Level the Playing Field Program 2023/24

• Local government authorities in New South Wales*.
• Regional Joint Organisations of councils, the Lord Howe Island Board and the Unincorporated Far West groups*.
• NSW Office of Sport recognised NSW State Sporting Organisations (including National Sporting Organisations where the state body is part of a unitary governance model).
• Incorporated, community-based, not-for-profit sporting organisations (clubs and associations whose primary purpose is to organise sporting activities/deliver sport programs).
• Organisations providing sport and recreation programs that benefit the community, such as PCYCs, YMCA and YWCA.
• Private enterprises (companies established under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), incorporated associations established under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) or incorporated limited partnerships established under the Partnership Act 1892 (NSW)).

(*Minimum 50% financial co-contribution of the grant amount requested is required)

• Construction of new or upgrade of existing fields, courts or playing areas that deliver and can demonstrate increased training and competition and actual utilisation for women and girls.
• Construction of new or upgraded universal designed* change rooms and/or shower, toilets and parent and child change areas or creche facilities.
• Construction of new or upgraded lighting to fields, courts or playing areas that deliver and can demonstrate increased training and competition opportunities and actual utilisation and/or improve safety for women and girls.

The project should be started by 30 September 2024 and the project must be completed by 30 September 2026.

• Individuals
• Schools, TAFEs, and Universities
• Parents and Citizens (P&C’s) Associations
• Progress Associations
• NSW Government agencies
• NSW Institute of Sport, Australian Sports Commission (incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport)
• NSW Regional Academies of Sport
• Australian Universities with NSW campuses
• Other community based or religious groups that do not have a primary purpose of sport and/or recreation.

• Costs associated with preparing and submitting the application or feasibility, design, or development stages including feasibility studies, business cases and masterplans
• Projects that do not meet relevant Australian Standards
• Projects on private land unless there is clear and substantial benefit to the community’s interest in sport and active recreation and have documented consent from the landowner
• Facilities where little or no public access is available
• Projects related to buying or upgrading non-fixed equipment (e.g., computers, office goods, sports equipment)
• For the purchase or lease of land/facility
• Related to administrative or operational expenditure which are normally the responsibility of businesses, state agencies or local councils
• Administration costs with the exception of direct external / independent project management costs, limited to 10% of the grant amount requested
• Retrospective funding, where projects have commenced construction or are completed prior to the execution of a funding agreement, or which could proceed without any NSW Government financial assistance
• Projects that have already been funded by the NSW Government unless significant new project scope is identified
• Arts, music, craft, and recreation facilities that provide experiences that do not meet the definition of sport and active recreation
• General maintenance or replacement costs through normal wear and tear (e.g., painting, running costs and minor repairs to existing facilities)
• Repair of facilities where the damage can be covered by insurance
• Upgrading or redeveloping public toilet facilities, except as part of a larger project that meets the objectives of the Program
• For the maintenance or construction of car parks.

The grant amount requested by an applicant must be a minimum of $200,000 and cannot exceed $2,000,000. All applications from government agencies (eg: Councils) are required to provide a minimum 50% financial co-contribution of the grant amount requested (e.g., if an applicant’s grant amount requested is $200,000, they should demonstrate at least a $100,000 financial co-contribution, therefore the total project cost including any contingency or escalation costs will be $300,000).

Applicants that are required to and cannot meet the funding co-contribution expectation may apply for financial hardship. A financial hardship application provides applicants the opportunity to outline why they should be exempt from the requirement to provide a minimum 50% financial co-contribution of the grant amount requested. Financial hardship applications are to be made as part of the application process.

For non-government organisations where a financial co-contribution is not required (eg: not-for-profit organisations) applicants who are able to make a partial financial co-contribution will be looked upon more favourably during the merit assessment process.