The Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships.

If successful, applicants will receive $500-$750 towards the cost of attending their championships

• Base Grant: $500
• Applicants travelling 800km - 1999km to their nominated championships: + $100
• Applicants travelling internationally or greater than 2000km to their nominated championships: + $200
• Applicants residing in a rural electorate: + $50 

Opening and closing dates and times:

• Round 1, 2025-26 Applications: Open: 12am AEST on Thursday 1 May 2025 Close: 11.59pm AEST on Thursday 31 July 2025
• Round 2, 2025-26 Applications: Open: 12am AEST on Friday 1 August 2025 Close: 11.59pm AEDT on Friday 31 October 2025
• Round 3, 2025-26 Applications: Open: 12am AEDT on Saturday 1 November 2025 Close: 11.59pm AEDT on Saturday 31 January 2026
• Round 4, 2025-26 Applications: Open: 12am AEDT on Sunday 1 February 2026 Close: 11.59pm AEST on Thursday 30 April 2026

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be turning 12 to 18 years of age in the same calendar year as the nominated championships.
• Be an Australian citizen or have been granted permanent resident status, residing in Australia.
• Be participating as an athlete, coach, or match official in:
  • an official state championship endorsed by the relevant Australian Sports Commission (ASC) recognised national sporting organisation (NSO), national sporting organisation for people with disability (NSOD) or a School Sport Australia member body; or
  • an official national championship endorsed by the relevant ASC recognised NSO, NSOD or School Sport Australia; or
  • an international competition as a member of an official Australian team, representing an ASC recognised NSO, NSOD or School Sport Australia.
• Those attending a state championship must be living more than 250km from the championships venue and travelling greater than 500km return to participate in the nominated championships.
• May receive a maximum of one grant from an application submitted in the same allocation year (1 May 2025 - 30 April 2026).
• Must incur out-of-pocket expenses for the nominated championship equal to, or greater than, the grant amount they are eligible to receive.
• Must not receive a Local Para Champions grant or a Local Sporting Champions grant in the same or a previous round to attend the same championship or competition.
• Applications must be submitted within timeframes indicated in the 'When can I apply?' section of this document.

• Phone: (02) 6214 1462
• Email: sportingchampions@ausport.gov.au