The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) mission is to lead and enable a united high performance (HP) system that supports Australian athletes/teams to achieve podium success.
The purpose of the Elevate Learning Grants is to invest in education and professional development opportunities for individuals who support athletes in the high performance pathway and who are committed to improving themselves and the HP systems’ ability to identify, develop, support and progress talented athletes.
The cost of education, professional development opportunities and associate expenses can be supported.
The AIS Elevate Learning Grants Program targets:
Members of the High Performance Pathway workforce (in paid or non-paid capacity) from one of the following role holder groups:
The AIS Elevate Learning Grant Program will be run from 14 February 2024 to 22 March 2024. The program will be held across one round.
AIS-Elevate-Learning-Grants-Program-Guidelines-2024-v2.pdf
*The program will be held across one round only which differs from previous years.
For more information on if you would be eligible for the ASCA Level 1 S&C course, please reach out to the AIS Performance Pathways team (performancepathways@ausport.gov.au)
In Scope activities will demonstrate how activity is aligned to one or more of the HP2032+ Athlete Performance Pathway Focus areas of:
Activities and opportunities that will be supported may include (but are not limited to):
Learning Type | Examples (not an exhaustive list) |
|---|---|
Formal Qualification Degree or Diploma or, Short/standalone courses at universities or other academic institutions | E.g. Certificate, Diploma. Honours, Post-grad units, Masters Past examples:
|
Professional skills courses with clear link to role in Performance Pathway Environment | Formal Short Course Education Past examples:
Leadership courses if applicable to role Past examples:
|
Sport or Discipline Specific Courses | Past Examples:
|
Professional Conference / Workshop with clear link to 2032+ Athlete Performance Pathway | Past Examples:
|
A list of Out of Scope learning activities and accompanying notes is available in the table below for reference for what will not be supported in the 2023/24 program:
Learning Type | Specific Examples out of Scope | Notes |
|---|---|---|
A primary coaching professional / sport accreditation Practitioner primary Professional accreditation/membership | Sport specific coach level / certificate e.g. Sport X Level 3, Sport Y License A ESSA – if role requires sport scientist accreditation. ASCA if S&C is existing primary role function in the HP System | The AIS will offer a Bespoke ASCA Level 1 S&C course in the first half of 2024 for eligible coaches and practitioners an and an expression of interest can be lodged within the application. |
Attending a competition, observational activity with peers | Attending competition in an observation, in very informal learning capacity, or attending an event/competition as service provider to perform BAU servicing or support | Coaches have the option to explore the dedicated Experiential Learning Program (ELP) via the HP Coach Development Team ELP - AIS opens up world of experience for up-and-coming women coaches | Australian Institute of Sport |
Professional Networking in network activities outside a structured event | Traveling to meet colleagues for informal, unstructured learning | |
Mentoring | Costs associated with a mentor (fee-for-service) or travel costs to spend time with a mentor | Coaches have the option to explore offerings from HP Coach Development Team |
To be eligible to receive funding through this program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Note: if you are unsure if your organisation is eligible to apply for a grant through these Guidelines, please email performancepathways@ausport.gov.au to clarify your organisations eligibility.
Individuals will be required to apply via an online form, linked at the top of this webpage.
The submission will require three written summaries that answer the following;
Individuals will need to upload a copy of the required endorsement from their NSO and/or the appropriate NIN personnel when submitting the application.
* Note: If you are unsure whom to seek endorsement from, please contact the AIS Performance Pathways team before applications close (performancepathways@ausport.gov.au).
If you will not receive a letter of endorsement prior to applications closing, please contact the AIS Performance Pathways team (performancepathways@ausport.gov.au to discuss options.
Applicants will receive an automated email receipt if the application is submitted successfully. Participants are responsible for ensuring that the information within the application is complete and accurate. Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code 1995 and may result in your application being excluded from further consideration.
All applications will initially be assessed against the eligibility criteria by ASC staff. Applications which do not meet the eligibility criteria will not progress further in the process.
All eligible applications will progress to the preliminary assessment phase where they will be assessed by the Assessment Panel, which will comprise representatives from the ASC, high performance sport system and education network. The Assessment Panel is a group of individuals with significant Performance Pathways experience, including people capability development, high performance pathways coaching and coach education, performance program management and performance support provision.
The Assessment Panel will consider each eligible application on its merits based on how well it meets the selection criteria and how it compares to other applications.
Other factors may also be considered during the assessment process. These may include prioritising applications where there is a co-contribution from the NSO/NIN partner where the NSO/NIN partner would be in a position to co-contribute and ensuring a range of sports are successful through this program.
The Grant Approver (ASC Executive General Manager, AIS Performance) will make the final decision as to grant recipients and funding amounts after considering the recommendations of the moderation panel and the availability of grant funds for the purposes of the Program.
There is no appeal mechanism for decisions to approve or not approve a grant.
If you have any questions, please contact PerformancePathways@ausport.gov.au.
Grant recipients are required to:
Participant Reflection Report
Successful applicants will be responsible for ensuring an appropriate evaluation of their learning activity is undertaken. On completion, the participant is required to provide a ~300-word reflection report and learning summary for AIS Performance Pathways Team to review via the SmartyGrants platform and a copy should be forwarded to the respective NSO and/or appropriate NIN manager to review.
This written reflection should include;
Post Activity Network Sharing Learning Reflection Presentation
Along with the submission of a written report (above) – all successful applicants will be required to prepare a Learning Reflection Presentation to demonstrate to peers from within and across sports how the learnings have supported the 2032+ Strategy Performance pathways priority area(s).
Format: provide a 10min presentation via Teams
Presentation support is available from the AIS Performance Pathways Teams if required. Timing details will be advised, will be flexible and can be pre-recorded if preferred.
This reflection report and video presentation recording may be shared with the applicant’s consent with the applicant’s NSO or NIN institute/academy and may be used as promotional material for future programs within the ASC.
If you need further guidance on the application process or wish to withdraw a submitted application, please contact:
Email: PerformancePathways@ausport.gov.au
All applicants will be notified by email of the outcome of their application including:
Successful applicants will enter into an agreement with the ASC in relation to the grant funding, which will be substantially based on the sample terms and conditions to these guidelines. This agreement will be made available to prospective applicants on request and will be supplied automatically to successful applicants.
The AIS will treat any personal information in accordance with the Privacy ACT 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles.
Personal information can only be disclosed to someone for the primary purpose for which it is collected unless an exemption applies.
Personal information submitted via the online application is collected by the AIS for the purpose of considering applications for and administering the Program.
The personal details of successful applicants (including name, home state, sport, the value of the grant awarded and a brief description of the purpose for the program) may be released by the AIS to the public and the media for the use of promotional and educational purposes.
View the AIS Privacy Policy.
Any conflicts of interest could affect the performance of the grant opportunity or Program. There may be a conflict of interest, or perceived conflict of interest, if AIS staff, any member of the Assessment Panel, a committee or advisor, and/or you or any of your personnel, for example:
Applicants will be asked to declare, as part of your application, any perceived or existing conflicts of interests or that, to the best of your knowledge, there is no conflict of interest. If you later identify an actual, apparent, or potential conflict of interest, AIS must be informed in writing immediately. Conflicts of interest for AIS staff will be handled in accordance with AIS’s Conflict of Interest Policy. Assessment Moderation Panel members will also be required to declare any conflicts of interest.
If you have any questions regarding the AIS Elevate Learning Grants Program, please contact PerformancePathways@ausport.gov.au
If you wish to lodge a complaint regarding the program this can be done using the AIS complaints form.