Led by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), the National Sport Research Agenda (NSRA) brings the Australian sports sector together to identify and provide guidance on priority areas of research.
The NSRA includes a research theme entitled, 'Sport System Sustainability'. The ASC has also prioritised 'Sports are thriving' as an important goal, and the recently released 'Sport Horizon - National Sport Strategy 2024-2032' identified 'Sustainability' as a guiding principle:
“An innovative, resilient and sustainable sport sector that builds capacity and capability and works collaboratively to achieve strategic outcomes, such as ensuring the efficient use of resources to maintain and grow involvement in sport at all levels and locations".
National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) are a key stakeholder in the delivery of value to the Australian sporting community, and their sustainability as organisations is in the interests of the Australian sport sector.
Purpose
Aligned to the NSRA theme of "Sport system sustainability", this research grant is made available to address the following research question:
What are the costs associated with the governance and operating structures in the delivery of sport, and what are the major factors that contribute to these costs?
We are seeking to expand on our current understanding and analysis of known governance and operating models within sporting organisations (for example, federated, one management, unitary, and hybrid) including:
ASC-Research-and-Innovation-Grant-Guidelines.pdf
Recommendations-for-conducting-AIS-supported-research-2022_08.pdf
The total budget for the 2025 ASC R&D Grants program is $100,000 (exclusive of GST).
The ASC will determine the final grant amount as part of the assessment process.
It is intended that the project(s) will commence in 2025 and be completed within twelve months from the commencement date, however the time frame may vary subject to written agreement with the ASC.
Please refer to the Guidelines for detailed information on the application process.
The ASC will only accept applications from Eligible Organisations.
An investigator may only be named Principal Investigator on one application. There is no limit to the number of applications on which an investigator may be named as an Associate Investigator. ASC staff and/or ASC affiliates are ineligible to apply as Principal Investigator.
The ASC encourages collaboration between ‘value add’ partners including National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) and / or National Sporting Organisations for people with a disability (NSODs) as recognised by the Australian Sports Commission, as well as Paralympics Australia, the Australian Olympic Committee, and the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, State Institutes and Academies of Sport, other research organisations and other industry partners.
The ASC is focused on world best outcomes, so any Eligible Organisation that can deliver on the Grant’s objectives are encouraged to apply.
The ASC will only accept applications from Eligible Organisations as identified below.
Eligible Organisations
To be eligible, Organisations, must:
Additionally, the Administering Organisation must:
additionally, the Administering Organisation and Other Eligible Organisation(s) must:
Eligible grant activities
All items for which grant money is sought must be justified in the application to the ASC’s satisfaction.
Grant funds are for the explicit use of supporting the research proposal that has been submitted. The ASC encourages the use of part of the funds to engage a statistician and/or expert(s) in research methodology (e.g. trialist and/or epidemiologist with accreditation, formal education or documented experience).
Ineligible grant activities
Funds are not to be used for the purchase of capital expenditure of any kind including computer hardware, office furniture or clinical machinery unless approved in writing by the ASC. Funds are not to be used for the purposes of covering organisational overhead costs, unless approved in writing by the ASC. Funds are not to be used for costs not directly related to the project, including but not limited to, professional membership fees, fees for patent application and maintenance.
The ASC may, at its absolute discretion, determine whether any project costs involve items not permitted. If such a determination is made, then the ASC may decide to not support part or all the application for funding.
Applications must be submitted online during the application period.
To apply, you must:
Please ensure your application is complete and accurate. Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). We will investigate false or misleading information and may not consider your application for the grant.
If you find an error in your application after submitting it, you should notify us immediately at funding@ausport.gov.au. You cannot change your application after the closing date and time, unless invited to by the ASC.
The ASC will not accept applications submitted after the published deadline, unless it is satisfactorily proven that a technical issue has prevented the applicant from submitting their application in time.
If you have any questions regarding the 2025 ASC Research and innovation Grants Program, please contact the ASC Research Office via aisresearch@ausport.gov.au
The ASC adopts the ARC’s Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE) Statement, supporting equitable access to research funding. The ASC is seeking to increase equity in grant programs through improved advertising mechanisms and changes to the application and selection processes.
The ASC will appoint a Selection Committee to:
The Selection Committee comprises of:
During the assessment, the ASC may request additional information, which does not change the nature of the application. Applications will undergo a preliminary review by ASC R&D Administration to determine eligibility, prior to being scored and ranked by the Selection Committee.
