Game on for Change Grant NSW: $15,000 to $75,000 in Funding

Executive Summary: The Game on for Change – Local Impact (Small) grant offers NSW sporting organisations $15,000 to $75,000 to prevent domestic, family, and sexual violence through sport initiatives. Applications close 18 February 2026 at 1:00pm. This guide reveals the precise eligibility requirements, common rejection triggers, and the application “killers” that assessors scrutinise most heavily. Use this article as a pre-screening tool before investing time in your application.

At a Glance: Game on for Change Grant (Local Impact) 2026

Understanding the Game on for Change Program: What It Actually Funds

The Game on for Change program aims to transform the sporting sector into a leader in preventing domestic, family, and sexual violence across NSW. Unlike reactive support services, this grant exclusively funds primary prevention initiatives that address root causes, not responses to incidents after they occur.

The Local Impact (Small) tier specifically targets grassroots sporting organisations delivering projects at the local or club level. These are typically single-club interventions that create measurable behavioural and attitudinal change within specific sporting communities.

Program Objectives (What Assessors Are Looking For)

1. Evidence-based prevention initiatives: Projects must demonstrate either proven effectiveness or a commitment to rigorous evaluation of new approaches.
2. Sector partnerships: Applications showing collaboration between sporting organisations and specialist prevention sector organisations score significantly higher. The grant explicitly seeks to build shared capacity and embed prevention practices.
3. Inclusive and responsive design: Projects must recognise how intersecting identities (gender, cultural background, disability, sexuality) influence participation, safety, and access to support within sporting environments.

Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here.

The “Hard” Eligibility Filter: Must-Haves and Dealbreakers

Before investing hours into your application, conduct this binary eligibility assessment. A single “no” in the Must-Have column means automatic rejection.

✅ Must-Have Criteria

1. Eligible Entity Type

You MUST be one of these:

• Incorporated, community-based, or not-for-profit organisation
• NSW-based professional sporting organisation competing in national or state competition
• NSW Local Government Authority
• Regional Joint Organisation of councils, Lord Howe Island Board, or Unincorporated Far West groups
• Private enterprise (company under Corporations Act 2001, incorporated association, or incorporated limited partnership)
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation (registered under relevant federal legislation)
• Local Aboriginal Land Council under NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983
• Australian university located in NSW or with NSW campuses

2. Primary Prevention Focus

Your project MUST aim to prevent domestic, family, and sexual violence through:

• Building knowledge and skills, OR
• Promoting positive behavioural and attitudinal change

It cannot focus on crisis response, victim support services, or post-incident interventions.

3. Sporting Context Requirement

All activities MUST be delivered within a sporting environment. Target groups can include players, coaches, administrators, officials, spectators, parents, staff, or the broader sporting community, but the intervention must be fundamentally connected to sport participation or culture.

4. Timeline Compliance

Projects must:

• Commence within 2 months of notification of outcome (likely June 2026)
• Be completed by 31 December 2027 (absolute deadline)

5. National Redress Scheme Compliance

Your organisation MUST NOT be named by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse as either:

• Not having joined the Scheme, OR
• Having signified intent not to join

This is an automatic disqualification that cannot be waived.

❌ Dealbreaker Entities (Cannot Apply Under Any Circumstances)

• Individuals (including sole traders)
• Parents and Citizens (P&C) Associations
• For-profit commercial organisations (except NSW professional sporting organisations)
• State and Federal Government departments and agencies
• Schools and TAFEs
• NSW Institute of Sport, Australian Sports Commission, Australian Institute of Sport, NSW Regional Academies of Sport
• Organisations named by the Royal Commission or National Redress Scheme (as above)

The “Application Killer” Section: Non-Obvious Rejection Triggers

Grant assessors from the NSW Office of Sport have identified three common rejection patterns that applicants rarely anticipate. These “killers” often appear in applications that meet basic eligibility but fail on strategic execution.

