Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program

The Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program provides grants to assist First Nations communities in Victoria 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.

Important dates

Open: 1 June 2026

Close: 6 July 2026

Aboriginal artwork

A web page with fully accessible guidelines has been developed for this program.

To view it, please go to Aboriginal Sport Participation Program Guidelines.

PDF and Word versions of the guidelines can be downloaded using the links below.

Download: 2026-27 Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Guidelines Round 1 and 2 ( , 375.7 KB)

Download: 2026-27 Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Guidelines Round 1 and 2 ( , 476.0 KB)

Funding categories

Grants are available under the following categories.

CATEGORY 1 – Aboriginal Sporting Carnivals

Junior Teams

Grants of up to $2,500 per junior team up to maximum of 10 teams or total amount of $15,000 whichever comes first are available to eligible applicants to pay for travel and accommodation costs to participate in Victorian or national Aboriginal sporting carnivals and/or tournaments.

Senior Teams

Grants of up to $1,500 per senior team, team up to maximum of 10 teams or total amount of $9,000 whichever comes first are available to eligible applicants to pay for travel and accommodation costs to participate in Victorian or national Aboriginal sporting carnivals and/or tournaments.

Eligibility requirements

All individuals within teams that receive support from this grant, must identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
The teams must participate in an Aboriginal sporting carnival and/or tournament between 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
All teams must reside in Victoria unless individuals are located close to state borders that participate in Victorian competitions/carnivals.

Eligible Expenses

The following costs to compete in a Victorian or national sporting carnival and/or tournaments:
- travel and accommodation expenses
- team registrations fees.

Ineligible Expenses

Costs outside of eligible expenses listed above (for example: food, entrance fees and uniforms).
Expenses not for the purpose of attending a Victorian or national sporting carnival and/or tournaments.
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 and up to $250 per individual, with a maximum total of $6,000, are available to eligible applicants, for the purchase sporting uniforms and/or equipment.

Eligibility requirements

All individuals and teams that receive support from this grant must identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
All individuals and teams must reside in Victoria unless individuals are located close to state borders that participate in Victorian competitions/carnivals.
Uniforms must be used to must participate in the nominated Aboriginal sporting carnival and/or tournament or competition between 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible uniform and equipment items may include but are not limited to:

required uniform, for example, netball uniform, jumpers, singlets
first Aid Kit (for example: first aid supplies, strapping)
socks
boots
sports bras
bats
match balls
team equipment kits
items for cultural and/or ceremonial purposes.
protective equipment including gloves, helmets and batting.

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 $350 for Regional Selection, $550 for State Selection and $750 for National Competition Selection per individual (including athletes and coaches) are available to eligible applicants, to pay for travel and accommodation costs to compete or train in regional, state and national competitions or representative teams that demonstrate a pathway opportunity.

Applications submitted under this category will be accepted from the opening of Round 1, until funding is exhausted. Further information on funding rounds is in section 5.

Eligibility requirements

Athletes or coaches must identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Athletes or coaches must reside in Victoria unless individuals are located close to state borders that participate in Victoria.
Athletes or coaches must be invited to compete in a regional, state or national event who are selected into a State Sporting Association /School Sport Victoria or Disability player pathway program opportunity.
Athletes or coaches who participate in an Aboriginal Sporting Carnival and/or tournament that demonstrate selection into a sporting pathway opportunity.
Athletes or coaches must not have previously received an individual grant under this category in the current financial year.
Athletes must provide proof of selection into a player pathway program opportunity from a local State Sporting Association, or an Invitation that demonstrates a player pathway opportunity.

Eligible Expenses

Costs associated with travel and accommodation to compete or train in regional, state and national competitions or representative teams between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.

Ineligible expenses

Costs not directly related to travel and accommodation (for example food, entrance fees or uniforms are excluded).
Expenses not for the purpose of attending the identified sporting event.
Travel and accommodation expenses not for the purpose of attending the identified sporting event.

Who can apply?

First Nations 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.

First Nations Community groups that are not incorporated may apply for a grant for their community members (First Nations 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.

Application process

Dates

Category 1 and 2

Round 1

Applications open: 1 June 2026
Applications close: 11:59 pm 6 July 2026
Outcomes notified: August 2026.

Round 2

Applications open: 10 December 2026
Applications close: 11:59 pm 7 January 2027
Outcomes to be notified: February 2027.

Category 3

Applications open: 1 June 2026 and will remain open until funding allocation is exhausted.
Outcomes to be notified within 4 weeks from the application submission date.

How many applications can be submitted?

