Game on for Change - Expanding Reach (Medium) and Whole-of Action (Large)

Before completing this application form, you should read the Program Guidelines and supporting documents.

The NSW Government’s strategy, Pathways to Prevention: NSW Strategy for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence (the Strategy), recognises that gender inequality is a root cause of gender-based violence. However, violence is not caused by any single factor.

The Strategy highlights there are also context-specific risk factors and identifies the following four key drivers that have consistently been found to predict gendered violence at the population level:

• Driver One: Condoning of violence against women.
• Driver Two: Men’s control of decision-making and limits to women’s independence in public and private life.
• Driver Three: Rigid gender stereotyping and dominant forms of masculinity.
• Driver Four: Male peer relations and cultures of masculinity that emphasise aggression, dominance and control.

Further information regarding the key drivers and the public health approach to primary prevention can be found in the published Strategy.

Under the Strategy, the NSW Government has identified sport as a priority setting with the potential to drive widespread positive change. The NSW Government has committed $3.135 million across three (3) tiers of funding to support the delivery of primary prevention projects at all levels of sport.

The tiers have the following funding allocations:

• ‘Local Impact’ (Small) - $500,000 in total
• ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) - $2,635,000 in total.
  • There are no reserved funding allocations for the ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tiers. Applications will be assessed on merit and recommended for funding in merit order across both tiers.

The ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tiers require applicants to form new partnerships, or demonstrate existing partnerships, to ensure that evidence-based approaches are embedded throughout the project design and implementation.

An applicant may make multiple applications; however, the maximum amount of funding that can be awarded to any one organisation is $450,000.

The Program guidelines outline the key objectives, eligibility criteria, assessment process and timeframes for the Game on for Change - Preventing Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence through Sport Program.

The Program aims to empower all levels of the sporting sector to play a leading role in the prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence.

Through this Program, the Office of Sport is building the capacity and capability of the sector to address the gendered drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence leading to positive change in knowledge, skills, values and behaviours.

• 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.

The Applicant acknowledges and agrees that:

• submission of this application does not guarantee funding will be granted for any project, and the Department expressly reserves its right to accept or reject this application at its discretion;
• it must bear the costs of preparing and submitting this application and the Department does not accept any liability for such costs, whether or not this application is ultimately accepted or rejected; and
• it has read the Funding Guidelines for the Program and has fully informed itself of the relevant program requirements.

By submitting this application form, the Applicant acknowledges and agrees that:

• if this project application is successful, the relevant details of the project will be made public, including details such as the names of the organisation (Applicant) and any partnering organisation (state government agency or non-government organisation), project title, project description, location, anticipated time for completion and amount awarded;
• the Department will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that any information received in or in respect of this application which is clearly marked ‘Commercial-in-confidence’ or ‘Confidential’ is treated as confidential, however, such documents will remain subject to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act); and
• in some circumstances the Department may release information contained in this application form and other relevant information in relation to this application in response to a request lodged under the GIPA Act or otherwise as required or permitted by law.

To be eligible for funding, your application must:

• be submitted by an eligible applicant as per Program Guidelines 2.1.1.
• be submitted through SmartyGrants.
• include a valid Incorporation number and/or ABN.
• be for a project located in NSW.
• be for an eligible project for the relevant tier.
• request a grant amount appropriate for the relevant tier.

Projects in the ‘Local Impact’ (Small) tier must be delivered by December 2027.

Projects in the ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tiers must:

• be delivered by April 2028.
  • Note: This is to ensure meaningful delivery and continuous improvement across two cycles i.e. two sporting seasons or two delivery periods. This timeframe enables applicants to implement activities during the first season/delivery period, assess outcomes and refine their approach to enhance delivery in the second season/delivery period.
• provide evidence of a formal partnership as per Program Guidelines 2.1.3.

Eligible applicants are a:

• Incorporated, community-based or not-for-profit organisation.
• 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.

All applicants must include a declaration by the applicant organisation that if successful they will provide Public Liability Insurance with a minimum $5 million cover, depending on the grant value.

Ineligible applicants are any organisation types not listed in the ‘Eligible Applicants’ section, and include (but are not limited to):

• Individuals
• Parents and Citizens (P&C) Associations
• For-profit, commercial organisations except NSW based professional sporting organisations specified in Program Guidelines 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.

• Note: This is an eligibility requirement for applications in the ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) and ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tiers
• Applicants under either the ‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium) or ‘“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large) tiers are required to establish a formal partnership to support the development, implementation, and delivery of project activities.
• These partnerships should include organisations with demonstrated expertise in the design and delivery of primary prevention programs, to ensure that evidence-based approaches are integrated throughout the project lifecycle.
• Partnerships must consist of at least two organisations (minimum), one of which must be the applicant organisation who must meet the Eligible Applicant requirements in Program Guidelines section 2.1.1 
• The applicant organisation is responsible for submitting the application on behalf of the partnership. If successful, a Funding Agreement is entered into between the applicant organisation and the Office of Sport.
• For applications submitted under the ‘Local Impact’ (Small) tier, where a formal partnership is not a mandatory requirement, those applicants who elect to establish such a partnership will be viewed more favourably during the merit assessment process.

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 the applicant’s level of 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.

Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to:

• New programs that promote respectful relationships, build awareness of coercive control, challenge harmful gender norms and build emotional wellbeing through sport.
• Facilitated sessions with players and coaches that explore how team culture can reinforce or challenge harmful norms, with practical strategies to build respectful and inclusive environments.
• Sustained engagement by elite athletes and teams with the same school or community group across multiple sessions and seasons. These sessions use sport-based activities, storytelling and leadership development to promote respectful relationships, challenge harmful gender norms and build non-violent behaviours.
• Sport-based programs that build emotional regulation, empathy and non-violent conflict resolution skills.
• Training that equips coaches to promote respectful relationships, prevent harmful behaviours, and embed wellbeing and resilience in sport.
• Initiatives that promote equitable leadership and decision making, encouraging diverse representation and inclusive governance across all levels of sport.
• Sessions that help parents understand how their own behaviours, language and emotional regulation influence young athletes and team culture.
• An audit to update codes of conduct, internal policies and procedures, and governance frameworks to explicitly address the drivers of violence and promote respectful, inclusive environments.
• Peer leadership programs that train young athletes to act as role models and peer influencers, promoting safe, inclusive, and non-violent behaviours within their teams and clubs.
• Club policy reviews supported by prevention experts to embed gender equality and respectful behaviour into codes of conduct and member protection policies.
• Internal education programs to build organisational or board-level understanding of the role sport can play in the primary prevention of domestic, family and sexual violence.

Detailed examples of projects by tiers are provided in the Program Guidelines - Appendix (Section 7). 

• Projects should commence within two months of the notification of outcome.
• Projects must be completed by April 2028.

‘Expanding Reach’ (Medium)

• Grants between $75,001 and $300,000 for medium-scale projects that extend impact beyond a single organisation or group.

“Whole-Of” Action’ (Large)

• Grants between $300,001 and $450,000 for large-scale projects delivered across an entire sporting code or local government area.

The Office of Sport will undertake an eligibility check of all applications, including any late applications to confirm:

• Applicant organisation is an eligible applicant.
• Applicant has provided a valid Incorporation number and/or ABN.
• Proposed project is in NSW.
• Eligible project for relevant tier
• Grant request amount appropriate for the relevant tier 

The Grant Assessment Panel will make the final determination on eligibility.