Athlete Pathway Travel Grants ProgramFAQs & What’s new

1. What is the purpose of the grant program?

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.

2. Has there been many changes to the program this year?

Refinements have been made this year based on feedback received through the recent evaluation. The major refinement is clarifying the purpose of the grant and what will be prioritised for funding.

The focus of the program is to support high performance athletes representing Victoria and emerging athletes developing within their sporting pathway. Assistance is also available for officials and coaches while undertaking official duties.

For details of what will be prioritised for funding please see question 14 of this document.

In the coming months further refinements to the way we administer the program will be implemented.

3. Who is eligible for the grant funding / who can apply?

Category 1: Organisations recognised by Sport and Recreation Victoria

State sporting associations, Victorian regional academies of sport and state sport and recreation bodies recognised by Sport and Recreation Victoria can apply for funding on behalf of high performance athletes and teams that represent Victoria.

Category 2: Victorian sport and recreation clubs

Victorian sport and recreation clubs can apply for funding on behalf of emerging athletes or teams. Clubs can also apply for funding for coaches and officials.

Individuals are not able to apply directly for the Athlete Pathway Travel Grants program.

Individuals seeking support from this program should contact an appropriate organisation as listed above.

4. What type of activities will be considered for funding?

Category 1: Travel and accommodation costs to compete at an event or series of events as a state representative athlete. This includes mandatory training camps, selection trials and national championships events.

Category 2: Travel and accommodation costs to train or compete at events that contribute to an emerging athlete’s development within their sporting pathway. Funding is

also available to assist coaches and officials with travel and accommodation costs to travel to undertake official duties at events.

5. How much funding is available and how many grants can organisations apply for?

Category 1: Organisations recognised by Sport and Recreation Victoria

In each funding round organisations can apply for:

One grant of up to $6000 for teams with a maximum of $1000 per team member.

Two grants for individuals up to a maximum of $1500 each.

Recognised organisations will be eligible for a maximum of three grants in any financial year.

Category 2: Victorian sport and recreation clubs

In each funding round organisations can apply for two grants of either:

Grants of up to $2000 are available for teams with a maximum of $500 per team member.

Grants of $750 for individuals.

Victorian sport and recreation clubs are eligible for a maximum of two grants in any financial year.

Eligibility does not guarantee success.

6. When do applications open and close?

2019-20 Round one: will open for applications on 8 October 2019 and close 11.59pm, 4 November 2019.

2019-20 Round two: will open for applications on 24 February 2020 and close 11.59pm, 27 March 2020.

7. What dates of travel does each round cover?

Category 1:

Eligible organisations can apply in advance of teams or individuals being selected. Travel must commence within the following six months and is valid for use for 12 months.

2019-20 Round one: travel must commence from 1 Jan 2020 to 30 June 2020.

2019-20 Round two: travel must commence from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2020.

Category 2:

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Travel must commence within the dates below and is valid for use for 12 months.

2019-20 Round one: travel must commence from 5 November 2019 to 30 June 2020.

2019-20 Round two: travel must commence from 28 March 2020 to 31 December 2020.

8. When will the applicant hear whether they have been successful?

Applicants will receive written notification of the outcome of their application within three months of the closing date of the funding round.

If you are successful you will receive a letter from the Minister.

If you are unsuccessful you will receive an email from the Department.

2019-20 Round one: outcomes will be notified by January 2020.

2019-20 Round two: outcomes will be notified by May 2020.

9. What will not be considered for funding?

The Athlete Pathway Travel Grants Program will not fund:

costs other than travel and accommodation (for example food, entrance fees or uniforms)

travel that occurs before the eligible commencement date for each funding round (see date requirements in section 5)

travel costs for people accompanying athletes (for example parents)

coaches and officials attending events for scouting, networking or participating in conferences and meetings

coaches and officials under category 1

international events under category 1 athletes who receive financial or in-kind assistance from the Victorian Institute of

Sport or the Australian Institute of Sport

individual athletes, coaches or officials who have received a grant under this program in the previous financial year

athletes aged under 12 years as at 1 January in the year of the grant (some exceptions in gymnastics or diving may be considered)

applications from schools, hospitals, or individuals

applicants that are not Victorian incorporated organisations

applications seeking more than the eligible maximum amounts for that category

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late, incomplete, or handwritten applications.

10.Will applicants be required to match funding?

No. Matching funding is not required.

11.What are the significant dates for the grant program?

2019-20 Round One

Applications open 8 October 2019

Applications close 11.59pm, 4 November 2019

Applicants notified of outcomes January 2020

2019 -20 Round Two

Applications open 24 February 2020

Applications close 11.59pm, 27 March 2020

Applicants notified of outcomes May 2020

12.How long do successful applicants have to complete their travel?

The travel must be completed within 12 months of the grant start date.

13.What are the questions applicants need to respond to?

Applications will be assessed against the details provided in the application, as follows:

What? a) Describe the event(s) for which funding is sought.

b) Provide a breakdown of what the funding will be used for?

Who? a) Provide details of the team or individual who will receive the funds?

If individual, please provide: Name, Age, Gender Suburb/postcode of individual Commonwealth Health Care Card No (if applicable) Provide a short background of their current pathway development and

achievements

If Team, please provide:

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List of team names and names of individuals in teams, Age groups, Gender

How many in the teams that will receive portion of grants funding Breakdown of any diversity groups

b) Is this individual or team currently receiving funding from other sources ie. AIS/VIS/local council/School Sport Victoria scholarships or fundraising

c) If Category 1 – How is your organisation supporting the development of this athlete or team?orIf Category 2 - What other efforts are being made to fund expenses to travel to events?

Why? Explain the importance of how the proposed travel will contribute to the recipient’s development within a sporting pathway.

14.Where will funding be prioritised?

Funding prioritisation will be given to:

Category 1: applications to travel for the purposes of representing Victoria

applications that can demonstrate a greater impact on an athlete’s development

organisations who show a commitment to supporting the development of athletes/teams

individuals supported by organisations who have not received a travel grant in the last two years

athletes that reside in areas identified as disadvantaged

athletes who have (or for athletes under 18 years of age whose parent/guardian has) a Commonwealth Health Care Card.

Category 2: travel for representative sport (state, association or region)

requirements to travel greater distances to train or compete

individuals supported by organisations who have not received a travel grant in the last two years

applicants residing in areas identified as disadvantaged

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athletes who have (or for athletes under 18 years of age whose parent/guardian has) a Commonwealth Health Care Card.

15.How do applicants submit an application?

To apply, go to www.sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding/our-grants/athlete-pathway-travel-grants-program

Make sure you have the information you need on hand and click on ‘Start new application’ to submit your application through Grants Online. You will receive an Application Number when you submit an application online. Please quote your Application Number in all correspondence relating to your application.

Applicants can attach documents to an online application as long as they are in an acceptable file type and don’t exceed the maximum file size of 5MB.

When submitting an application online, applicants should check carefully to ensure all their attachments have been uploaded.

If applicants have documents to submit that cannot be attached to an online application, they can email them to grantsinfo@sport.vic.gov.au, quoting the application number.

16.Who can I contact for further information?

Phone: 1300 366 356 for the cost of a local call (except from mobile phones); orEmail: grantsinfo@sport.vic.gov.auOpen Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm except public holidays

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