Our Grants

Who can apply?

Sport Access Foundation provides annual grants for children and young people with a disability. These grants can be used for any project that helps to build participation in sport and to ensure that no-one gets left on the sidelines.

General Eligibility Criteria:

Each Grant has specific Eligibility Criteria, which are listed under each Grant. Some general Eligibility Criteria apply to all Grants. You can apply if you are:

7 -17 years old in the calendar year
living with a physical or intellectual disability
an Australian citizen or permanent resident and are residing in Australia

Grant Selection Process:

After the closing date Sport Access Foundation (“SAF”) reviews all applications to confirm eligibility before passing on all eligible applications to the SAF Selection Committee. The SAF Selection Committee will decide on a shortlist of applicants.

This shortlist is provided to the SAF Selection Panel. The SAF Selection Panel comprises of 3-4 individuals in corporate Australia, in sporting Australia and in the community at wide who are independent of the SAF Board and the SAF Selection Committee.

SAF will inform via email all applicants whether their application progressed to the shortlist or not.

If Shortlisted for a Grant:

If you have made shortlist for a grant, you will receive an email in which you will be required to:

reply to acknowledge the shortlist email within 7 days
provide within 14 days of the shortlist email the following (only applicable for Individual Grants):
two written references which can be a coach, mentor, teacher or employer
a medical certificate verifying the physical or intellectual impairment*
two action photos playing your sport (please provide clear, high quality/resolution photos)
be willing to participate in an interview (and/or your parent/guardian) – via video-conference
This will only be necessary, should an SAF Selection Committee member wish to do this.

SAF will contact all shortlisted applicants by email or phone call to inform them, whether their application was successful, and they will receive a grant, or not.

Grant recipients will need to accept all T&Cs of the contract and application process. T&C include conditions on how grants can be spent and what proof/documentation must be provided to SAF about the acquired services or products.

SAF endeavours to communicate any progress throughout the selection process. However we are not able to give any information about individual applications or a date for the announcement of the shortlist.

The decisions of the Sports Access Foundation for the grants are final and there is no appeal process for unsuccessful applicants. However, unsuccessful applicants may apply for future grants offered by Sport Access Foundation.

What Defines a Disability:

You are considered as having a disability if:
you have an impairment or condition that is likely to be permanent (i.e. it is likely to be life long, even if it varies in intensity) and
your impairment substantially reduces your ability to participate effectively in activities or perform tasks or actions unless you:
receive assistance from other people or
have assistive technology or equipment (other than common items such as glasses) or
have additional resources available for specific transport requirements, a carer, expenses, which are incurred due to your condition etc.
An impairment that varies in intensity e.g. because the impairment is of a chronic episodic nature, may still be permanent, despite the variation.
Sport Access Foundation acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
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