WA Sport Development Pathways Grant Program

• Western Australian State Sporting Associations (SSAs) create environments where athletes, coaches and officials are provided with every opportunity to develop and achieve. 

The strategy identifies four strategic priorities: 

1. Holistic System Design and Development — Enabling SSAs to purposefully design and implement holistic development pathways. 
2. Capability and Capacity — Identifying, collating and presenting development pathway research and resources to continually support sector best practice. 
3. Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement — Harnessing the rich capabilities across the national sporting ecosystem to elevate development focused understanding and practices. 
4. System Alignment — Actively leading and partnering with stakeholders in the state and national sporting ecosystem to support a cohesive sporting system. 

The Department of Creatives Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS) will implement the Strategy by facilitating and providing support to SSAs to build robust, holistic development pathways. 

• engagement of consultants to support the development of a SSA athlete, coach and / or officials development strategy
• development of an athlete, coach and / or officials development model, i.e., FTEM — Foundational, Talent, Elite and Mastery
• development of a mentoring program for pathway coaches and officials
• partnering with the university sector to undertake research in relation to topics of key relevance to your sport, and / or with partner sports
• purchasing of technology to support improved pathway program delivery, athlete monitoring or coach / official session reviews.  

Outcome and objectives

The objectives of the WA Sport Development Pathways Grant Program are to:

• support SSAs to create and implement strategies that facilitate purposeful development pathway practices
• enhance the developmental environments and experiences created by SSAs that are cohesive, prioritise development and learning over performance, and adopt a long-term approach
• enable SSAs to engage with subject matter experts that elevate SSA staff knowledge and skills, supporting organisational and sector learnings.

Eligible organisations

The following organisations are eligible to apply:

• Eligible CITS recognised SSAs.

To be eligible for funding, organisations must:  

• be incorporated under the Associations Incorporations Act 2015 (WA) or a company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act 2001
• possess an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• maintain appropriate and sufficient insurance cover for the duration of the project. A certificate of currency of insurance for the coming year should be provided upon application. Please note, for Public Liability Insurance, a minimum value of $10 million per claim or occurrence giving rise to a claim is required.

Ineligible organisations

• State and Commonwealth Government agencies
• unincorporated not-for-profit organisations
• commercial or for-profit organisations
• educational institutions/agencies including schools, universities, and TAFE colleges
• Local Government Authorities
• community organisations
• local sport or active recreation clubs and associations
• state active recreation organisations and peak bodies
• CITS self-sustaining categorised sports.  

WA Sport Development Pathways Grant Program Investment Framework 

The WA Sport Development Pathways Grant Program is an application-based program with funding allocated to support the scope and reach of projects.

The program is a targeted grants program with applications assessed against the assessment criteria and ranked based on the merits of proposals.

Organisations are able to apply for projects over one, two or three years.

Organisations are able to apply for up to $75,000 in year one, and up to $50,000 in each of years two and three (as applicable) to deliver a project/s aligned to the SSA’s Pathways Health Check Action Plan.

Projects must commence within the financial year that the grant is awarded. 

Organisations must contribute a minimum of ten per cent (10%) cash or in-kind support to the total project costs.

Grants should not constitute the entire financial base of the project.

Auspice arrangements are not accepted.

Funding can be used for

• Project-based staffing costs (for example, engagement of a contract project officer).
• Consultants and professional services to support the development of athlete, coach and/or official development pathway strategies and operational plans.
• Interstate travel and accommodation costs (for example, presenter travel to Perth from interstate, coach/official travel interstate) specifically for development pathway education or training.
• Intrastate travel and accommodation costs for coach/official travel to the metropolitan area and/or presenter to travel to regional areas.
• International travel and accommodation costs (for example, presenter travel to Perth from overseas,) specifically for development pathway education or training.
• Research projects and partnerships with the university sector to increase evidence informed practices. Partnerships with other SSAs with a similar cohort, need or interest will be viewed favourably.
• Technology and equipment that enhances athlete, coach and official learning and development. The contribution of grant funds towards technology is capped at 50% of the item(s) cost, and a maximum of $5,000 per grant year.
• Programs and projects that advance relationships with NSOs to create a more cohesive and functional system and strengthen relationships.  

