Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $15,000 to $75,000
- Application opened: 26 November 2025
- Application closed: 18 February 2026, 1:00 pm
Program objective
- Identifying and scaling up evidence-based prevention initiatives, whilst testing and evaluating new approaches to build the evidence base and foster safe, respectful and inclusive environments.
- Establishing and/or strengthening partnerships between the sport and primary prevention sector to build shared capacity, align efforts, and embed prevention practices across sporting environments.
- Ensuring prevention initiatives in sport are inclusive and responsive to diverse lived experiences, recognising how intersecting identities influence participation, safety and access to support.
Local Impact’ (Small)
- Supports small-scale projects delivered at the local level.
- This tier is designed, but not limited to, projects that make change at the local level, generally working with one club or organisation.
‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and “Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) grants are also available under this round on NSW Grant Finder.
This program is administered by Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport.
Eligibility
Who can apply
- Incorporated, community-based or not-for-profit organisations.
- NSW based professional sporting organisations competing in a national or state competition.
- Local government authority in New South Wales.
- Regional Joint Organisation of councils, the Lord Howe Island Board and the Unincorporated Far West groups.
- Private enterprise (company established under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), incorporated association established under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) or incorporated limited partnership established under the Partnership Act 1892 (NSW).
- an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth).
- a Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW).
- an Australian university either located in NSW or with campuses located in NSW.
Types of projects funded under this grant
All applications must focus on projects or interventions that either build knowledge and skills, or promote positive behavioural and attitudinal change. These efforts should be aimed at supporting the primary prevention of domestic, family, and sexual violence through sport.
Projects or interventions should target one or multiple groups within the sporting environment, including (but not limited to) players, coaches, administrators, officials, spectators, parents, internal staff and the broader community.
When the project can start and end
Local Impact’ (Small): Projects should commence within two months of the notification of outcome.
Projects must be completed by December 2027.
The project must be completed by 31 December 2027.
What costs you can apply for
- Venue hire for program delivery
- Program materials and equipment
- Promotion and marketing
- Specialist facilitator fees
- Accessibility costs
- Travel and accommodation if essential to delivery.
- The salaries of persons directly involved in the delivery of the project for project related activity.
- Evaluation activities for the project beyond contributing data and input to the Office of Sport’s evaluation process (limited to no more than 15% of the total project cost).
Who can’t apply
- Individuals
- Parents and Citizens (P&C) Associations.
- For-profit, commercial organisations except NSW based professional sporting organisations specified in section 2.1.1.
- State and Federal Government departments and agencies.
- Schools and TAFEs.
- NSW Institute of Sport, Australian Sports Commission (incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport) and NSW Regional Academies of Sport.
- Organisation named: (i) by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse on its list of institutions that have not joined or signified their intent not to join the Scheme; or (ii) in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that has not yet joined the National Redress Scheme.
What costs you can't apply for
These may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Activities without a primary prevention focus.
- Activities that are not delivered within the sporting context.
- Retrospective funding, where projects have commenced or have been completed at the time of application.
- Projects that have already been funded by the NSW Government unless significant new and additional scope is identified.
- Projects that will not be completed by December 2027 (‘Local Impact’ (Small) or April 2028 (‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large).
- Projects that are not iterative over two sporting seasons or delivery periods (‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large).
- For any costs associated with preparing and submitting the grant application.
- Project administration costs and staff wages not directly related to the Project.
- Appearance fees, prize money, trophies and presentation functions.
- Entertainment, hospitality, catering, food and drink not directly related to the Project. The purchase of alcohol will not be funded in any circumstances.
- Events that are organised for the primary purpose of fundraising, including charity fundraising events.
- Purchase of land, rental of premises for the organisation’s administrative and operational requirements, or associated occupancy payments.
- General running costs including capital equipment
- Insurance costs (public liability, general liability, etc.).
- Infrastructure projects (e.g. construction, upgrade, maintenance, and repairs).
Types of projects not funded under this grant
Projects or components that do not meet the criteria outlined in the 'Eligible projects and Eligible project costs' sections 2.1.4 and 2.1.5 may be considered ineligible.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
All applicants should consider providing the documentation as outlined in the Program Guidelines 2.3 - Supporting Documentation.
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Start the application
Step 1: Check your eligibility
- See Eligible Applicants section of these Guidelines to see which organisations can apply for funding.
- If you are not eligible, you may be able to partner with an eligible organisation, although they will need to be the applicant organisation and submit the application.
Step 2 Understand the requirements
- Before you apply, please read these guidelines and related materials including the application checklist to make sure you understand all relevant requirements.
- You can find the relevant information on the Office of Sport’s website.
Step 3 Prepare your application
- Gather your evidence including project plans, letters of support, partnership agreements (where appropriate), quotes etc.
- Consider using the SmartyGrants tool, SmartyFile. The tool allows organisations to collaborate with team members, pre-fill information into forms and manage, view, search and sort submissions across multiple funders in one spot. Applicants with an ABN can use this function.
Step 4 Submit your application
- Applying for a grant is a simple process using the SmartyGrants platform.
- The Office of Sport recommends that applicants familiarise themselves with the online application form ahead of preparing the application and plan to submit ahead of the closing date to reduce the risk of missing the deadline.
- Complete your application by filling in each of the sections. The SmartyGrants portal will not accept submission of an application unless all mandatory documents have been uploaded.
- Submit your application as soon as possible and before the closing date and time.
- You will be asked to declare that “The responses in this application and all supporting documents provided are to the best of my knowledge true and correct”. The application may be deemed ineligible if the application contains false or misleading statements.
- Projects must be submitted through the SmartyGrants website to be considered eligible.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for Sport
The Game on for Change - Preventing Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence through Sport Program is an open, competitive grant program where eligible applications will be assessed on their comparative merits against nominated criteria. The Game on for Change - Preventing Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence through Sport Program is administered by the Office of Sport in two stages:
- Eligibility check
- Merit assessment
Throughout the assessment process the Office of Sport may request additional information from the applicant.
An independent probity advisor will oversee the grant process and attend all Grant Assessment Panel meetings.
The Minister for Sport will consider the recommendations of the Grant Assessment Panel and make decisions relating to the approval of funding.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is April 2026 onwards
Anticipated date for funding deed execution with successful applicants is Within two weeks of notification of outcome
Support and contact
Office of Sport Grants Unit
13 13 02
grantsunit@sport.nsw.gov.au