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LSC Eligibility Criteria

Updated

Eligibility criteria for 2025/26.


Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be turning 13 to 18 years old in the same calendar year of competition and 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. 
  • Be turning 14 to 18 years old in the same calendar year of competition and participating as an athlete, coach, or match official in an official national championship endorsed by the relevant ASC recognised* NSO, NSOD or School Sport Australia. 
  • Be turning 15 to 18 years old in the same calendar year of competition and participating as an athlete, coach, or match official in an international competition as a member of an official Australian team, representing an ASC recognised* NSO, NSOD or School Sport Australia.  
  • Be an Australian citizen or have been granted permanent resident status, residing in Australia.
  • Those attending a state championship must be living more than 500km from the championship venue, and travelling greater than 1000km return to participate in the nominated championship**.
  • May receive a maximum of one grant in the same allocation year (July 1 2026 – April 30 2027) for attending either:
    • one state or national championship or international competition.
  • Must incur out-of-pocket expenses 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 a previous round to attend the same event or competition.
  • Applications must be submitted within timeframes indicated in the 'When can I apply?' section of the guidelines.

Note:

*If the recognised NSO or NSOD that endorses your championship becomes subject to non-compliance measures by the ASC, including a change of recognition status, at any point within a round, applicants participating in that sport may be deemed ineligible for the duration of the round/s. Applicants will remain ineligible for the duration of the non-compliance period and will only become eligible at the commencement of the next round (following the resolution of the non-compliance).

** Those attending a national championship or international competition do not need to be travelling a minimum distance to be eligible.

Along with meeting the eligibility criteria to receive a grant, applicants must abide by the program Terms and Conditions.

The LSC program is currently oversubscribed with a large number of applications received each year. All applications undergo a competitive assessment process and, as a result, the grant cannot be guaranteed.

 

Terms and Conditions

  1. The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) may accept or reject any application for a Local Sporting Champions program (Program) grant in its absolute discretion. 
     

  2. If the ASC decides to award a grant (Grant) to the applicant, the Grant will be made subject to these Terms and Conditions.

     

  3. The ASC will make a one-off payment to the successful Applicant (Applicant).

     

  4. If the Applicant is required to be registered for GST:
    1. the Grant will be increased by the prevailing rate of GST; and

    2. before the Grant will be paid, the Applicant must indicate whether they require the ASC to generate a tax invoice on behalf of the Applicant. By selecting YES to Q11.4 in the application form, the Applicant is authorising the ASC to generate a tax invoice with respect to the Grant on the Applicant’s behalf.

       

  5. If the Applicant is not required to be registered for GST, either:
    1. the Applicant has indicated to the ASC that they are an individual and are participating in the nominated sporting championships as a recreational pursuit or hobby; or

    2. the Applicant has provided the ASC with their Australian Business Number (ABN).

       

  6. The Applicant must:
    1. meet all eligibility criteria (as set out in the application form) for application and receipt of the Grant, and must promptly notify the ASC if they no longer fulfil all eligibility criteria;
    2. only use the Grant towards associated costs of attending the nominated sporting championship or, where the championship has taken place, as a reimbursement for attending the nominated sporting championship;
    3. keep records detailing the use and expenditure of the Grant, and allow the ASC or its authorised representatives to access these records for the purpose of auditing the use of the Grant;
    4. when attending the nominated sporting championship, conduct themself in a dignified and reputable manner; and

    5. when attending the nominated sporting championship, ensure that they agree to be bound by, and comply with, the ASC’s Anti-Doping Policy available on the ASC's website.

       

  7. Without limitation to any other rights of the ASC, if the ASC reasonably believes, at any time following the award of the Grant, that the Applicant:
    1. has provided false or misleading information in the application;
    2. has not attended, or will not attend the nominated sporting championships; or

    3. has otherwise breached any of its obligations set out in these Terms and Conditions, then the ASC may, by written notice, require the Applicant to repay the ASC, at the ASC’s absolute discretion, all or part of the Grant. The amount notified must be repaid within 30 days of any such notice. In addition, the ASC may decline any future grant application for the Program or any other grant program managed, operated, facilitated or funded by the ASC submitted by the Applicant.

       

  8. Before or after the award of the Grant, the Applicant must, if requested by the ASC, cooperate with the ASC in relation to publicity initiatives regarding the Program.

     

  9. Any personal information that is submitted via this application form is collected by the ASC for the purpose of considering applications for grants and administering the Program. The information collected may be disclosed to Members of Parliament and other government agencies for this purpose.

     

  10. Details of successful Applicants (including, but not limited to: biographical information such as their name, home state, sport, and any photo or video footage of them produced in connection with the Program, the value of the Grant awarded, and a brief description of the purpose for the Grant) may be released by the ASC to the public (including Members of Parliament and the Australian Government) and the media, and may be placed on the ASC or other appropriate websites (including various social media platforms), for promotional purposes and administering the Program.

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