Expressions of Interest are now closed.
VicHealth believes that Victorian sport has the power to create healthy and active communities. However, the business of community sport and active recreation is rapidly changing. Embracing change involves thinking differently, creative problem solving and challenging the status quo.
VicHealth is empowering State Sporting organisations to design and implement a game plan to grow their sport and champion the health of all Victorians.
VicHealth will invest $6 million over 3 years so that State Sporting organisations can make a big impact across two focus areas;
- Tailoring the way they deliver their sport to attract and retain people who aren't active enough
- Making the healthy choice the easy choice in community sport.
Tailoring the way you deliver your sport to attract and retain people who aren't active enough
People who aren't active enough
Less than a third of Australians get enough physical activity every day. While many of us play traditional club sport to keep active, it’s not the answer for everybody. Australian Physical Activity Guidelines says that adults should be active on most days and accumulate at least 2 ½ hours of moderate activity every week. Sporting activity is a perfect way for people to improve their physical health and their mental wellbeing.
Attracting and retaining
Research shows that demographic, generational and cultural change is reshaping the way people spend their leisure time. People are attracted to opportunities that fit with their lifestyle rather than having to fit their lifestyle around sport. In the future, sporting organisations who thrive will deliver sport to more people in a way that provides ongoing value to keep them coming back.
Tailoring
With people's preferences shifting, community sport and active recreation needs to shift too. To get ahead of the game, sporting organisations need to put participants first. This might mean offering different competition options, flexible schedules, modified versions of your sport to attract first timers, or taking activities into non-traditional locations, to name but a few.
Making the healthy choice the easy choice in community sport
People deserve healthier sporting environments in which to spend their time. State Sporting organisations have the potential to be leaders in making the healthy choice the easy choice in community sport.
Sport is a vehicle through which unhealthy products, such as sugary drinks, junk food and alcohol are widely promoted to all Victorians. Examples include sponsorships, advertising and supply contracts through sporting events, teams, facilities and clubs.
Your State Sporting organisation may be able to champion healthy sport at the club, state and/or elite level by setting a good example for others to follow. This could be through policies, practices, encouraging healthier alternatives or supporting VicHealth’s behaviour change campaigns.
Who is eligible to apply?
To be eligible for funding your organisation must be a State Sporting Association (SSA) or a Disability State Sporting Body (DSSB) as recognised by Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV).
VicHealth will not fund an organisation where the purpose of funding is to support or participate in activities where the head is a deliberate target or where activity involves striking or kicking another individual with intent to injure.
What should I apply for?
Eligible organisations are encouraged to apply for both focus areas. Each focus area will be assessed independently. Your organisation may get funded for one or both focus areas. Consider the focus areas that are relevant to your sport and where you believe you can make an impact.
How much funding is available?
The Investment is $6 million over three years, with projects commencing in July 2015 and concluding in June 2018.
What am I required to submit?
Submit your expression of interest
Eligible organisations are required to complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) form and submit it to VicHealth. The EOI will be reviewed by a VicHealth assessment committee who will be assessing:
- Potential to make an impact, and
- Capacity to deliver
If the EOI is successful, your organisation will be shortlisted.
Submit a detailed application
If your organisation is shortlisted, you will be asked to attend a number of workshops to progress and refine your applications. Your organisation will then be asked to submit an application for consideration by VicHealth.
What are the timelines?
| Milestone | Date |
| Expressions of Interest open |
5 March 2015 |
| Information session |
10 & 11 March |
| Expressions of Interest close |
27 March 2015 |
| Expressions of Interest are assessed and shortlisted |
30 March to 6 April 2015 |
| Shortlisted organisations are invited to submit a formal application |
7 April 2015 |
| VicHealth workshops to guide applications |
2nd week of April 2015 |
| Applications close |
24 April 2015 |
| Announcement of successful applications |
June 2015 |
| Contract signed |
June 2015 |
| Commence Delivery |
July 2015 |
How do I submit?
Download and complete the Expression of Interest form and email it to [email protected] by 3pm Friday 27 March 2015.
Download the Expression of Interest form
Please ensure you read the official Terms and Conditions of funding.
Where can I get more information?
Read our Frequently Asked Questions below
We also encourage representatives from all State Sporting organisations to attend one of three information sessions on:
- Wednesday 11 March – 12pm to 12:45pm
- Wednesday 11 March – 2pm to 2:45pm
- Monday 16 March – 2pm to 2:45pm
- Tuesday 17 March – 2:30pm to 3:15pm
Click here to register your attendance at one of these sessions
You can also email any further questions through to [email protected] or call the Sport team on (03) 9667 9054.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the State Sport Program commence?
Following VicHealth Board approval, announcements of successful organisations are planned to be made in late June 2015. The State Sport Program will commence July 2015.
Is there an expectation on State Sport organisations to co-invest in the program?
No there is no requirement to co-invest in the State Sport Program. If your sport is planning to co-invest there will be an opportunity to explore this at the application stage.
Is there a list of who is inactive or somewhat active in Victoria? Is there a resource to tell us who the various inactive groups are?
A There are many reasons why some people in Victoria aren’t active enough – which cuts across different demographics and population groups. There is no one single resource that captures this, more a range of research that can be drawn upon. We encourage you to consider who is not currently playing your sport and who could become more active through playing your sport. In the EOI process, consider your context and outline who is your sports top priorities & who do you want to get more active.