Funding may not be used for

• first aid courses.
• individual membership fees.
• existing, ongoing, or recurrent organisational costs (for example, employee salaries and employment costs, insurance, lease or rental payments, administration expenses).
• projects that would be more appropriately supported through an alternative funding source or existing CITS grants program.
• activity that constitutes an SSAs core business, i.e., hosting of or participation in under-age state or national championships. 
• projects that have already been funded by CITS, unless it expands the reach (for example, expanded in new regions or new target markets).
• programs that have already taken place or have commenced.
• capital works (for example, purchase of land or buildings, repairs, extensions, renovations or maintenance).
• purchase of generic capital equipment (for example, computers, photocopiers, vehicles)
• purchase of merchandise or equipment (for example, clothing, uniforms, water bottles).
• trophies, prize money or gifts.
• hospitality functions (for example, catering, alcohol, entertainment). 

How to apply

Applicant information

• read and understand the grant guidelines before commencing the application process.
• discuss your project with your CITS project officer before applying.
• only one application per organisation will be considered.
• incomplete applications may be considered unsuccessful upon submission.
• complete all sections of the application form and submit with the following supporting documentation:
  • detailed project plan
  • comprehensive budget
  • action plan based upon the organisations Pathway Health Check outcomes
  • copy of the organisation’s incorporation certificate.
  • copy of current public liability insurance certificate (minimum required is $10 million)
• submit your application and supporting documentation via the CITS website link provided by 4pm on 19 October 2026.  

You will receive an automated confirmation via email instantly when you submit your application. If you do not receive the confirmation email, contact the CITS project officer on the details below before the application closing time.   

Important dates

Assessment, Approval and Acquittal Process

Assessment and approval process

• CITS Grants Administrators will assess applications for compliance with the eligibility criteria.
• CITS Grants Assessors will conduct a preliminary assessment of eligible applications against the assessment criteria and provide a summary, which may include scores, rankings, funding allocations and rationale, for the assessment panel to consider.
• Reviewed by an independent panel for strategic alignment, merit and value for money. The panel will comprise two independent CITS staff and one independent external assessor with relevant expertise.
• The Minister for Sport and Recreation to approve the recommended applicants as per the relevant funding source legislation.
• Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing.
• Applicants may not be successful and may not be funded to the full amount requested.

The application demonstrates that the project delivers outcomes outlined to the WA Sport Development Pathways Strategy.

2. Benefits

The application demonstrates alignment with the priorities identified in the SSAs Action Plan and identifies the impact and benefit to an SSAs development pathways that the project will have. 

Grant agreement  

• approved applicants will be required to enter into a grant agreement that outlines the grant conditions, key deliverables, and acquittal requirements. Once signed and returned, the grant will be paid directly to the eligible applicant body
• no grant monies will be paid to an individual.

Acquittal requirements

• at the completion of the first and second years of the project, your organisation will be required to complete an acquittal report to demonstrate that the funding has been spent in accordance with the grant agreement and develop and agree to a key results schedule for the next project period. 
• at the completion of the project, your organisation will need to complete an acquittal report to demonstrate that the funding has been spent in accordance with the grant agreement.
• your acquittal report must be submitted within 30 days of the project completion date as specified in the grant agreement.

CITS acknowledgement and evaluation

• successful organisations will be required to acknowledge the WA Government. Further details will be provided to successful applicants within their grant agreement
• successful organisations will be required to participate in any research, communities of practice and/or evaluations relating to this funding and/or funded projects.

Freedom of Information

• CITS will adhere to the provisions of the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act (1992) in relation to requests for information originating from CITS
• information not originating from CITS but provided to CITS will not be released without prior consultation with or permission by the relevant organisation.

Privacy

• all information provided to CITS during the grant assessment process will be stored on a database that will only be accessed by authorised CITS staff. 
• that database is subject to privacy restrictions in accordance with the Commonwealth Privacy Act (1998) and the Freedom of Information Act (1992). 

Contact by Minister or local Member of Parliament

• By applying for this program, applicants acknowledge and accept that successful applicants may be contacted by the Minister for Sport and Recreation or their local Member of Parliament to discuss their grant.
• applicants acknowledge that the contact details of the applicant may be provided to their local Member of Parliament for this purpose
• if you do not wish for your details to be provided to your local Member of Parliament, you may ‘opt-out’ at the time of application. 

Contact us

Further information can also be obtained from your CITS Advisor for recognised State Sporting Associations.