Frequently Asked Questions

The Game on For Change – Preventing Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Through Sport is a grant program to empower all levels of the sporting sector to play a leading role in the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence.

The NSW Government has committed $3.135 million across three (3) tiers of funding to support the delivery of primary prevention projects at all levels of sport. 

The tiers have the following funding allocations:

• ‘Local Impact’ (Small) - $500,000 in total.
• ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) - $2,635,000 in total.
  • There are no reserved funding allocations for the ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tiers. Applications will be assessed on merit and recommended for funding in merit order across both tiers.

The Program aims to empower all levels of the sporting sector to play a leading role in the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence. 

Through this Program, the Office of Sport is building the capacity and capability of the sector to address the gendered drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence leading to positive change in knowledge, skills, values and behaviours. 

The key objectives of the Program include:

• Identifying and scaling up evidence-based prevention initiatives, whilst testing and evaluating new approaches to build the evidence base and foster safe, respectful and inclusive environments.
• Establishing and/or strengthening partnerships between the sport and primary prevention sectors to build shared capacity, align efforts, and embed prevention practices across sporting environments.
• Ensuring prevention initiatives in sport are inclusive and responsive to diverse lived experiences, recognising how intersecting identities influence participation, safety and access to support.

Primary prevention means stopping violence from occurring in the first place. It aims to change the underlying social conditions that lead to violence against women, including those that excuse, justify or even promote it. 

Primary prevention works across the whole population to address the drivers of this violence, by shifting attitudes, social norms, practices, structures and power imbalances. 

Further information regarding primary prevention in the context of domestic, family and sexual violence can be found in the Program Guidelines. 

The NSW Government’s strategy, Pathways to Prevention: NSW Strategy for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, identifies the following four key drivers that have consistently been found to predict gendered violence at the population level:

•  Driver One: Condoning of violence against women.
• Driver Two: Men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence in public and private life.
• Driver Three: Rigid gender stereotyping and dominant forms of masculinity.
• Driver Four: Male peer relations and cultures of masculinity that emphasise aggression, dominance and control.

Further information regarding the key drivers and the public health approach to primary prevention can be found in the NSW Government’s Strategy.

The ‘Local Impact’ (Small) tier is for applications between $15,000 and $75,000; the ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) tier is $75,001 and $300,000 and the ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tier is $300,001 and $450,000.

The three tiers of funding exist to ensure that primary prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence through sport can be implemented across all levels of the sporting ecosystem.

The maximum funding amounts are $75,000 for the ‘Local Impact’ (Small) tier; $300,000 for ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) tier and $450,000 for ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tier. 

What is the length the proposed project must run for?

• Projects in the ‘Local Impact’ (Small) tier must be delivered by December 2027.
• Projects in the ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tiers must be delivered by April 2028.  This is to ensure meaningful delivery and continuous improvement across two cycles i.e. two sporting seasons or two delivery periods. This timeframe enables applicants to implement activities during the first season/delivery period, assess outcomes and refine their approach to enhance delivery in the second season/delivery period.

Eligible applicants are:

• Incorporated, community-based or not-for-profit organisation.
• NSW based professional sporting organisations competing in a national or state competition.
• Local government authority in New South Wales.
• Regional Joint Organisation of councils, the Lord Howe Island Board and the Unincorporated Far West groups.
• Private enterprise (company established under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), incorporated association established under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) or incorporated limited partnership established under the Partnership Act 1892 (NSW).
• an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth).
• a Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW).

an Australian university either located in NSW or with campuses located in NSW.

Project-related expenditure including (but not limited to)              :

• Venue hire for program delivery
• Program materials and equipment
• Promotion and marketing
• Specialist facilitator fees
• Accessibility costs
• Travel and accommodation if essential to delivery.
• The salaries of persons directly involved in the delivery of the project for project related activity.
• Evaluation activities for the project beyond contributing data and input to the Office of Sport’s evaluation process (limited to no more than 15% of the total project cost).

Yes, the salaries of persons directly involved in the delivery of the project for project related activity is an eligible project cost.