What is the assessment criteria/selection criteria for the program?
All the selection criteria can be found in the Terms and Conditions. Page 3 & 4 detail full selection criteria. Clause 13 & 19 articulate selection criteria for the Expression of Interest & the Application stages respectively.
Can we put a number of opportunities down on the EOI?
The EOI is an opportunity to tell us about a number of opportunities your sport may have to get people more active & make the healthy choice the easy choice. Make sure you prioritise these, but you are encouraged to consider multiple approaches across both focus areas.
The two focus areas
Do I need to apply for both funding focus areas?
Organisations are strongly encouraged to apply for both focus areas. Each focus area will be assessed independently of the other. Your organisation may get funded for both focus areas or only one focus area.
We acknowledge that these focus areas require different approaches. We also know that sports are positioned very differently to respond to the two focus areas. If your State Sporting organisation is successful in the Expression of Interest process we will work closely with you to progress your ideas through Application.
Will my chances be impacted if I apply for only one focus area?
The focus areas will be considered independently. So, if a response to one focus area in not successful, it will not affect your chance of success to the other focus area.
Will I be eligible for more funding if I apply for both focus areas?
If successful, funding amounts will be discussed depending on the quality of your ideas
How do you define ‘aren't active enough’?
VicHealth defines people who 'aren't active enough' as not meeting the current Australian Physical Activity Guidelines. For adults, this means being active on most days of the week and accumulating at least 2 ½ hours of moderate physical activity a week. For further details see the Australian Physical Activity Guidelines.
What do you mean by ‘making the healthy choice the easy choice’? Do you want me to reduce the advertising or availability of unhealthy products at sporting events?
VicHealth is open to any opportunities to influence both the promotion and availability of sugary drinks, junk food and alcohol in our sporting clubs and facilities. You should give some thought to both policies and practices. Can you encourage participants and spectators to make healthier choices? Can you promote healthier alternatives? How can your sport make the healthy choice the easy choice?
Eligibility
Who is eligible for the State Sport Program?
Victorian State Sport Associations & Disability State Sport Bodies who are recognised by Sport and Recreation Victoria are eligible to apply. See the latest list.
Why are combat sports ineligible to apply?
VicHealth will not fund organisations where the purpose of funding is to support activities where the head is a deliberate target or where activity involves striking or kicking another individual with intent to injure.
VicHealth's Action Agenda for Health Promotion recognises the importance of improving mental wellbeing. There is strong evidence that indicates impact to the head may lead to long term health issues. Head injuries are more traumatic than lower limb injuries. Concussions are traumatic head injuries that occur from both mild and severe blows to the head. Some head injuries may appear to be mild but research is finding that concussions can have serious, long term effects. Repeat head injuries or cumulative concussions, can have long-term implications.
How much money is available?
What is the total funding amount?
The State Sport Program is a $6 million three year initiative. Or $2 million per year.
How much money is available per SSA?
Funding amounts will not be covered at the Expression of Interest stage. Specific funding amounts will be discussed with shortlisted organisations that progress to the formal application, with funding depended on the individual requirements of the projects concepts proposed.
What is the submission process?
Submit your expression of interest
Download and complete the expression of interest (EOI) form and submit it to VicHealth.
The EOI form is designed to help you:
-
Explain the context of your sport and the strengths of your organisation
-
Explore your possible options to attract and retain people who aren’t active enough
-
Identify opportunities to make the healthy choice the easy choice in community sport.
Your EOI will be reviewed by a VicHealth assessment committee who will be assessing potential to make an impact and capacity to deliver. If your EOI is successful, your organisation will be shortlisted and progress to the next stage.
Shortlisted organisations submit a formal application
If your organisation is shortlisted, you will be asked to submit a formal application for consideration by VicHealth. Shortlisted organisations will attend workshops with VicHealth to provide a more detailed submission with enough rigour so that VicHealth can confidently invest in your project’s implementation.
Assessment panel meets to make funding decisions
Shortlisted applications will be evaluated by an independent assessment panel (comprising of VicHealth senior management and external experts). The assessment panel will weigh up a variety of factors before making a final decision on funding.
What will I be required to do for the Expression of Interest?
We have an EOI form to be completed by SSAs.
- Section 1: Tell us about your sport
- Section 2: Tell us about your organisation
- Section 3: Tailoring what your sport delivers to attract and retain people who aren't active enough
- Section 4: Making the healthy choice the easy choice in community sport
What does VicHealth want to see in the EOI?
We want to see smart and considered answers to our questions that showcase your:
- Capacity to deliver, and
- Potential to make a big impact
Take your time, consider your response. The questions are designed to get you to think deeply about your sport and its context. We strongly encourage you to consult your entire organisation as you craft answers to the EOI questions.
What is involved with the application process?
Should your organisation be shortlisted following the EOI stage, VicHealth will work with you through workshops to guide your formal application. This will involve a deep dive into the nitty gritty of what you propose to do.
Why are you making me apply twice?
A multi-staged submission process ensures that VicHealth fund high potential projects. It provides the freedom for State Sporting organisations to explain their unique context and for VicHealth to work together with shortlisted applicants to craft a project that can make a big impact.