Frequently Asked Questions

The overall aim of the grant program is to increase regular and ongoing participation opportunities participation in sport in NSW. The grant program has a specific set of objectives, and these can be found in the Grant Program Guidelines.

Applying for the Local Sport Grant Program is a simple process and must be done using the Office of Sport’s SmartyGrants website (sport.smartygrants.com.au) . You can preview and download a copy of the application form from SmartyGrants prior to commencing your application.

Before you apply, please read the Program Guidelines and related materials including the necessary supporting information and documents you will need to make sure you understand all relevant requirements.

For assistance please contact the Office of Sport on 13 13 02 or email grantsunit@sport.nsw.gov.au.

If you have difficulties with the internet, your local library or TAFE College may be able to assist you with access to the internet.

Applications must be lodged by Monday 27 November at 1pm AEST via SmartyGrants.  

It is good practice to complete the application in SmartyGrants well prior to the closing time.

Yes. Applicants may submit more than one application. However, there is a limit of $20,000 that can be awarded to any one organisation. Information on this can be found in the Grant Program Guidelines. 

Your club/association treasurer should have a certificate of incorporation, or you can search for your incorporated status with:

NSW Incorporated Associations Register

ASIC Register

Registered Charity

Indigenous Corporations

You must ensure that the registered name for the incorporation, match the organisation’s ABN name and information.

Alternatively, call NSW Fair Trading on 1800 502 042.

Scan any hard copy letters or quotes and save them as a PDF. These can then be uploaded in the relevant sections of your application. 

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 to request late document submission.

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 Office of Sport supported by a probity advisor.

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

If for some unforeseen reason you are not able to lodge your application on time, you must contact the Office of Sport (grantsunit@sport.nsw.gov.au) at the earliest possible time after the 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 Office of Sport supported by a probity advisor.

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

The Office of Sport staff are available to provide advice and clarifications to applicants on interpreting the Grant Program Guidelines. However, staff are not able to provide advice that may be perceived as providing an unfair advantage to one applicant over another.

No. The Office Sport staff cannot review or provide feedback on any grant applications. Frequently asked questions and answers are available on the grant program webpage and updated as required.

Select the ‘Language’ button at the top right of the page and translate the page to your preferred language.

If you would like the use of a translator, please call the National Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450, and ask them to call us on 13 13 02 (option 5, option 2). The service provides immediate phone interpreting.

No. Applications may be saved, revisited and edited before being submitted, but applications must be submitted by Monday 27 November at 1pm AEST.

Only Incorporated, not-for-profit grassroots ‘sport clubs and associations’ whose primary focus is to organise sporting activities; deliver ongoing sporting programs; and develop member’s skills can apply. More information on who is eligible can be found in the Guidelines.

If successful, applicants must have Public Liability Insurance cover of at least $5m.

Ineligible applicants are any organisation types not listed in the ‘Eligible Applicants’ section, and include (but are not limited to):

• Individuals, groups of individuals and unincorporated organisations.
• Incorporated not-for-profit organisations that are not associated with a sport listed at Appendix A.
• Clubs whose activities are considered to be of a recreational nature e.g., e-sports/online, remote/radio-controlled activities, fishing.
• State Sporting Organisations.
• National Sporting Organisations.
• Regional Academies of Sport.
• For profit, commercial organisations.
• Organisations limited by shares.
• Government departments and agencies.
• Educational institutions including schools and their Parents and Citizens (P&C’s), Universities, TAFE, Colleges and childcare centres.
• Local Government Authorities operating under the Local Government Act, 1993.
• Local Government Committees.
• PCYCs/YMCA/Scouts/Girl Guides/Surf Life Saving Clubs or Branches.

An eligible organisation will also be deemed not eligible for funding under this program if they are an organisation named: (i) by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse on its list of institutions that have not joined or signified their intent not to join the Scheme; or (ii) in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that has not yet joined the National Redress Scheme.