Projects or components that do not meet the criteria outlined in the 'Eligible projects and Eligible project costs' sections 2.1.4 and 2.1.5 of the Program Guidelines may be considered ineligible. These may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Activities without a primary prevention focus.
• Activities that are not delivered within the sporting context.
• Retrospective funding, where projects have commenced or have been completed at the time of application.
• Projects that have already been funded by the NSW Government unless significant new and additional scope is identified.
• Projects that will not be completed by December 2027 (‘Local Impact’ (Small) or April 2028 (‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large).
• Projects that are not iterative over two sporting seasons or delivery periods (‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large).
• For any costs associated with preparing and submitting the grant application.
• Project administration costs and staff wages not directly related to the Project.
• Appearance fees, prize money, trophies and presentation functions.
• Entertainment, hospitality, catering, food and drink not directly related to the Project. The purchase of alcohol will not be funded in any circumstances.
• Events that are organised for the primary purpose of fundraising, including charity fundraising events.
• Purchase of land, rental of premises for the organisation’s administrative and operational requirements, or associated occupancy payments.
• General running costs including capital equipment
• Insurance costs (public liability, general liability, etc.).
• Infrastructure projects (e.g. construction, upgrade, maintenance, and repairs). 

Applying for the Program is a simple process using the SmartyGrants platform.

Before you apply, please read the Program Guidelines and related materials to make sure you understand all the relevant requirements.

• Applications for the ‘Local Impact’ (Small) tier must be lodged by 1pm (AEDT), 18 February 2026.
• Applications for the ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tier must be lodged by 1pm (AEDT), 4 March 2026.

An applicant may make multiple applications; however, the maximum amount of funding that can be awarded to any one organisation is $450,000.

Projects previously funded by the NSW Government will be eligible only if the funding request is for significantly new and additional scope.

No. The application process is competitive. It is anticipated there will be a significant number of applications competing for the funding available.

No, projects that have commenced or have been completed at the time of application are not eligible for funding through this Program.

Late applications can only be made where an applicant has started an application in SmartyGrants prior to the relevant tier closing date/time. 

If for any reason you are unable to lodge your application on time, you must contact the Office of Sport within 24 hours after the relevant tier closing date/time. 

A late application will only be considered where its acceptance would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process. The final determination on whether a late application will be accepted will be made by the Grant Assessment Panel supported by advice from an independent probity advisor.

Full details of the Office of Sport’s policy on late applications and late supporting documentation can be found in the Program Guidelines.

If any document is not available prior to the closing date/time and you would like to submit this for consideration you must contact grantsunit@sport.nsw.gov.au.

Late supporting documentation will only be accepted for applications already submitted in SmartyGrants before the closing date and time and will only be considered where its acceptance would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process. 

The final determination on whether a late supporting documentation will be accepted will be made by the Grant Assessment Panel supported by advice from an independent probity advisor.

There is no mandatory financial contribution. The total project cost should reflect only the scope of works for which grant funding is being sought. Value of in-kind contributions cannot be calculated toward the financial co-contribution.

The Office of Sport staff are available to provide advice to applicants on interpretation of the Program Guidelines including types of projects eligible for funding. Staff can also provide advice relating to the online application process. However, staff cannot provide advice that may be perceived as providing an unfair advantage to one applicant over another.

No. The Office Sport personnel cannot review or provide feedback on any grant applications.

Eligible applications will be assessed against the Program’s objectives and assessment criteria in the Program Guidelines.

A formal partnership is a structured collaboration established for the purpose of developing, implementing, and delivering project activities under the ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and “Whole-Of” Action (Large) tiers.

No, this is only an eligibility requirement for applications in the ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tiers only. For applications submitted under the ‘Local Impact’ (Small) tier, where a formal partnership is not a mandatory requirement, those applicants who elect to establish such a partnership will be viewed more favourably during the merit assessment process.

No, you do not need to form a new partnership if one is already in place. You do need to demonstrate this partnership through a formal partnership agreement as per the supporting documents in section 2.3 of the Program Guidelines.

Partnerships must consist of at least two organisations (minimum), one of which must be the applicant organisation who must meet the Eligible Applicant requirements in section 2.1.1 of the Program Guidelines i.e. at a minimum it must be the applicant organisation at least one other in the partnership.

Yes, the partnership can include more than two organisations.

No, only the applicant organisation must meet the Eligible Applicant requirements in section 2.1.1 of the Program Guidelines. 

Yes. You can be a partner on more than one project for different organisations. However, you must ensure that your organisation has the capacity to deliver/support the work required across multiple projects.