After shortlisting, the ASC will interview shortlisted applicants to clarify details of the proposed R&D application. Final determination of grant allocation will be decided by the Grant Approver.
In agreement with the Australian Research Council’s suggestion, the ASC recommends all assessors undergo a process to identify and raise awareness of personal biases, question the basis for thoughts and feelings, build skills in cultural diversity and reflect on the strength of a culture that embraces differences.
Assessment Considerations
All applications will be considered through a competitive process, based on how well they meet the assessment considerations and how they are ranked against each other.
Below is a list of considerations that will guide decision-making by the Selection Committee.
Criterion 1 – Investigators – 40%
Assessment against the ‘investigators’ criterion should include consideration of the opportunities the applicants have had to build their profiles.*
Criterion 2 –Value for Money – 30%
Assessment of the budget request, in kind contributions and leverage of funding.
Criterion 3 – Project – 30%
* For example, researchers who are early in their research career or have had an interrupted research career, including employment outside academia, unemployment, child birth, carers’ responsibilities and other personal circumstances, will have this taken into account. This provides assessors with information to determine whether a Principal Investigator (PI) has had extensive opportunity for research compared to a PI who may have had more limited time for research. In this way, the quality and benefit of achievements are given more weight than the quantity or rate of particular achievements enabling excellent researchers to be competitive regardless of their career path. (from: https://www.arc.gov.au/funding-research/peer-review/assessment-process), opens in a new tab
# For example, assessment of the publications track record will not include a list of all publications, and will instead focus on up to 10 of the Research Group’s nominated best publications from the past 10 years (taking into consideration career disruptions). This will help to ensure that assessment of publication track record focuses on the quality and contribution to science rather than the quantity of publications. (adapted from: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/funding/peer-review-system/publication-assessment-track-record, opens in a new tab)
The Manager, ASC Research and Innovation, following the Selection Committee recommendations, will submit a proposal to the Grant Approver, the ASC Executive GM, Strategy, Insights and Innovation who makes the final decision including:
All applicants will be notified by email of the outcome of their application including:
Successful applicants will be required to enter a ‘Research Funding Agreement’ (RFA) with the ASC. The Agreement will set out the general terms of the relationship, with details of specific research projects to be set out in the ‘Project Schedules’ of the Agreement. Funding will be granted upon signing the Agreement, but specific project funding will be allocated by mutual agreement in accordance with the relevant provisions in the Agreement.
The ASC has a strategic mandate to generate knowledge for the benefit of the Australian sports sector through its research funding. Therefore, the research funding agreement for successful applicants, seeks a licence for the ASC to share the results of research with the sports sector. More broadly, research applicants are expected to be compliant with the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research, opens in a new tab.
Applicants should also be aware that breaches of the funding agreement or failure to comply with agreed obligations may affect the eligibility of future grant applications.
At its absolute discretion, the ASC may contact unsuccessful applicants to discuss elements of their application, unless otherwise indicated in the application process.
Grant recipients are required to:
Any conflicts of interest could affect the performance of the grant opportunity or Program. There may be a conflict of interest, or perceived conflict of interest, if ASC staff, any member of the Assessment Panel, a committee or advisor, and/or the applicant, for example:
Applicants will be asked to declare, as part of your application, any perceived or existing conflicts of interests or that, to the best of your knowledge, there is no conflict of interest. If you later identify an actual, apparent, or potential conflict of interest, the ASC must be informed in writing immediately.
Conflicts of interest for ASC staff will be handled in accordance with ASC’s Conflict of Interest Policy. Selection Committee members will also be required to declare any conflicts of interest.
The ASC will treat any personal information in accordance with the Privacy ACT 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles.
Personal information can only be disclosed to someone for the primary purpose for which it is collected unless an exemption applies.
Personal information submitted via the online application is collected by the ASC for the purpose of considering applications for and administering the Program.
The personal details of successful applicants (including name, home state, sport, the value of the grant awarded and a brief description of the purpose for the program) may be released by the ASC to the public and the media for the use of promotional and educational purposes.
To view the ASC Privacy Policy visit: https://www.sportaus.gov.au/legal_information/privacy_policy
If you have any questions regarding the 2025 ASC R&I Grants Program, please contact the ASC Research Office via aisresearch@ausport.gov.au
If you wish to lodge a complaint regarding the program, this can be done using the ASC complaints form.
If you have any questions regarding the ASC Research Grants Program, please contact the ASC Research Office via aisresearch@ausport.gov.au.