Application Killer #1: The “Reactive Response” Trap

What It Looks Like:

Applicants design projects that respond to existing incidents of violence rather than preventing future ones. Common examples include:

• Developing support services for victims within the club
• Creating reporting mechanisms for incidents
• Training staff to respond to disclosures
• Establishing referral pathways to external support services

Why It Fails:

The grant explicitly funds primary prevention only. The program objectives state: “Activities without a primary prevention focus” are ineligible. Assessors use the prevention spectrum framework, where primary prevention addresses root causes before any violence occurs, while secondary and tertiary interventions respond after incidents.

How to Pass:

Frame your project around upstream intervention: changing attitudes, challenging harmful social norms, building respectful relationship skills, and reshaping sporting cultures before violence emerges. Cite evidence-based prevention frameworks such as Our Watch’s “Change the Story” or Respect Victoria’s prevention standards.

Application Killer #2: The Invoice Date and Evidence Trap

What It Looks Like:

Applicants unknowingly submit applications for projects that have already commenced, or they provide quotes and partnership agreements dated before the application closing date, suggesting work has begun.

Why It Fails:

The guidelines explicitly state: “Retrospective funding, where projects have commenced or have been completed at the time of application” is ineligible. Even if your project is genuinely new, dated evidence suggesting early commencement creates suspicion and can trigger rejection.

How to Pass:

• Ensure all quotes are clearly marked as “indicative” or “subject to funding approval”
• Date partnership letters “In anticipation of funding approval from [date]”
• Use future tense consistently: “will deliver,” “will engage,” “intends to implement”
• If you’ve conducted preliminary planning (which is encouraged), frame it as “needs assessment” or “consultation,” not project delivery

Application Killer #3: The Evaluation Budget Ceiling Breach

What It Looks Like:

Applicants allocate more than 15% of total project costs to evaluation activities beyond the Office of Sport’s mandatory evaluation process.

Why It Fails:

The guidelines specify: “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).” Exceeding this triggers automatic budget rejection, even if your overall project is excellent.

How to Pass:

Calculate your total project budget first, then cap independent evaluation costs at 14% maximum (leaving buffer). For a $50,000 project, independent evaluation costs cannot exceed $7,000. Your organisation will still participate in the Office of Sport’s centralised evaluation at no cost to you.

Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here

Eligible vs. Ineligible Costs: The Definitive Breakdown

Understanding exactly what you can and cannot claim determines whether your budget passes the first assessment gate.

✅ Eligible Project Costs

Direct Program Delivery:

• Venue hire for program delivery sessions
• Program materials and equipment (workbooks, training resources, sporting equipment used in delivery)
• Specialist facilitator fees (prevention experts, trainers, guest speakers)
• Marketing and promotion directly related to program recruitment
• Accessibility costs (Auslan interpreters, audio description, materials in multiple formats)
• Essential travel and accommodation for program delivery (must be justified)

Project-Specific Staffing:

• Salaries or contract fees for persons directly involved in program delivery for project-related activity only
• Must be project-specific roles, not general organisational positions
• Requires clear position descriptions and time allocation breakdowns

Independent Evaluation:

• External evaluation consultants (maximum 15% of total budget)
• Evaluation tools, surveys, data collection resources
• Analysis and reporting costs

❌ Ineligible Costs (Will Cause Budget Rejection)

Retrospective and Pre-Existing:

• Any costs for activities commenced before approval notification
• Projects already funded by NSW Government (unless significant new scope added)
• Preparation costs for the grant application itself

General Operations:

• Project administration costs
• Staff wages not directly related to project delivery
• General running costs including capital equipment
• Insurance (public liability, general liability)
• Rental of premises for organisational administration
• Occupancy payments

Events and Infrastructure:

• Appearance fees, prize money, trophies
• Presentation functions
• Entertainment, hospitality, catering, food and drink (unless directly integral to program delivery)
• Alcohol (never funded under any circumstances)
• Fundraising events (including charity fundraisers)
• Purchase of land
• Infrastructure projects (construction, upgrades, maintenance, repairs)

Activities Outside Scope:

• Activities without a primary prevention focus
• Activities not delivered within a sporting context
• Response services, victim support, crisis intervention

Industrial Examples: What Success Looks Like in Practice

To clarify what “primary prevention through sport” means in practice, here are scenario-based examples across different sporting contexts.