Applicants under either the ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) or ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tiers are required to establish a formal partnership to support the development, implementation, and delivery of project activities. These partnerships should include organisations with demonstrated expertise in the design and delivery of primary prevention programs, to ensure that evidence-based approaches are integrated throughout the project lifecycle.

Guidance and tools to help you connect with potential partners are available under Supporting Documents on the Program website.

Please consult the section 2.3, Supporting Documentation, of the Program Guidelines. The formal partnership should be demonstrated through an agreement that outlines the roles and responsibilities of each partner, the purpose and scope of the partnership, and how the collaboration will support the delivery of the proposed project.

Please refer to section 5 of the Program Guidelines for an overview of these requirements. A template funding agreement is also available under Supporting Documents on the Program website.

For successful projects under the ‘Local Impact’ (Small) tier the grant will be paid in full when the grant is claimed and the funding agreement is executed between the Office of Sport and the successful applicant organisation. 

For successful projects in ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tiers, grants are paid in milestones, across the duration of the project. The payment schedule will be set out the funding agreement.

If you have been successful in receiving a grant from the Office of Sport and need to change the contact details, please send your updated details to grantsunit@sport.nsw.gov.au and identify the grant program and your grant number and we will make the amendments for you.

Successful applicants must acknowledge the NSW Government’s support through the provision of funding as per the NSW Government Funding Acknowledgement Guidelines and supporting evidence.

Funding recipients will typically require a statement of funding acknowledgment in the applicant’s annual reports and media releases; and a statement and the NSW Government logo included on building signage, related websites and invitations and other funding related materials. Funding recipients will receive full guidelines, logo and signage template files.

Further details about acknowledgment of NSW Government funding for projects can be found here.

Successful applicants must acknowledge the grant in any press releases or media interviews, in any material published, whether electronic or physical, or at any sporting event or other function in relation to the project.

The Office of Sport acknowledges that unexpected challenges may occur that will impact grant recipients and projects at any time. Any variation requested by a successful applicant to a project that constitutes a change to the original application will require a revised assessment of the application to determine whether the project should still be funded in accordance with the Program Guidelines. 

Any variation to the project as detailed in the application form must be agreed to in writing by the Office of Sport and may require Minister approval. In these circumstances, the grant recipients must request a variation via SmartyGrants. Requests for variations to the terms and conditions or changes to the project will only be considered in limited circumstances. 

To reduce the need for variations, applicants are encouraged to ensure their application includes accurate cost estimates and realistic timelines. 

The acquittal requirements are outlined in the template funding agreements available under Supporting Documents on the Program website.

If you are provided a grant, it is your responsibility to put in place adequate controls to prevent fraud and corruption and avoid negligence. This requirement is stipulated in the funding agreement terms and conditions.

Fraud is defined by the Independent Commission Against Corruption as “dishonestly obtaining a benefit, or causing a loss, by deception or other means”, and corruption as “deliberate or intentional wrongdoing, not negligence or a mistake”. Grant recipients may experience fraud, corruption or negligence when dealing with contractors in the project, or within their own organisation or its governance. In general, negligence can be defined as the failure to take proper care over or for something.

Appropriate management of procurement processes, the management of contracts and contractors, the establishment of appropriate project management practices (including governance and oversight), and the declaration and management of conflicts of interest are common controls used to prevent or control such incidents. The Office of Sport does not cover the loss of project funding due to fraud, corruption or negligence on behalf of the grant recipient which may also result in the termination of a funding agreement for a grant.

If you experience fraud, corruption or negligence, you should notify the Office of Sport. The Office of Sport can help your organisation work any variations required, except additional funding, to manage the impact on the project.

Fraud and corruption should always be reported to the police. More information about reporting fraud and corruption can be found at:

https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/crime/frauds_and_scams

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/report-fraud

https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/buying-products-and-services/scams

Under this Program, 'through sport' is defined as projects delivered through sports, including any subdisciplines, that are aligned with an Office of Sport recognised State Sporting Organisation and State Sporting Organisation for people with disability; and/or through active recreation. Active recreation is defined as physical activity for the purposes of relaxation, health and wellbeing or enjoyment which can be self-directed or facilitated by a provider or organisation. 

All applicant organisations will be required to provide information around the nature of their activities as part of their application. The Grant Assessment Panel will make the final determination on eligibility.