• Local Sporting Champions
• Modified Sports

Who is eligible?

The Local Sporting Champions program is designed to support young people participating in state and national level sporting championships as either an athlete, coach, umpire or referee.

To be eligible for a Local Sporting Champions grant, young people must meet the following criteria:

• Be between 12 and 18 years of age (inclusive) at the time of the nominated sporting championship.
• Be participating as an athlete, coach, umpire or referee in:
• • an official state championships endorsed by the relevant Australian Sports Commission (ASC) recognised national sporting organisation (NSO), or  
  • an official national championships endorsed by the relevant Australian Sports Commission (ASC) recognised national sporting organisation (NSO), or
  • a national school sport championships endorsed by School Sport Australia.
• Applications must be completed and submitted to the ASC prior to the championship commencing (Please note, saved applications must be submitted before the competition commences).
• Travel greater than 250km return to participate in the championship.
• Be an Australian citizen.
• Must not have recieved a Local Sporting Champions grant for an event held during the current financial year, whether as an individual or a member of a team.
• Must not have received funding from another funding program administered by the ASC for the nominated championship.
• The nominated championship must not be a professional competition that involves prize money greater than $500. 

As of 1 March 2012 additional championships will be eligible for a Local Sporting Champions grant.  Please re-visit the website in March for more details.

Frequently asked questions

• How are the grants distributed throughout Australia?
  The grants will be distributed by the Australian Sports Commission on behalf of federal members of parliament.

• When should I apply?
  Applications must be received prior to the commencement of the championships. Applications will not be considered if lodged after the commencement of a championship.

• What is the value of the individual and team grants?
  Grants of $500 will be available for successful individual applicants, and $3000 for successful team applications.

• What are the grants intended for?
  Each  grant can contribute towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment for the nominated national sporting organisation endorsed state or national sporting championships, or national school sport championships.

• What type of competition can the grants contribute towards?
  Applications for participation in an Australian Sports Commission endorsed state and national level sporting championships held by a recognised national sporting organisation or national sporting organisations for people with disability will be considered, as will applications for national school sport championships endorsed by School Sport Australia. 

• What type of competition is ineligible for a grant?

  Applications for participation in the following competitions will not be considered for a grant:

  • international competitions or tours (any event held outside of Australia, or any international event held in Australia), for example the ISAF Youth World Championships in Istanbul or any international event held in Australia for example the International Under 16 Cricket Test Series vs West Indies

  • development or training squads and camps, for example Australian U19 Women's Lacrosse Training Camp

  • ongoing seasonal competitions, for example WA Basketball League or FNSW Premier League

  • state school sport competitions including any primary or secondary school sport state championships, for example the Queensland Secondary Schools Touch Championships

  • local and regional competitions, for example BMX NSW Regionals

  • indigenous only sport competitions, for example the NATSIBA (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Basketball Association) Championships

  • competitions run by organisations not affiliated with the ASC recognised national sporting organisation or state sporting organisation 

  • friendship or invitational events, for example East Coast Slam or Southern Skies Tournament

• When will I know if my application has been successful?
  Assessment of applications takes place in three rounds, one every four months. It may therefore take up to five or six months before you are notified of the outcome of your application.

Round 3 2010/11: 1 March 2011 - 30 June 2011. Assessment of applications received during this period will occur in July/August 2011.  Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application in August or September 2011.

Round 1 2011/12: 1 July 2011 - 31 October 2011. Assessment of applications received during this period will occur in November/December 2011.  Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application in December 2011 or January 2012.

Round 2 2011/12: 1 November 2011 - 28 February 2012. Assessment of applications received during this period will occur in March/April 2012. Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application in April or May 2012.

• How long will it take to receive my grant?
  Up to two weeks after you have been notified of the successful outcome of your application.

• Does submitting an application form guarantee that I will receive a grant?
  No.  There are a limited number of grants available in each electorate and in most cases there are more eligible applications than grants available.  Applications are assessed locally against criteria that reflect the needs of that electorate. 

Did you know?

Australia is one of only two nations to have competed in every modern Summer Olympic Games.

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