Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Short-term Survival Package (the Package)Round 3: FAQs & What’s new

1. What is the purpose of the Package?

The Package provides $40 million for community sport organisations, including state sporting associations, leagues and clubs, to help meet immediate financial need during COVID-19.

More specifically, the Package is designed to support the viability of community sport and active recreation organisations so that they can return-to-play in adherence with the Victorian Chief Health Officer restrictions and advice.

Funding can be used to purchase equipment, signage and cleaning supplies necessary to comply with COVID-19 Return to Play requirements as well as ongoing fixed costs.

2. Are there any changes to the Package for this round?

Yes. In Round 3, only the Grassroots Operational Support stream will be open for applications. This means that State Sporting Associations (SSA) and State Sport and Recreation Bodies (SSRB) can no longer apply.

Also, for the first time under the Package, applications will be accepted in Round 3 from sport and active recreation clubs that are run on a ‘for-profit’ basis. To be eligible, these clubs must be affiliated to a recognised SSA or SSRB.

Grant amounts are also varied for Round 3 and detailed below.

3. Who can apply?

Applications will be accepted from organisations that have not received funding under a previous round of the Package. Organisations that have received funding previously will receive an automatic top-up grant (see FAQ no. 5 and 6) and are not required to submit a new application.

For Round 3, applications will be accepted from community sport and active recreation organisations operating within Victoria, more specifically:

Associations and Leagues that are affiliated with a recognised State Sporting Association (SSA) or State Sport and Recreation Body (SSRB) and administering programs and competitions. An association or league is comprised of member clubs and administers the competition between these clubs over the course of a season;

Not-for-profit Clubs that are registered as an incorporated association, delivering recreational, instructional and/or competitive physical activity opportunities to community participants; and

For-profit clubs that are affiliated with a recognised SSA or SSRB and delivering recreational, instructional and/or competitive sporting or physical activity opportunities to community participants.

4. How much funding can organisations receive?

Type of organisation Level of funding available

Associations and Leagues (that did not receive a grant in a previous round of the Package)

$3,500 each

Clubs a.k.a. community organisations delivering sport and active recreation(that did not receive a grant in a previous round of this Package)

$2,000 each

Associations and Leagues (that did receive a grant in a previous round of the Package)

TBA when Round 3 applications close

Clubs a.k.a. community organisations delivering sport and active recreation(that did receive a grant in a previous round of this Package)

TBA when Round 3 applications close

5. My organisation received a grant in a previous round of the Package, what do we need to do?

Once applications for Round 3 open, Sport and Recreation Victoria will email all previous grant recipients to advise the next steps to receive an automatic top-up payment.

Organisations can check to see if they received a grant in a previous round of the Package from the Sport and Recreation Vitoria website <https://sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding/our-grants/community-sport-sector-coronavirus-covid-19-short-term-survival-package>.

6. How much funding will be provided through automatic top-up payments for previously funding organisations?

The top-up grant amount will be confirmed by Sport and Recreation Victoria at the conclusion of the Round 3 application period and is subject to funds being available once all new applications have been considered.

7. What can the funding be used for?

Funding can be used:

To support readiness to return-to-play in adherence with Victorian Chief Health Officer restrictions and advice;

For fixed costs (e.g. rent/utilities/insurance), essential salary costs (not match/player/coach payments) and any other costs that keep the club viable and ready to function once restrictions ease; and/or

To purchase equipment and cleaning supplies necessary to comply with COVID-19 Return to Play requirements.

8. What types of expenses are NOT supported?

The Package will NOT support:

Current or future payments made to participants/athletes/players in return for their participation in organisation’s physical activities (e.g. match/coach/player payments);

Future affiliation fees due after the end of the eligibility period and not yet charged;

Fixed playing surfaces and structures (for example, synthetic pitch, goal posts);

Capital expenditure including the purchase of land (for example, permanent shade structures, permanent fencing, fixed lighting, permanent practice wickets, ramps and other permanent structures);

Repair of equipment, structures and playing surfaces (for example, golf course, turf wicket pitch);

Non-playing/participation equipment (for example, public address systems, banners, trophies, videos, sunshades, gazebos, carpet/lino, clubroom items, wicket covers, scoreboards, GPS, computers and IT equipment);

Canteen items (for example, microwave ovens, soft drink, food, alcohol, cooking utensils);

Maintenance equipment (for example, lawn mowers, rollers, line markers, hose, compressors);

Purchase or leasing of vehicles (for example, boats, bikes, golf carts, jet-skis, go-karts), trailers and accessories; and/or

Any activity that delivers services to children.

9. What information will need to be provided as part of a new application and how do we apply?

Organisations that have not received funding in a previous round of the Package are required to provide:

A completed online application form; and

For-profit clubs and all associations and leagues must also provide proof of affiliation from their relevant SSA or SSRB. A proof of affiliation letter template is available from the Sport and Recreation Victoria website <https://sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding/our-grants/community-sport-sector-coronavirus-covid-19-short-term-survival-package>.

Applications must be submitted through the DJPR Online Grants portal. To commence a new application, organisations must select the relevant application hyperlink from the Sport and Recreation Victoria website <https://sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding/our-grants/community-sport-sector-coronavirus-covid-19-short-term-survival-package>.

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

27 January 2021 Round 3 applications open.

17 February 2021 @ 5.00PM Round 3 applications close.

February 2021 Round 3 applications assessed.

March 2021 Round 3 successful applicants notified and paid.Top-up grant recipients notified and paid.

11.Who can I contact for further information?

Phone: 1800 325 206 Email: grantsinfo@sport.vic.gov.auOpen Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm except public holidays