Junior sportsmen and women find it difficult to meet the ongoing and significant costs associated with participation at sporting competitions, particularly sportsmen and women from regional areas. The Local Sporting Champions program is an Australian Government initiative designed to provide financial assistance for junior sportsmen and women towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing at an official national sporting organisation (NSO) endorsed state or national sporting competition. Go to the Australian Sport Commission website for more details.

• Local Sporting Champions Program - Team Application
  (http://www.ausport.gov.au/participating/schools_and_juniors/juniors/get_involved/local_sporting_champions)

Who is eligible?

To be eligible to apply for a Local Sporting Champions grant, individuals and all team members must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• be between 12 and 18 years of age (inclusive) at the time of the nominated sporting competition
• be participating as an athlete in an official state or national sporting competition which is endorsed by the relevant Australian Sports Commission recognised national sporting organisation (NSO), or national school sport competition. This does not include coaching or officiating at such competitions
• be required to travel greater than 250km return to participate in the nominated NSO endorsed state or national sporting competition, or national school sport competition
• be an Australian citizen
• must not have been the recipient of a Local Sporting Champions grant, either as an individual or a member of a team, within the year ending 30 June 2009
• must not have received funding from other government sources for the nominated NSO endorsed state or national sporting competition, or national school sport competition
• must not be participating in a professional competition that involves prize money.

• How are the grants distributed throughout Australia?
  The grants will be distributed by the Australian Sports Commission on behalf of Federal Members of Parliament.
• What is the value of the individual and team grants?
  Grants of $500 will be available for successful individual applicants, and $3000 for successful team applications.
• What are the grants intended for?
  Grants can contribute towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment for the nominated national sporting organisation endorsed state or national sporting competition, or national school sport competition.
  Note: Grants are not available for ongoing training or seasonal competition.
• What type of competition can the grants contribute towards?
  Applications for participation in endorsed state and national level sporting competitions of ASC recognised national sporting organisations (NSO) and national sporting organisations for people with a disability (NSOD) will be considered, as will applications for national school sport competitions. Applications for travel to, and participation in international sporting competitions or tours are not eligible for an LSC grant and will not be considered. Note: Only competitions that are conducted during the 2008-09 financial year are eligible for consideration during the 2008-09 funding cycle.
• How long until I know if my application has been successful?
  Grants will be assessed quarterly. It may therefore take up to four months before you are notified of the outcome of your application.
• How long until I receive my grant?
  Up to 2 weeks after you have been notified of the successful outcome of your application.
• Does submitting an application form guarantee that I will receive a grant?
  No.