Frequently Asked Questions

Prior to nominating athletes for dAIS support, NSO/Ds using the National Athlete Categorisation Framework (NACF) as a guide, develop sport-specific athlete categorisation performance matrix and guidelines. The Matrix defines each NACF level as it relates to the NSO/D evidence informed What it Takes to Win (WITTW), Athlete Development Framework (ADF) and HP sport strategy. The Guidelines outline the policies and processes of annual athlete categorisation including what is required, when it is required and how categorisation will be considered. 

These underpin the identification of athletes on a performance trajectory, monitoring athlete progression over time and informing prioritisation of support to athletes ensuring the greatest opportunity for future success. dAIS aligns with the sport specific athlete categorisation performance matrix and guidelines, and an athlete will receive funding aligned to their categorisation with prioritisation of podium performance trajectories within the current cycle.

dAIS nominations will take place only once a year and athletes will receive payments twice a year, in line with the ATO tax-class ruling. More frequent payments (e.g., monthly) would impact the tax class-ruling to the detriment of losing the tax-free benefit of dAIS.

If you have received dAIS in the past, your future grant amount might differ from the amount you used to receive. The new amount aligns with your Athlete Categorisation level that is determined by your NSO/D.

dAIS nominations will take place once each financial year in line with the annual Athlete Categorisation process. NSO/Ds, in collaboration with the ASC, will have the discretion to elect the time of year in which they nominate athletes for dAIS support. 

To be eligible to nominate athletes, NSOs must meet the National HP Sport Eligibility framework. The ASC will prioritise funding based on the HP2032+ Sport Strategy outcomes to ensure the right support gets to the right athletes to deliver medal-winning success at future Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games.

• For the benefit of athletes, dAIS is tax exempt.
• The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has issued a class ruling for dAIS. The ruling states that grants received by an athlete under dAIS are not assessable income provided that the athlete is not carrying on a business as a sportsperson. The dAIS class ruling is available on the ATO website., opens in a new tab
• Grants amounts that are periodical, regular or recurrent, and relied upon by the recipient for their regular maintenance and paid to them for that purpose are likely to be ordinary income which will be an assessable income.
• Therefore, NSO/Ds are required to submit new nominations for each round. There is no guarantee that an athlete who receives dAIS in a particular round will be offered dAIS in a subsequent round.

All NSO/Ds are required to address, within their own sport specific athlete categorisation framework, associated policies to categorise athletes for dAIS eligibility under the following:

• Short and long-term major injury and illness;
• Time away from competition;
• Transitioning into a sport from another; and
• Pregnancy.

It is important these policies are not confused with employee policies (e.g. maternity leave policy, paternity leave policy). The NSO/D associated policies are for purpose of athlete categorisation, not employment.

In terms of dAIS support, the ASC does not have any influence or consideration in respect of employment policies, as athletes are not employees of the ASC.

The NSO/D is responsible for developing the associated policies for dAIS eligibility, as part of their sport-specific Athlete Categorisation framework. Support from the ASC is available where required.

To support NSO/Ds in developing the associated policies for dAIS eligibility, the ASC has provided guidance notes in appendix A of the Guidelines. 

The associated policies for dAIS eligibility are to ensure NSO/D’s have effective policies in place to provide athletes with greater certainty in areas of support, such as dAIS. Historically, the ASC has centrally managed the application of special consideration cases as pregnancy, illness, and injury; however, the AIS acknowledge that all NSO/Ds are different, and therefore NSO/Ds should be responsible for developing their own sport-specific criteria based on specific situations that are unique to their athletes.

To be eligible for dAIS support under an associated policy, an athlete must meet the requirements outlined in their NSO/D Associated Policy Athlete Categorisation matrix, as agreed by the ASC.

If a NSO/D elects to nominate an athlete under an associated policy for dAIS eligibility, athletes will be supported as part of the total dAIS allocation available to the NSO/D.

It is important to note that the Guidelines for NSO/D dAIS Associated Policies are related to eligibility for dAIS support ONLY. These policies are not confused with employee policies (e.g. maternity leave policy, paternity leave policy). The NSO/D associated policies are for purpose of athlete categorisation, not employment.

In terms of dAIS support, the ASC does not have any influence or consideration in respect of employment policies, as athletes are not employees of the ASC.

Unless agreed with the ASC as part of the NSO/D’s associated policies, dAIS allocations are full allocations for a 12-month period.

The ASC has secured additional funding to support athletes who are transitioning out of high performance sport (retirement or non-selection resulting in non-categorisation).

NSO/Ds will implement clear sport-specific guidelines defining transition out from high performance sport (retirement or non-selection resulting in non-categorisation), and only athletes who meet these criteria are eligible for this support.

Retiring athletes who have a history of contributing to their sport outcomes may be eligible for half an allocation of dAIS (at the level they were last categorised at) on the recommendation of the NSO/D.

Athletes who fall into this category may still be eligible for dAIS for a period of 6 months if they meet the following minimum criteria:

• Prior to transitioning out of high performance sport, the athlete was categorised as podium, podium ready or podium potential within the sports athlete categorisation matrix AND be receiving dAIS support in the past 12 months;
• The athlete has developed a transition plan with a member of the sport specific AW&E team (or equivalent) and meets regularly focussing on maintaining their wellbeing during the transition; and
• The NSO/D may require that the athlete contributes to the sport in a specific way as part of being nominated for dAIS e.g., speaking at camps, promo material for upcoming events, inclusion in formal or informal mentoring programs, developing a plan to transition to sport specific coaching/administration/support services etc.

Not all categorised athletes will be eligible for Transition support due to affordability constraints.

• There is no restriction on how athletes should spend the dAIS grant. 
• While athletes have full autonomy over how they spend their dAIS, the primary intent is to reduce cost of living pressures. dAIS is not intended to subsidise expenses that should be covered by other funding sources within the HP system. 
• Athletes are encouraged to seek support from their NSO/D Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement staff if needed. 

• The standard government grant processes request recipients to acquit grants received.
• The ASC does not request this of all dAIS athletes.
• Instead each round only a small sample of dAIS athletes will be selected to go through the audit process.