Sporting Schools offers grant opportunities for primary schools, and targeted grant opportunities for secondary schools in relation to Years 7 and 8 students.

Grants support the delivery of inclusive sport-based programs to help students build the confidence and capability to be active for life.

Grants are available for primary, combined, secondary and special schools to apply for each school term.

Sporting Schools has partnered with more than 35 national sporting organisations (NSOs) and national sporting organisations for people with disability (NSODs) to deliver Australia’s largest school-based participation program. Partner sports vary between the primary and secondary school grant programs.

The objectives of Sporting Schools are to:

• engage primary school students in free, high-quality sport programs at school
• engage secondary school students (Years 7-8) in free, high-quality sport programs at school, particularly inactive students, girls, and students attending schools in disadvantaged areas
• establish partnerships between sporting organisations and schools to promote involvement in sport outside of school
• develop the capability of schools and teachers to provide students with positive sport experiences
• build the capability of coaches and the sport workforce
• support life-long involvement in sport and physical activity to enhance health and wellbeing.

Sporting Schools funding is provided to schools to deliver free Sporting Schools partner sport programs before, during or after school, within the approved funding period (school term).

Schools receiving Sporting Schools funding are required to use the school portal to book Sporting Schools coach delivered programs with a registered provider or teacher delivered programs with a partner NSO. Schools will only receive their funding once their booking has been confirmed by the provider or NSO.

Schools are required to use the grant only for permitted activities (e.g., sport-specific program delivery and supported costs) within the approved funding period under Sporting Schools and for no other purpose. Expenditure of funds or program delivery cannot be rolled over to another school term.

A minimum of four sessions of between 45-60 minutes of sport-specific physical activity must be delivered to each student (or equivalent 3-4 hours of intensive program delivery for each student where required).

Schools must maintain ‘duty of care’ responsibilities for participating children, provide active supervision and ensure appropriate supervision ratios are met.

Sporting Schools programs should be complementary to existing sport and physical education curriculum delivery and cannot be used towards carnivals, gala days, interschool sport or athlete development programs.

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is committed to Australian sport environments that are safe, supportive, and friendly for children and other vulnerable people.

The ASC Child Safe Policy outlines our commitment to child safeguarding, and the obligations and responsibilities of our people and stakeholders to protect children.

All coaches delivering Sporting Schools programs to students must hold a current working with children check and abide by child safe requirements.

It is strongly encouraged that coaches undertake child safeguarding training either through the NSO or Sport Integrity Australia.

In delivering the program, providers agree to complete and update, at least annually, a risk assessment to identify the level of responsibility for children and the level of risk of harm or abuse to children.

Organisations that deliver in the program must comply with any reasonable request or direction from the ASC in relation to the Program, including specified measures to deal with an event or circumstance that has, or is likely to have, an adverse effect on the health or safety of persons.

The provider acknowledges that they will deliver activities under the program entirely at its own risk. The provider acknowledges and agrees that it is not covered by any ASC insurance, and coaches, schools and teachers are not covered by the ASC’s insurance.

Providers are responsible for enquiring as to the insurance carried by, or covering, each coach and school, in connection with the activities delivered by the provider and are responsible for ensuring the adequacy and validity of the insurance carried by or covering the provider and coaches.

Registered organisations with Sporting Schools will:

• Ensure that coaches delivering Sporting Schools programs under the organisation hold a current working with children check (paid) and abide by child safe requirements
• Ensure coaches have valid industry qualifications, training and expertise to deliver activities
• Run an introductory, sport specific program
• Only deliver the approved sports in schools
• Run programs based on the Playing for Life Game Sense Approach
• Offer students links to community sport programs after the program has been run
• Commit to delivering a child safe program and recognise the ASC Child Safe Policy
• Meet the relevant state/territory safety standards for each sport and education department (where required)
• Respond to bookings within 6 business days
• Acknowledge and accept the Sporting Schools organisation terms and conditions

More information about Sporting Schools funding can be found on our Help Centre or by contacting Sporting Schools on 1300 785 707 or support@sportingschools.gov.au