Para Athlete Barriers Fund 2024-26

The Para Athlete Barriers Fund offers one-off grants to support categorised athletes to overcome individual barriers to their progression or performance in Para sports.  The Para Athlete Barriers Fund underscores the commitment of fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for Para athletes, ensuring they have the resources needed to excel in their respective sports. Whether it’s to overcome barriers related to training, coaching, equipment, travel or their essential needs, the Para Athlete Barriers Fund is dedicated to empowering athletes to break through challenges and reach new heights in their athletic careers.

Please review the Para Athlete Barriers Fund Program Guidelines for more information, including a full definition of eligible and ineligible expenses, and to see more information about the requirements. The Program Guidelines can be viewed at https://www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding/para-athlete-barriers-fund/

To be eligible to apply for the Fund applicants must:

• be an athlete supported by an ASC recognised National Sporting Organisation (NSO) or National Sporting Organisation for people with Disability (NSOD) in a para sport
• be categorised into one of the following disciplines as per the Athlete Categorisation Framework:
  • Podium
  • Podium Ready
  • Podium Potential
  • Developing
  • Emerging
• be actively participating with a recognised NSO/D in training and competition within their para sport;
• have no anti-doping rule violations at any time; and
• have no match fixing offences at any time.

Not sure what NSO/D's are recognised by the ASC? See the list at https://www.sportaus.gov.au/australian_sports_directory

Not sure what The Athlete Categorisation Framework is? Review it at https://www.ais.gov.au/edm/national-athlete-categorisation-framework

1. If the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) decides to issue a grant (Grant) to the applicant under the Para Athlete Barriers Fund (Program), the Grant will be made subject to any terms the ASC sets out in the applicant’s outcome letter, these terms and conditions, and the Program Guidelines (as updated from time to time (Agreement)).
2. Any personal information that is submitted via the application form is collected by the ASC for the purpose of considering applications for grants and administering the Program. The information collected may be disclosed to other agencies and industry representatives for this purpose.
3. The ASC will make a single payment of the Grant amount to the successful applicant (Recipient) subject to sufficient funding being available to the Program and the Recipient complying with these terms and conditions.
4. The Recipient must:
   • complete the project or activity (Activity) as detailed in their outcome letter;
   • promptly notify the ASC if the Recipient becomes aware that they no longer fulfils the Eligibility Criteria (as set out in the Guidelines) for receipt of the Grant;
   • only use the Grant for the purpose of the Activity, and where expenses are incurred between 5 May 2025 and 30 June 2026;
   • keep records detailing the use and expenditure of the Grant, for a period of at least 2 years, and make them available to the ASC or its authorised representatives on request; and
   • provide by 31 July 2026 a declaration and accompanying evidence (if requested) in the form required by the ASC, verifying that the Grant has been spent in accordance with this Agreement. This may include production of receipts as evidence of expenditure of the Grant.
5. The Recipient:
   • declares and warrants, at the date of agreeing to these terms and conditions, that they have not at any time been found to have breached any anti-doping rule or policy applicable to the Recipient and has not engaged at any time in any conduct that constituted a breach of any anti-doping rule or policy applicable to the Recipient;
   • agrees to maintain a high standard of personal behaviour expected of an athlete representing Australia; and
   • agrees not to do anything to bring the Recipient, the ASC or the Recipient’s National Sporting Organisation or National Sporting Organisation for people with Disability into disrepute.
6. Without limitation to any other rights of the ASC, if the ASC reasonably believes, at any time following the award of the Grant, that:
   • the Recipient has provided false or misleading information in the application process;
   • the Grant has been spent other than in accordance with the Agreement; or
   • the Recipient will not complete the Grant Activity or has otherwise breached any of their obligations under this Agreement,

then the ASC may by written notice, terminate this Agreement and/or require the Recipient to repay to the ASC, at the ASC's absolute discretion, all or part of the Grant. The amount notified must be repaid within 30 days of any such notice.

7. The personal details of the Recipient (including their name, home state, sport, the value of the Grant awarded and a brief description of the purpose of the Fund) may be released by the ASC to the public and the media for promotional and educational purposes.

8. The Recipient agrees to cooperate with the ASC, as reasonably requested, in relation to any evaluation of the Program. This may include participation in an interview, or the provision of additional information related to the impact of the Program.

9. If the Recipient is under 18 years of age, they must also obtain agreement of their parent or guardian to these terms and conditions and the Guidelines prior to entering this Agreement.

10. The Recipient is responsible for obtaining all appropriate insurances with respect to undertaking the Activity and complying with these terms and conditions.

11. The Recipient agrees to indemnify the ASC and its officers, employees and contractors against any claim, loss or damage arising in connection with undertaking the Activity, or a breach of this Agreement. This obligation to indemnify the ASC will reduce proportionally to the extent that any act or omission involving fault on the part of the ASC, contributed to the claim loss or damage.

12. This Agreement does not create a relationship of employment, or agency between the Recipient and the ASC.

13. This Agreement is governed by the law of the Australian Capital Territory.