Example 1: Rugby Club Bystander Intervention Program

Eligible Approach:

A suburban rugby club partners with a specialist prevention organisation to deliver a 12-week “Call It Out” program targeting male players aged 16-25. The program trains participants to:

• Recognise sexist language and behaviours in team environments
• Develop skills to safely intervene when witnessing disrespectful behaviour
• Model positive masculinity and respectful relationships
• Challenge team cultures that excuse or normalise violence

Budget Allocation:

• Specialist facilitator fees: $18,000 (prevention sector expert)
• Venue hire for 12 sessions: $2,400
• Program materials (workbooks, scenarios): $3,500
• Project coordinator (0.2 FTE for 18 months): $25,000
• Evaluation consultant: $8,000
• Marketing (posters, social media content): $2,100
• Total: $59,000

Why This Succeeds: Primary prevention focus, targets attitude change before violence occurs, delivered in sporting context, includes evaluation within 15% cap.

Example 2: Netball Association Respectful Relationships Program

Eligible Approach:

A regional netball association implements a parent and spectator education program across 8 clubs. The program addresses:

• Respectful communication during matches
• Gender equity modelling for children
• Challenging gendered stereotypes in sport
• Building inclusive club cultures

Budget Allocation:

• Program design and facilitation (external consultant): $12,000
• Club ambassador training (8 clubs x 2 people): $8,000
• Printed resources for 500 families: $4,500
• Online platform development: $6,000
• Project management (0.15 FTE): $18,000
• Evaluation (surveys, focus groups): $6,500
• Total: $55,000

Why This Succeeds: Targets behavioural norms in sporting spaces, multi-club reach, includes both knowledge-building and behaviour change components.

Example 3: Swimming Club Inclusive Culture Initiative

Ineligible Approach (for contrast):

A swimming club proposes to install security cameras, develop an incident reporting app, train lifeguards in trauma-informed response, and create a safe space room for victims needing support.

Why This Fails: Entirely reactive and responsive. No primary prevention component. Focuses on post-incident management rather than preventing violence from occurring.

Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here.

Step-by-Step Submission Guide: Navigating the SmartyGrants Portal

The Office of Sport uses SmartyGrants exclusively. Paper applications, email submissions, and alternative platforms will not be accepted.

Phase 1: Pre-Application Preparation (Allow 4-6 Weeks)

Week 1-2: Capability Assessment

1. Confirm your organisation type against the eligibility list
2. Check National Redress Scheme status (search your organisation name on the Scheme website)
3. Review your ABN status and insurance currency
4. Identify potential prevention sector partners (if not already established)

Week 3-4: Project Design

1. Define your target group within sporting environment
2. Research evidence-based prevention approaches relevant to your sport
3. Map project activities to primary prevention principles
4. Develop evaluation framework (within 15% budget cap)
5. Secure partnership agreements or letters of support

Week 5-6: Budget Development

1. Obtain quotes for all significant costs (venue, facilitators, materials)
2. Mark all quotes as “indicative” and “subject to funding approval”
3. Calculate staff time allocations and hourly rates
4. Ensure evaluation costs do not exceed 15% of total budget
5. Cross-check all costs against eligible/ineligible list

Phase 2: SmartyGrants Account Setup

New Users:

1. Visit sport.smartygrants.com.au
2. Click “Register” and create account with organisational email
3. Verify email address
4. Consider using SmartyFile collaboration tool if multiple staff will contribute

Returning Users:

1. Log in with existing credentials
2. Update organisation details if changed since last application

Phase 3: Application Completion (Allow 10-15 Hours)

SmartyGrants Sections (Complete in Order):

Section A: Applicant Details

• Legal entity name (must match ABN registration)
• ABN and entity type
• Contact details
• Organisation address

Section B: Project Overview

• Project title (make it descriptive: include prevention focus)
• Requested amount ($15,000 to $75,000)
• Project summary (250 words maximum)
• Target group description

Section C: Project Alignment (Highest Weighted Section) This is where assessors score your application most heavily. Address each criterion explicitly:

1. Primary Prevention Focus: Explain how your project prevents violence before it occurs
2. Evidence Base: Cite specific frameworks, research, or proven programs you will adapt
3. Sporting Context: Demonstrate clear connection to sporting participation and culture
4. Partnership Approach: Detail collaboration with prevention sector specialists
5. Inclusivity and Responsiveness: Explain how design addresses diverse identities and experiences