The following will be checked to ensure that the application is eligible:

• Applicant organisation is an eligible applicant.
• Applicant has provided a valid Incorporation number and where relevant an ABN (where an applicant organisation has provided an ABN, the incorporation details for the same organisation.
• Proposed project is in NSW.
• Project is an eligible project.
• Grant request is a minimum of $2,000 and does not exceed $20,000 per application.
• The applicant organisation has confirmed that if successful they will provide Public Liability Insurance with a minimum $5 million cover*.
• The application, if submitted by a licenced club, specifically relates to the sport and not the licenced premises.
• If the application has been submitted by a sports organisation or club associated with a church or a school, the incorporation details have been confirmed and are in the name of the organisation/club.
• The sport included within the application is listed in Appendix A of the Program Guidelines.

The Local Sport Grant Program will not fund the following projects or project components:

• Operational costs e.g., staff wages and administration costs that relate to the running of the club/organisation.
• Subsidised registrations for players, for regular and on-going (weekly, monthly competitions).
• Accommodation, food/catering and travel (except where specified as eligible above).
• Appearance fees, prize money and trophies/medals, trophy cabinets.
• Presentation days / AGM / celebration functions etc.
• Entertainment.
• Medical equipment (e.g., defibrillators, first aid).
• Private or commercial ventures.
• Events that are organised for the primary purpose of fundraising, including charity fundraising events.
• Individual scholarships/sponsorships.
• Insurance of any type (player, public liability, general liability, etc.).
• Retrospective funding e.g., projects that have already commenced and/or purchases completed prior to application submission.
• Purchase or rental of land or premises; vehicles; office equipment (e.g., office furniture, television, computers, iPads, printers, photocopiers etc.).
• Projects not based in NSW.
• Subsidy for school sporting activities and events.

Please Note: Project budgets should not include any ineligible costs and these will be removed by assessors if included, at the absolute discretion of the Office of Sport.

Eligible applications will be assessed against the Fund’s objectives, focus, and aim and the following assessment criteria:

1. Strategic justification
2. Scope and deliverables
3. Value for money
4. Project deliverability and applicant capability

Assessment criteria is detailed in the Local Sport Grant Program Guidelines.

No. However, in order to receive grant payments successful applicants will require an ABN or provide a Statement of Supplier form. If your application is successful, further information will be provided to you.

Statement of supplier forms and eligibility for their use is available online from the Australian Taxation Office.

Failure to provide any of this supporting documentation will negatively impact the merit assessment score your application receives.

All applications should provide:

• Recent (within 3-6 months) quotes to verify project expenditure, which align to the information provided in your project budget.
• Evidence confirming all financial co-contribution sources (where applicable).
• Development approval, application, or exemption.  Where a development application is required but not yet approved, this will be required as a stage gate requirement.
• Approval from landowner for project to proceed (where the applicant is the landowner, evidence to demonstrate this). This must be on the Office of Sport template – see “Available supporting documents”.
• Letters from other organisations that indicate how they will either support or benefit from the project.

To demonstrate project need, you may consider the following:

• Photos of existing condition to show level of dilapidation or inadequacy, safety issues or disability access or non-compliance with building codes.
• Surveys taken from community groups, club members, players, etc. that highlight the need
• Letters of support from your local MP, Council, community groups or expected users outlining the need
• Demographic data demonstrating population groups or socio-economic rating
• Any other related evidence that supports the need.

To show that the project costs are accurate and the project can be achieved with available funding.   If the final project cost is higher than expected, your organisation will be required to cover the shortfall in costs.  If your final project cost is less than expected, you will have to repay money to the Office of Sport.

This is the address where your clubhouse is or where your club primarily trains on a regular basis.  If you are requesting funding for a facility that is not your home ground as defined above, please identify the project location as your home ground and explain the difference within the application.

The term ‘rural and remote’  to cover any area outside of New South Wales’  major cities.

When applying for the grant, you will need to ensure that the Organisation name and the name on the ABN and Incorporation numbers match. If they don’t match, you may risk being ineligible.

You will need to supply landowners consent (see supporting documents) and provide evidence of Development Application approval or demonstrate that a Development Application is not required.

Inclusive and accessible facilities consider Universal Design in their approach.  “Universal Design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability.” Refer to the Universal Design for more information. 

