Grants can provide sport and recreation organisations with the valuable funds required to establish and support programs and activities, purchase equipment and uniforms, improve infrastructure and more. However, identifying suitable grants and preparing quality applications can be challenging. Sports Central offer expert advice, so that local sport and recreation organisations successfully navigate their way through the grant application process.
Below is a comprehensive list of grants available to sport and recreation organisations within the Central Highlands region.
Currently Open
Emergency Sporting Equipment Grant Program
The Emergency Sporting Equipment Grant Program provides funding of up to $1,000 for community sport and active recreation organisations across Victoria to replace or repair essential sport or first aid equipment that has been lost or destroyed because of unpreventable incidents.
Country Football and Netball Program
The Country Football and Netball Program provides funding to Local Government Authorities to help regional football and netball clubs, associations and umpiring organisations upgrade and develop facilities in rural, regional and outer metropolitan locations.
AFL Victoria Country WorkSafe Club Safety Fund
The Worksafe Club Safety Fund has been established by AFL Victoria Country and WorkSafe, offering financial support for community clubs to assist with occupational health and safety initiatives.
Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program
Sport and Recreation Victoria have launched the first round of the Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program. The grants provide assistance to 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.
Local Sporting Champions applications are now open
The Australian Sports Commission’s Local Sporting Champions program are now open, providing financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships.
State & Federal Government Grants
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.
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The Athlete Pathway Travel Grants program provides grants to improve Victorian athlete development pathways from community to national representation level. Support is available to assist with costs of travel for high performance athletes to represent Victoria and emerging athletes traveling to train or compete at events that contribute to their development within their sporting pathway. Assistance is also available for officials and coaches travel.
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The Change Our Game Community Activation Grants will fund one-off community level events that showcase and celebrate the role of women and girls in sport and active recreation.
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The $40 million Community Sport Sector Short-term Survival Package provides grants to support the operational viability of community sport and active recreation organisations impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
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This grant provides assistance to grassroots sport and active recreation clubs and organisations to replace essential sporting or first aid equipment that has been lost or destroyed as a consequence of fire, flood, significant storm event, theft or criminal damage.
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The Victorian Government Shade Grants Program aims to reduce Victorians’ exposure to UV radiation by increasing shade in public places across the state and by promoting uptake of sun protective practices. Grants of up to $50,000 are available for shade development projects and $700 for sun protections items.
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The Significant Sporting Events Program helps sporting, community and event organisations to deliver significant sporting events in Victoria.
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The Sporting Club Grants Program provides grants of up to $5,000 to assist in the purchase of sports uniforms and equipment and to improve the capacity and accessibility of Victorian clubs and other community sport and recreation organisations and increase the skills of their coaches, officials and managers.
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Volunteer Grants aim to support the efforts of Australia’s volunteers as well as to encourage and increase participation in volunteering. The grants provide small amounts of money that organisations and community groups can use to help their volunteers.
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Local Government Grants
Ararat Rural City offer a variety of grants to sport and recreation organisations that exist within the shire.
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The City of Ballarat offer a variety of grants to sport and recreation organisations that exist within the shire.
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Golden Plains Shire Council offer a variety of grants to sport and recreation organisations that exist within the shire.
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Hepburn Shire Council offer a variety of grants to sport and recreation organisations that exist within the shire.
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Moorabool Shire Council offer a variety of grants to sport and recreation organisations that exist within the shire.
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Pyrenees Shire Council offer a variety of grants to sport and recreation organisations that exist within the shire.
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Other Grants
The Connected Communities program is a Bendigo Bank initiative that aims to assist in providing grants for projects that will enhance the prosperity of a broad range of local not for profit community organisations who can clearly demonstrate the social benefits of their project for their own members and/or the broader Ballarat community.
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The Ballarat Foundation Peter Amor Sports Participation Fund aims to allow children of disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to participate in sport by assisting to reduce barriers. The PASPF distributes grants of up to $5,000 to sporting clubs, associations and leagues promoting sporting pursuits to disadvantaged individuals and groups.
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Project Defib provides every sporting club, school and not for profit in Australia with an opportunity to access over $1,000 worth of subsidy to put towards the latest Lifeline Defibrillator package.
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Active Club Grants are available to clubs seeking to increase opportunities for more Victorians to be active. Funding is available to support clubs to implement initiatives to engage more women and girls in sport or to implement new social or modified sporting programs.
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Through this grant community sport clubs will receive funds to purchase a water bottle refill station with a drinking fountain, making it easier for spectators, participants and volunteers to access free drinking water.
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Sport Specific Grants
State and National Sporting Associations often offer their own sport specific grants. Visit your sport’s National or State Sporting Association website to discover these additional grant opportunities.