Sport funding for children in care

This initiative recognises that participation in sport and recreation teaches important values and life skills including self confidence, teamwork, communication, inclusion, discipline, respect and fair play - especially important for children in care who can be vulnerable and struggle to find their way in an increasingly complex society.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Foster and kinship carers, on behalf of (current) children in out-of-home care
• Long-term guardians of children, where the guardian was previously the carer of the child
• The assistance is available to all children in out-of-home care, including children placed in non-family based care (such as residential care) and children who are in the process of returning home.

Scope of costs

The initiative aims to promote participation of children in all sport and recreation activities. Funding is capped at $300 per child in care, and may be applied to the payment of:

• Registration and/or membership fees for teams and clubs (including sports teams, and recreational clubs such as Scouts and Girl Guides)
• Registration fees for participation one-off activities (for example, triathalons and fun runs, Gymboree sessions)
• The costs of lessons, with no restriction to the number of lessons, as long as it is within the $300 per child funding limit and the timeframes of the initiative (for example, swimming and dance lessons, music lessons and art classes)
• The costs of ongoing participation in periodic sport or recreational activity, with no restriction on the number of activities, as long as it is within the $300 per child funding limit and the timeframes of the initiative (for example, bushwalking and scuba diving)
• Uniforms for children in care who participate in sport and recreation activity during the life of the funding program
• Equipment that is essential and/or compulsory for participating in an activity (for example, musical instruments, art supplies, hockey sticks, swimming caps, football boots and mouth guards).

Funding criteria

• Funding is available for children in out-of-home care (or long-term guardians who were previously the carer of the child) prioritising those with an identified disability. It may be provided to foster or kinship carers or a non-family care service provider, such as a residential care service.
• Funding to be capped at $300 per child in care per calendar year.
• Foster and kinship carers and care services will be reimbursed for payments within the scope of costs. Click on What is recreation? for a definition of eligible recreational activities.
• Reimbursement (i.e. payment) will not be made directly to suppliers.
• The purchase of general equipment is not eligible under this initiative. Eligible equipment includes equipment that is essential and/or compulsory for participating in an activity - such as musical instruments, art supplies, hockey sticks, swimming caps, football boots and mouth guards.
• To check whether the child in your care is eligible for funding assistance for the purchase of equipment please contact your local Child Safety Service Centre.
• Travel costs to and from sporting competitions are not eligible under this initiative. To find out more information on financial assistance for travel and accommodation at sporting championships see the Young Athlete Assistance Program.

Further information and applications

For more information on this funding initiative, or for guidance through the application process, please contact your local Child Safety Services Centre.

Information about the range of sporting clubs and recreational programs and opportunities available in your community may be obtained by contacting Department of Communities, Sport and Recreation Services on 1300 656 191.