Inclusive design keeps the diversity and uniqueness of each individual in mind and allows maximum use, by the widest range of people, without the need to adapt or add accessories. It includes the incorporation of universal design principles and providing safe, dignified and equitable access through functional space. Designs should be beyond Building Code of Australia or Access standards to ensure facilities are accessible to more people.

To help organisations to successfully develop their grant proposals, the following Australian Standards legally must be complied with:

• Australian Standards -
  • AS 1428.1:2022 Design for access and mobility Part 1: General requirements for access—New building work
  • DR AS 1428.2-2022 Design for access and mobility Enhanced and additional requirements - Buildings and facilities (Reconfirmed 2015)
  • AS/NZS 1428.4.1:2009 Design for access and mobility Means to assist the orientation of people with vision impairment - Tactile ground surface indicators
  • DR AS 1428.4.2:2022 Design for access and mobility Part 4.2: Means to assist the orientation of people with vision impairment - Wayfinding signs
  • AS 1428.5:2022 Design for access and mobility Communication for people who are deaf or hearing impaired

For further information:

Design for Dignity Guidelines

NSW Government Architects

NSW Government Architects - Urban Design for Regional NSW

Incorporation of universal design principles and providing safe, dignified and equitable access through functional space. Designs should be beyond Building Code of Australia or Access standards to ensure facilities are accessible to more people. Refer to https://www.and.org.au/data/Design_ for Dignity/Design_for_Dignity_Guidelines_ Aug_2016.pdf

The grant amount requested by an applicant must be a minimum of $2,000 and cannot exceed $20,000. This information can be found in the Program Guidelines. 

A single organisation may make multiple applications, however the maximum amount of funding that can be awarded to any one organisation is $20,000.

An application needs to be made by a single eligible organisation which will accept responsibility should the application be successful. However, the application may identify partners that will add to the applicant organisation’s capacity to deliver the project.  Partner organisations do not need to be eligible organisations

• Organisations registered for GST: exclude GST from the amount of funding requested in your project budget. GST will be paid to your organisation if successful.
• Organisations not registered for GST: include GST in the costs for your project budget. Please ensure that quotes you receive are inclusive of GST that will be charged by trades or suppliers.

Applicants are to provide evidence of approval for committed funding co-contribution(s) e.g., funding agreement, letter from fund/grant provider, letter from organisation’s treasurer or President.

Yes, you should provide evidence to support budgeted costs and revenues.

Quotes should be recent (obtained within 3-6 months), align and substantiate the main items of work to be funded with your grant application.

Providing quotes is not mandatory but by not supplying quotes your application you are not demonstrating the grant request is accurate or cost effective and will not score as well as it might otherwise and risk not being recommended for funding.

The MP assessing your application has the discretion to recommend projects within their electorate partial funding.  If your application indicates that it cannot proceed without full funding, this removes this option and your application is at risk of not receiving any funding by selecting this option.   The reduced funding recommendation may be only a small  amount of the grant requested amount.

If the recommended grant amount you are awarded is less than you can actually complete the project with, you can elect not to accept the offer of grant funding then.

It is recommended that all applicants indicate they can proceed with partial funding.

You will receive an email notification that your application has been successfully submitted, this email will contain a PDF copy of your application. Please check that you receive the confirmation email and retain it as a record of your application.

If you do not receive a confirmation email, your application may not have been successfully submitted, or the confirmation email may have ended up in your junk mailbox.

You can also log into SmartyGrants and click ‘My Submissions’ to view all submitted and un-submitted applications. Submitted applications are identified by a green tick in a circle.

No. The application process is competitive. It is anticipated that there will be multiple applications competing for the funding available within your electorate.

Successful applications will be those which best meet the objectives of the program, can demonstrate a need for the project, provide a cost-effective budget and can demonstrate that the organisation applying has the capacity to deliver the project.  It is important to also provide supporting documentation such as quotes to help prove the claims made in your application.

Applications are reviewed for eligibility and then subject to the assessment process.  The final decision on funding sits with the Minister for Sport.

