Address Applications to: The Secretary, East Gippsland Sports Foundation, P.O. Box 1253 Bairnsdale, Vic 3875 - admin@egsports.com.au

Awards Scheme

Awards Scheme


Purpose

The Athlete Award Scheme is an initiative of the Sports Foundation that aims to assist junior athletes from East Gippsland to achieve their sporting potential. The financial assistance provided is to enable the athlete to access training and competition programs.

The Scheme is a scholarship program which assists junior athletes from the East Gippsland region to achieve their sporting potential. The financial assistance provided is to enable the athlete to access training and competition programs.

It is the athlete’s responsibility to provide to the Foundation the information and support material requested in these guidelines. Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible. Further Application forms can be downloaded from this East Gippsland Sports website or obtained from the Secretary.


Awards Scheme Benefits

  • Applications are considered at monthly Foundation Board meetings.
  • Primary consideration for funding will be on a needs basis.
  • Support funding will be for a specified period.
  • Any extension of this period must be by further application and if appropriate approval.
  • Funding may include travel costs, accommodation, sports equipment, sports apparel and other costs as determined by the Review Panel.


Application Criteria

  1. Applicants must be aged 14-18 years on 31 December when submitting their application. An Applicant over the age of 18 years may be considered at the sole discretion of the Foundation where there are special circumstances to support an Applicant.
  2. Applicants must:
    • Permanently reside in East Gippsland or have direct association, by residence, whether current or before the Application,
    • Applicants must be a permanent resident of Australia.
  3. With the exception of financial assistance given by their immediate family it is expected that applicants declare the source of any other support received in the current financial year of their application that would be used for a similar purpose as may be given by the Foundation.
  4. Athletes must have a long-term commitment to their sport and demonstrate ability to eventually compete at the elite level.
  5. Applicants must be involved in a Victorian or Australian State Sporting Association whose development program operates within the National Junior Sport Policy guidelines. The sport must be recognised as an international or national accredited sport.  For example those associated with and recognized by Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games or Paralympics Games competition.
  6. Applicants must be current participants in either state or state and/or regional country development squads and/or regional, state, national or international competitions and/or be recommended by an accredited State Coach or Officer of the State Sporting Association.

Note: The application process can take some time and applicants should understand that lodging an application does not guarantee them funding. Additionally, there is no guarantee that funding will be provided before travel, so applicants should be prepared to use their own resources to travel to events.


Withdrawal of Funding

A Review Panel may stop further funding if the Applicant ceases to participate in the sport in relation to which the Application was granted.


Procedure

The Applicant must complete the Application form and submit it to the Secretary, East Gippsland Sports Foundation, by the due date in the particular funding round. Following an assessment of the Application those Applicants considered to meet the criteria will be personally interviewed by two representatives of the East Gippsland Sports Foundation’s Board who will make a recommendation to a meeting of the Board. The Board will advise the applicant by letter whether the Application has been successful.


Applicant's Obligations

The Applicant will be required to:

  • Sign a pledge that offers, in return for funding, a commitment to assist in furthering the Applicant's sport in East Gippsland before any funding is made.
  • When requested, provide written reports twice a year on their progress in their chosen sport.
  • Be of good behavior.
  • Promote East Gippsland Sports Foundation.
  • Agree to be listed on the Foundation website.


Application Procedure

  1. Applications are to be sent to the East Gippsland Sports Foundation Secretary and are welcome either directly from individuals, or via schools, local clubs or State Sporting Associations.
  2. Once received, the Secretary will forward all applications to the Board for consideration and may contact the appropriate State Sporting Association for endorsement and a ranking. The selection panel will base their decision on this ranking and on a comparison with the applicants involved in other sports.


To apply for the Award Scheme, you must:

  1. Complete all the details on the Application Form.
  2. Attach a one page letter of endorsement from your club/association/coach or relevant school teacher demonstrating their support for and commitment to your application.
  3. An Application must be accompanied by references from:
    • A qualified sporting coach; and
    • An executive member of the sporting organisation to which the applicant belongs (if any); and
    • Three personal character references.

Further information on the Scheme is contained on this website and can also be obtained from the Secretary.