (for Round 2).
• 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 September 2023 to February 2024 (for Round 1) and February to August 2024 (for Round 2).

Eligible Expenses

• Eligible uniform and equipment expenditure may include but is not limited to:
  • Jumpers
  • 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 which 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 September 2023 to February 2024 for Round 1 and February to August 2024 for Round 2.

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.

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.

Dates

Category 1 and 2

Round 1

Applications open: 18 September 2023

Applications close:  20 October 2023

Outcomes to be notified: December 2023

Round 2

Applications open: 1 March 2024

Applications close:  2 April 2024

Outcomes to be notified: June 2024

Category 3

Applications open: 18 September 2023 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 two 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 grant 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 the Sport and Recreation Victoria website.

We highly recommend you contact the Aboriginal programs team to discuss your project.

Email: aboriginal.programs@sport.vic.gov.au

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 email the Aboriginal Programs team on aboriginal.programs@sport.vic.gov.au.

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 the maximum file size. Remember these tips:

• attached files must not be larger than 5MB in size

• Category 1 Aboriginal Sporting Carnivals - (Start a new application)
• Category 2 Uniforms or Equipment - (Start a new application)
• Category 3 Athlete Participation Support - (Start a new application)

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.

To acknowledge the Victorian Government’s support:

• Victorian Government Acknowledgement and Publicity Guidelines (Word, 382kb)

Read more about Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV)

For general Sport and Recreation Victoria grant enquiries:
Email: aboriginal.programs@sport.vic.gov.au
Open Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm except public holidays

• Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program 2023 grant recipients
• Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program 2022 grant recipients
• Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program 2021 R1 grant recipients
• Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program 2020 R1 grant recipients