Section D: Project Delivery

• Detailed timeline showing start date (within 2 months of approval)
• End date (by 31 December 2027)
• Key milestones and deliverables
• Risk management and mitigation strategies

Section E: Budget

• Line-item budget matching eligible cost categories
• Budget narrative explaining each significant expense
• Evaluation costs clearly identified and within 15% cap

Section F: Supporting Documentation (Mandatory Uploads)

• Partnership agreements (signed by all parties)
• Letters of support from prevention sector partners
• Quotes for significant expenses (marked as indicative)
• Organisation insurance certificate
• Incorporation certificate or ABN registration
• Most recent financial statements

Phase 4: Submission (Complete 48 Hours Before Deadline)

Critical Pre-Submission Checks:

1. Run spell-check on all text fields
2. Verify all mandatory fields completed (SmartyGrants will block submission if missing)
3. Confirm all mandatory documents uploaded
4. Review declaration statement carefully
5. Save draft and have second person review if possible

Final Submission:

1. Submit application via SmartyGrants portal by 18 February 2026, 1:00pm AEDT
2. Save confirmation email immediately
3. Screenshot confirmation page
4. Note your application reference number

Post-Submission:

• Applications cannot be edited after submission
• Office of Sport may request additional information during assessment
• Check email regularly (including spam folder) for assessor queries

Assessment Process: What Happens After You Submit

Understanding the assessment journey helps manage expectations and prepare for potential follow-up requests.

Stage 1: Eligibility Check (February-March 2026)

Automatic Screening:

• Entity type verification
• ABN and incorporation status check
• National Redress Scheme compliance
• Budget eligibility review
• Mandatory document completeness

Outcome: Applications failing eligibility are notified immediately and excluded from merit assessment. No appeals process for eligibility failures.

Stage 2: Merit Assessment (March-April 2026)

Grant Assessment Panel Evaluation:

Applications are scored against weighted criteria:

• Primary prevention alignment: 30%
• Evidence base and evaluation plan: 20%
• Partnership quality: 20%
• Sporting context integration: 15%
• Inclusivity and responsiveness: 10%
• Budget reasonableness: 5%

Independent Probity Oversight: An external probity advisor attends all assessment panel meetings to ensure procedural fairness and conflicts of interest management.

Possible Requests: The Office of Sport may request:

• Clarification of budget line items
• Additional evidence of partnership agreements
• Further detail on evaluation methodology
• Confirmation of project timelines

Respond to these requests within the stated timeframe (typically 5-7 business days) or risk application withdrawal.

Stage 3: Ministerial Approval (April 2026)

The Grant Assessment Panel provides recommendations to the NSW Minister for Sport, who makes final funding decisions. Political considerations, regional distribution, and portfolio priorities may influence final selections beyond technical merit scores.

Notification Timeline:

• Anticipated outcome notification: April 2026 onwards
• Successful applicants: Funding deed execution within 2 weeks of notification
• Unsuccessful applicants: Brief feedback provided (not detailed scores)

Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here.

FAQ: Critical Questions Answered

Is the Game on for Change grant taxable income?

Grant income is generally considered assessable income for tax purposes. Consult your accountant or tax advisor to understand your specific obligations, including GST implications if your organisation is registered. Non-profit organisations may have different treatment than for-profit entities.

Can I apply for multiple tiers of the Game on for Change program?

Yes, organisations can submit separate applications for Local Impact (Small), Expanding Reach (Medium), and “Whole-Of” Action (Large) tiers if you have distinct projects suited to each tier. However, the same project cannot be funded under multiple tiers.

What if my project needs to continue beyond 31 December 2027?

The Local Impact tier requires completion by 31 December 2027 (non-negotiable). If your project concept requires longer delivery, consider applying for the Expanding Reach (Medium) or “Whole-Of” Action (Large) tiers, which allow completion by April 2028. Alternatively, design a staged approach where Phase 1 completes by December 2027 and you seek separate funding for Phase 2.

Can peak sporting bodies apply, or only clubs?