Eligible organisations can submit applications across all categories.
Eligible organisations can apply for up to 10 separate teams or individuals under one application.

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 2 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 sections 2–4 of the Program Guidelines to identify if your organisation is eligible for funding. Ensure you have all required information and documents as outlined in section 5.3 and 5.4.

It is recommended that you contact the Aboriginal Programs Team to discuss your project prior to submitting an application.

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 contact us.

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 5MB in size.

Apply now

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

For frequently asked questions, please see our FAQs page.

Conditions of Grant

Read the Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program – Conditions of Grant.

Equipment list: Category 2 - uniforms/equipment

Download the Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Approved Equipment List 2025-2026 (DOCX 118.79 KB) or view the approved equipment list in the accordions below.

Essential equipment – eligible

Example

Applicants applies for different items for example, AFL Playing Jumpers $1,400 and mouth guards $200. Some items are eligible, AFL Playing Jumpers, but mouth guards are not.

Solution

Applicant would only be eligible for AFL Playing Jumpers $1,400
Note on Assessment: Eligible Amount: $1,400

Eligible:

Acromat/Floor Mat
Adaptive/Aid Equipment
Apparatus Matting
Arm/Finger Guards
Chest guards
Bow ground stands
Arrows
Backboards
Baseball/Softball
Basketball Rings
Bats
Batting Helmets
Bounce Board / Junior Mini Tramp
Boomerangs and or Cultural/Ceremonial Equipment
Bowling arms
Bridle (Club Owned)
Course marker bunting
Buoys/ Throw Ropes Canoes
Earmuffs (for shooting)
Competition Swimming Caps
Competition Leotards
Competition Mats Dance Uniforms
Discus
Fencing Masks
First Aid Kit
Fishing Rods/Reels
Ball carry cages
Goals
Goal Flags
Goal Post Padding
Goalie Kit Goalie/Catcher Equipment
Goggles
Golf Balls
Head Guards
Helmets
High Jump Bars/ Uprights
High Jump Mat (Inc. Covers)
High Visibility Vests
Hockey Pucks/Balls
Hockey Sticks
Hoops
Javelins
Junior Bats
Junior Cricket Sets
Junior Fielding Gloves
Lacrosse Sticks
Lane Ropes
Lawn Bowls
Life Jackets
Mats
Nets
Nipper
Pitching Plates
Portable Apparatus (Inc. Beam, Pommel Horse, Vault)
Portable Competition Equipment
Portable Goals
Portable Nets
Portable Starting Blocks
Portable Timing Device
Shin Guards
Shot Put Balls
Shuttlecocks
Sports Bras
Bowling rake (ball collector)
Collapsible course marking cones
Drink bottles
Collapsible stretcher
Spinal boards/crutches
Starting Blocks
Stopwatches/Portable Timing
Targets
Tee Ball Bats
Tee Ball Safety Bases
Tee Ball Stand Tees
Tennis Balls
Tennis Nets
Traditional Games Kits
Umpire Protective Gear
Swim cans (ocean markers)
Kids’ road bikes
Paddle board
Croquet mallets and hoops
Calisthenics clubs and rods
Umpiring equipment, whistles and cards
Bowls mat and markers
Table tennis bats/blades
Fistballs
Bowls ditch markers.

Non essential equipment / not recommended

Hoodies – (Non essential playing Items)
Warm Up Tops
Computers
Coaching boards
Massage tables
Seating areas and shade for supporters
Digital lap timer system
Stretch cords
Foam rollers
Kettle bells
Tackle bags/shields
Radios, VHF radios
Fins/flippers (non-adaptive)
Electric starting horn system
Electronic timing gates
Hand paddles (non-adaptive)
CPR dolls and training equipment
Sport bags for individuals (backpack)
Coaches’ boards
Dribble sticks
Training targets
Scoreboards
Boat trestles
Golf driving mats
Ball pickup tubes
Pull buoys
Poolside storage.

Non Essential Participation Equipment: public address systems, Trophies, IT and GPS products, alarm systems, scoreboards, radio communication devices.

Mechanical equipment aimed at enhancing the skills of participants: Ball machines, bowling machines, weights, simulators, timing poles.

Funding sought for individuals that do not identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Athletes or coaches must not have previously received an individual grant under this category in the last funding round.

Grant acquittal

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

Additional information

To acknowledge the Victorian Government’s support please see our acknowledgement and publicity guidelines.

Program area and assistance

Read more about Sport and Recreation Victoria.

For general Sport and Recreation Victoria grant enquiries contact us.