The Local Para Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-24 participating in state, national or international championships for athletes with a disability.

If successful, applicants will receive $750-$1000 towards the cost of attending their championships

• Base Grant: $750
• Applicants travelling 800km - 1999km to their nominated championships: + $100
• Applicants travelling internationally or greater than 2000km to their nominated championships: + $200
• Applicants residing in a rural electorate: + $50

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be turning 12 to 24 years of age in the same calendar year as the nominated championships.
• Be an Australian citizen or have been granted permanent resident status and be residing in Australia.
• Be a participant in an event, division or competition open only to athletes with a disability which is:
  • an official state/territory championships endorsed by the relevant ASC recognised national sporting organisation (NSO), national sporting organisation for people with disability (NSOD) or a School Sport Australia member body; or
  • an official national championship endorsed by the relevant ASC recognised NSO, NSOD or School Sport Australia; or
  • an international competition as a member of an official Australian team where only athletes with a disability can be selected, representing an ASC recognised NSO, NSOD or School Sport Australia.

A participant is anyone involved in an official capacity in the event or competition such as an athlete, coach or official, and where appropriate, guides or assistants.

• Applicants attending a state/territory championship must be living more than 125km from the championships venue and travelling greater than 250km return to participate in the nominated championships*.
• May receive a maximum of two grants in the same allocation year (1 June 2023 – 30 April 2024) for attending either:
  • one state or national championships and one international competition; or
  • two different international competitions.
• Must incur out-of-pocket expenses equal to, or greater than, the grant amount they are eligible to receive.
• Must not receive a Local Sporting Champions grant to attend the same event or competition.
• Applications must be submitted within timeframes indicated in the program guidelines.

Note:
* Those attending a national championships or international competition do not need to be travelling a minimum distance to be eligible.

• Phone: 02 6214 1462
• Email: lsc@ausport.gov.au