Both are eligible provided they meet the entity type requirements. Peak bodies may be better suited to the Expanding Reach or “Whole-Of” Action tiers due to their broader reach, but can apply for Local Impact if delivering a single-location or single-community project.

What happens if we cannot complete the project by the deadline?

Extensions are rarely granted and require exceptional circumstances documentation. Failure to complete by the contractual deadline may require grant repayment and affect your organisation’s eligibility for future NSW Government grants. Build realistic timelines with contingency buffers.

Are online or hybrid programs eligible, or must they be in-person?

Both in-person and online delivery models are eligible provided they maintain the sporting context and prevention focus. Hybrid models can work well for regional organisations. Budget must reflect the actual delivery mode (e.g., online platform costs vs. venue hire).

Do we need to have the prevention sector partner confirmed before applying?

Yes, applications score significantly higher with confirmed partnerships evidenced by signed partnership agreements. The program explicitly aims to build sport-prevention sector collaboration. Letters of intent are weaker than formal partnership agreements.

Glossary of Key Terms

Primary Prevention: Interventions that stop violence before it occurs by addressing root causes, social norms, and attitudes. Distinct from crisis response or victim support services.

Evidence-Based Prevention: Programs or approaches supported by research evidence demonstrating effectiveness in reducing violence. May include proven frameworks or rigorous evaluation of new approaches.

Sporting Context: Activities fundamentally connected to sport participation, sporting culture, or sporting environments. Participants need not be athletes; may include parents, spectators, administrators, or community members engaged with sport.

Prevention Sector: Specialist organisations whose primary focus is preventing family and sexual violence through community-based programs, research, advocacy, and sector capacity-building. Examples include Women’s Health services, domestic violence prevention organisations, and respectful relationships specialists.

Intersectionality: Recognition that individuals hold multiple social identities (gender, race, sexuality, disability, class) that intersect to shape their experiences of privilege, discrimination, and access to safety.

SmartyGrants: Online grant management platform used by NSW Office of Sport for application submission and assessment. Requires account creation and does not accept alternative submission methods.

DXA (Document Exchange Architecture): In grant administration, the data format and standard used for automated application processing. For applicants, this means ensuring budget tables and forms match the platform’s required structure.

Funding Deed: Legal contract executed between successful applicant and NSW Government outlining funding terms, milestones, reporting requirements, and acquittal obligations. Non-negotiable after signing.

Internal Resources for Additional Support

For readers seeking more information on grant writing, sporting sector funding, or community organisation support in NSW, the following internal resources from Australian Grants may be helpful:

• Small Business Grants NSW
• Grants to Support Sports and Physical Activity Projects
• Community Grants for 2021 Australia

These articles provide complementary information on grant application strategies, eligibility assessment tools, and sector-specific funding opportunities across Australia.

Contact Information

NSW Office of Sport Grants Unit

Phone: 13 13 02

Email: grantsunit@sport.nsw.gov.au

Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm AEDT

Application Portal: https://sport.smartygrants.com.au/

For media or ministerial enquiries, contact the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport communications team via the main departmental contact number.

Unsure of your eligibility? Check Your Eligibility Probability Here.

Final Pre-Screening Checklist

Before investing significant time in your application, complete this final binary assessment:

Mandatory Requirements (All Must Be “Yes”):

☐ My organisation is an eligible entity type (checked against the list in this article)

☐ My project focuses on PRIMARY PREVENTION (not crisis response or victim support)

☐ My project is delivered within a SPORTING CONTEXT

☐ My project has not already commenced or received prior NSW Government funding for the same scope

☐ My organisation is NOT named by the National Redress Scheme as non-participating

☐ My project can commence within 2 months of approval (likely June 2026)

☐ My project can complete by 31 December 2027

☐ My budget contains only eligible costs (cross-checked against lists in this article)

☐ My evaluation costs do not exceed 15% of total project budget

☐ I have (or can obtain) partnership agreements with prevention sector specialists

If you answered “No” to any item, reassess your project design or consider alternative funding sources. If all answers are “Yes”, proceed to developing your full application with confidence that you meet baseline eligibility.

Applications close 18 February 2026 at 1:00pm AEDT. The SmartyGrants portal does not accept late submissions under any circumstances.