Announcements are due to take place from April 2024 onwards.

There are no appeals for unsuccessful applications under this program. It is recommended that you apply again in the next round of the program. Due to the high volume of applications, the Office of Sport Grants Unit is unable to provide individual feedback on each unsuccessful application.

If your application is not successful, it does not mean your application lacks merit. LSGP is a very competitive grant program. Assessment of applications is through a merit selection process.

If you receive a letter of notification indicating that your organisation status or the project scope is ineligible, refer to the eligibility criteria of the Program Guidelines for more information.

The Office of Sport will contact the successful applicants to claim the grant within two weeks of being notified of success. Failure to claim the grant within two weeks of notification may result in the Office of Sport withdrawing the offer of funding.

The project timeline is program specific; information can be found in the  Program Guidelines. 

All grant payments are made by EFT. Through the grant acceptance process, successful applicants need to submit EFT banking details. It is your responsibility to provide the correct banking details. Funds transferred to an incorrect bank account may not be recoverable.

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.

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

Subsidised travel is eligible for specialist coaches to travel to rural/remote areas where the distance travelled exceeds 100km from the ‘home ground’

For sports that aren't listed on the eligible sport list, they will need to become recognised by the Office of Sport. In order for your organisations to be recognised by the Office of Sport, your State Sporting Organisation will need to submit a request to the Office of Sport.

For further information in regarding recognition by the Office of Sport, please click on the following link: NSW State Sporting Organisation Recognition Program | NSW Government. Please note that Additional Sports will not be able to be added to this round of the Local Sport Grant Program.

Projects must be in NSW and from an eligible applicant. For all facility upgrades evidence of Development Application approval (if required) or demonstrate that a Development Application is not required. You will also be asked to provide landowner’s consent. 

Applications will be assessed based on the project location. You should explain in your application why you wish to hold an event that is in a different location to where your club is located. 

Yes, ancillary equipment and infrastructure is eligible under this program but you should demonstrate how such equipment/infrastructure will benefit the sport and the sporting participants. Please refer to the merit assessment criteria and ensure that your project meets the criteria on page 14.

The new grant request cannot be for project scope that have been previously funded by the NSW Government. However, if the project is for a similar participation program with new dates i.e. in 2024, or new equipment, this would be eligible. 

All projects must be undertaken in NSW and are assessed in the electorate where the project will occur. You should justify your program within the application and ensure that it meets the merit assessment criteria.

Yes, sports that are recognized/associated with an NSO or SSO as listed at Appendix A are eligible sports.

Subsidised travel costs to assist teams to travel from rural/ remote areas to participate in competitions located more than 100km from their home ground or subsidised travel for specialist coaches to travel to rural/remote areas is eligible. Accommodation is not eligible.  Please refer to page 8 and 10 of the guidelines.

Operational costs e.g., staff/coach wages and administration costs that relate to the running of the club/organisation are ineligible. You can add volunteer hours to your application, but they must directly relate to the project. Volunteer hours spent evaluating the outcomes of the project could be included as an in-kind contribution to the project.

For projects where there is a construction element, you may include contingency in the budget, however you should ensure you have secured quotes for any project type to ensure you are requesting an appropriate amount of funding and that your organisation has enough money to cover any additional/unexpected costs.

It is not mandatory, but it can support your application

No.  All eligible applicants are considered equally. Having an ABN is not an eligibility or merit criterion and is used only to identify an organization and determine GST status.

No, your application can be completed by any member of your organisation however the application must be approved by a person within the organization who has delegation and this may be the President. The important considerations are that you are an eligible applicant, applying for an eligible project and ensure that your project meets the program objectives and merit assessment criteria.

We suggest you apply for funding to host your event in early 2025 if it is a yearly event. Projects are expected to be completed by October 2025 so you will have time to deliver the project in line with the guidelines.

If, however your event can take place in May 2024, you can start the planning for the event now, however the event itself cannot take place till May.

Your organisation will also need to understand that any costs you incur prior to the grant announcement is at your own risk and not the responsibility of the Office of Sport.