Organisation grants

Organisation Grants

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is proud of the Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) program, which since 2002 has supported more than 28,000 women and over 800 sporting organisations. An Australian Government initiative managed by the ASC and funded through the Office for Sport, WLIS continues to strengthen the pipeline of experienced, capable women leaders who influence decision‑making and contribute to a more equitable and effective sport sector.

The ASC is committed to a sporting system where women, in all their diversity, are valued, visible and influential at every level. This commitment aligns with broader Australian Government priorities to strengthen gender equality and ensure the sport sector is fair, inclusive and high‑performing.

The WLIS Organisation Grants support this commitment by investing in initiatives that strengthen leadership pathways, elevate women’s visibility and influence, and address the structural and cultural barriers that limit women’s full participation in sport. In 2026, the program will prioritise projects that address gendered violence, promote and encourage male allyship, support women and girls from marginalised or under‑represented groups, and elevate the voice and visibility of women in leadership.

These priorities reflect the ASC’s ongoing work to ensure sport is a place where women feel supported and empowered to lead. They also align with broader national efforts to prevent violence against women, strengthen gender equality, and ensure equitable opportunities for all women — including First Nations women, women with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse women, LGBTIQ+ women, and women in regional and remote communities.

Through the WLIS Organisation Grants, the ASC continues to champion a sport system that not only welcomes women, but actively supports their leadership, amplifies their contributions, and recognises the critical role they play in shaping the future of Australian sport.

Program Objectives:

• Support sport organisations to develop and/or enhance policies, practices, systems and behaviours that lead to a sector that is more equitable and inclusive, particularly in the promotion and advancement of women leaders.
• Provide education and training opportunities for eligible organisations to advance their progress towards their gender equity goals and commitments. These opportunities should be grounded in an understanding of how people’s intersecting identities shape their experiences, including how power and privilege influences those experiences.
• Provide education and training opportunities that help eligible organisations progress their gender equity goals. All education and training should be grounded in intersectional principles, recognising how different identities affect women’s experiences and access to opportunities.
• Address systemic and cultural barriers to inclusion within the sport sector.

Important dates:

Applications are now open

• Applications open 9:00am (AEST) Wednesday 15 April 2026
• Applications close 5:00pm* (AEST) Friday 15 May 2026
• Outcomes notified to all applicants June 2026
• Successful grants payment processed June 2026

*Applications must be submitted before 5:00pm AEST. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Guidelines

The WLIS guidelines set out the funding requirements for the WLIS Organisation Grants Program. Please read these carefully prior to applying.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible you must satisfy all of the following criteria:

• Be a national sporting organisation, a national sporting organisation for people with disability, or be a state/territory sporting organisation of a national body that is recognised by the ASC (Australian Sports Directory), the Australian Olympic Committee or Commonwealth Games Association.
• Have the commitment of, and a letter of support from the Chair or CEO
• Organisation has no overdue WLIS acquittal or reporting requirements with the ASC
• Have not received a WLIS Organisation Grant through the WLIS program within the last 12 months (Please note: this does not include WLIS Executive Program)
• Organisation is not named on the Workplace Gender Equity Equality Agency website as declined to join or are unresponsive to the scheme, opens in a new tab.
• Organisation is not named by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, opens in a new tab on its list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme, opens in a new tab.

Funding

In 2026, a total of $170,000 (GST exclusive.) is available with a maximum $15,000 (GST exclusive.) per organisation.

Organisations are required to detail how the funding will be allocated to support one of the following priority areas.

Each project is required to include a learning and development component that enhances capability and contributes directly to the success and sustainability of the initiative.

How to apply

Before applying, applicants must read and understand these guidelines. To apply, applicants must:

• check eligibility
• complete the online grant application form on Smartygrants, opens in a new tab
• provide all the information requested
• address all eligibility criteria and assessment criteria
• include all necessary attachments
• submit your application via Smartygrants, opens in a new tab by 5.00pm* (AEST) Friday 15 May 2026

Please note the closing times and time differences for each state below.

QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS: 5:00pm

SA & NT: 4:30pm

WA: 3:00pm

Please ensure your application is complete and the information is accurate, prior to submitting it. Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). We will investigate any false or misleading information and may exclude your application from further consideration.

If you find an error in your application after submitting it, you should contact us immediately at wlis@ausport.gov.au or by calling 02 6214 1463. Please note: the ASC may not accept any additional information, nor requests from you, to correct your application after applications have closed.

Application changes after the closing date and time are not permitted.

Applicants should keep a copy of the submitted application and any supporting documents.

An automated email from the ASC grant management system confirming receipt of your application will be generated after submission. If you do not receive an email, please contact us on the details below.

If you require any support or guidance with the application process or if you are unable to apply online, please contact us:

Email: wlis@ausport.gov.au or by calling 02 6214 1463

Project design

We strongly encourage organisations to ensure gender equity, lived experience and inclusive practice are embedded in their thinking when applying for this grant program. To guide the development of your project, consider the following design questions:

• Does it recognise the individual and unique attributes, abilities and needs of women and girls of all backgrounds at different stages of life?    
• Which women or groups might it inadvertently exclude, and how can this be addressed?
• How are you accounting for the diverse and intersectional needs and experiences of women and girls
• Does it drive sustained, meaningful change and impact?

In line with these considerations, organisations should review and utilise a relevant national framework or set of standards focused on organisational change towards gender equality. These can serve as valuable tools for ensuring your project’s design fosters gender equity in a meaningful and sustained way.

Some key frameworks to consider are:

• Positive Duty | Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment, opens in a new tab Positive Duty 7-Standards
• Roadmap - An all inclusive approach to governance and leadership in sport
• National Work + Family Standards, opens in a new tab (Family Friendly Workplaces)
• Working for Women - A Strategy for Gender Equality , opens in a new tab- Australian Government
• Gender Compass, opens in a new tab - Plan International Australia
• Champions of Change 7-Switches:, opens in a new tab A Guide for inclusive gender equality by design
• Workplace Gender Equality Agency, opens in a new tab (WGEA) 6 Gender Equity Indicators
• Women in high performance coaching action plan - 2023 - Women in High Performance coaching

Assessment and approvals

Assessment

An internal assessment panel will convene and assess all eligible applications against the criteria and value for money. The assessment committee will be made up of ASC staff.

The assessment panel will make their recommendations to the Grant Approver, who is responsible for the final decision including:

• The approval of the grant recipients
• The grant amount to be awarded, and
• The terms and conditions of the grants.

Approval

The ‘Grant Approver for this grant program, is the ASC’s Executive General Manager, Diversity, People and Culture. They will make the final decision as to the grant recipients and funding amounts, after considering the recommendations from the assessment panel and the availability of grant funds for the purpose of the WLIS organisation grants program.

The grant approver’s decision is final in all matters, including:

• the approval of the grant
• the grant funding amount to be awarded
• the terms and conditions of the grant.

There is no appeal mechanism for decisions to approve or not approve a grant.

Enquiries and feedback

If you have any questions regarding the WLIS program, please email wlis@ausport.gov.au

If you wish to lodge a complaint regarding the program this can be done via ASC’s complaints form: https://www.ausport.gov.au/contacts/feedback-and-complaints

Frequently Asked Questions