Can our program engage young people aged outside the 12 -17 year old age group?
The focus of this VicHealth investment is on getting less active young people aged 12 -17 more active. VicHealth wants you to concentrate your efforts on engaging and communicating with less active 12 -17 year olds and providing a great sport participation experience for them. In reality, we understand that your program may also appeal to other age groups, such as younger children or young adults, but they should not be your primary focus for this funding. In terms of the VicHealth evaluation of the program, we will be measuring engagement of less active 12 -17 year old participants.
What do we mean by repurposing or modifying a program?
Repurposing or modifying a program involves making changes to an existing sporting program or product to best suit the needs and abilities of less active 12 -17 year olds. This may include changes to marketing materials, rules, type of equipment, playing area, location, time, duration of program, level of competition, team composition, scoring to suit skill level/ability and/or adding more social elements.
How much modifying of any existing program would be considered acceptable?
If your initial program is not currently designed for less active young people aged 12 – 17 years it will require some modification to ensure that it is closely tailored to their needs and motivations. VicHealth need to see that the fundamental elements of your existing successful program remain, so that there is not an entire rebuild of your program, as this will be considered a new unproven program or product.
If a sporting organisation is funded by VicHealth under another program (e.g. State Sport Program or Innovation Challenge: Sport) is there an opportunity to seek funding to modify or adapt this program for 12 -17 year olds?
Yes, however your sport would need to clearly demonstrate your program or product strongly aligns with the selection criteria as outlined in the program guidelines. You must specifically demonstrate how your product will engage the less active 12 -17 year old age group.
What does VicHealth mean by ‘social sport’?
Social sport opportunities are more flexible or social and less structured than traditional sport activities. These programs have greater emphasis on fun, social interaction and enjoyment, and less emphasis on performance, results and competition.
Social sports may have many elements of traditional sport but are primarily
- for fun and friendship
- to introduce someone to a sport
- to bring people back to sport that have dropped out due to injury, time commitments or other circumstances.
What does the support letter from your board Chair need to include?
In the Growing Participation in Sport application form (PART D, question3), VicHealth has requested a letter from your organisation’s board Chair. In this letter your Chair needs to demonstrate that the board strongly supports the application and show that there is a commitment to achieve and/or maintain a minimum 40% female representation on your sporting organisation’s Board by July 2019.
What if we are not sure if our organisation are eligible to apply or not?
If you have any doubt if your organisation is eligible to apply, we encourage you to email the VicHealth team on [email protected] to discuss your eligibility. Ideally, make contact with VicHealth as early as possible and before you progress with developing your application.
Can our program have other funders?
While VicHealth anticipates it will most likely be the primary funder of a program we understand that some programs may already have another funder, commercial partner or co-investor. Where this is the case you would need to outline the existing funding partnership and demonstrate the significant additional value that VicHealth funding would bring to the program. For instance you would need to show VicHealth that our funding would make a significant impact on reaching less active young people aged 12 -17.
VicHealth will not fund any organisation that receives sponsorship or has a commercial arrangement with any person or organisation involved in the marketing or manufacture of tobacco products.
In addition VicHealth is focussed on improving the health and wellbeing of all Victorians, with a particular focus through sport. This includes increasing the physical activity levels of less active Victorians and improving healthy food and drink choices of Victorians. As a result, we would have significant concerns with entering into any funding arrangement with any organisation who has sponsorship, a commercial agreement or partnership that contradicts VicHealth’s health promotion agenda or has a potential to bring VicHealth’s reputation into disrepute. VicHealth would seek substantial notice should any other funding arrangements be considered by a sport in relation to a VicHealth funded program.
Does VicHealth have any examples of what we consider a good product that is a perfect fit for this age group?
No. VicHealth does not have an example to share of what is a good product or a product we would fund. The best practice design and delivery principles outlined in the research are key to creating programs and products that resonate with less active young people aged 12 -17. Every sport is different - so your sport will need to consider what established products/programs are currently offered and what program has the best alignment and/or can be adapted to effectively engage this group.
We have an international or national product/program that we think might be a good fit. Can we apply for funding to bring this product to Victoria for less active people aged 12 -17?
Yes. However, VicHealth expects that if your sport applies for funding for an international or national product, that you will have the appropriate permissions and agreements in place with the owner of the program/product at least in principle at this point. Supplying a letter of support demonstrating this in principle agreement from the product owner would be important.
Consider if any of the branding requirements, product name or other restrictions (e.g. ability to change or tailor the product for young people) that may limit your ability to effectively roll out the product under VicHealth funding.
If the current name, brand or some program elements are not likely to resonate with young people (e.g. current program branding is targeted at mums) and you are limited by the owner in your ability to modify elements of the program to meet the needs of less active young people, then consider carefully whether you should move forward with your application using this program.
Can we use the funding to primarily develop a course for coaching inactive people and/or build a network of youth coaches and officiators?
No. The primary focus of the funding is on getting less active young people participating in your sport program. You should consider what support is provided to deliverers of the program to ensure they enhance the experience of the young people involved in the program, which may include the development of suitable training resources.