Individual grants
Individual grants
Australians have a deep passion for sport, and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to be involved in sport - as a participant, an official, an administrator or as a volunteer. From grassroots to the elite level, the ASC plays a crucial role in ensuring sport is a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone. The ASC has a strong focus on gender equity and continues to strive for equal representation in sport.
The ASC is proud of the Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) program which began in 2002 and has supported more than 27,000 women and over 800 sporting organisations.
An Australian Government initiative, the WLIS program aims to reduce gender inequality and help more women advance into leadership roles within the sport ecosystem.
The WLIS Individual Grants Program, provides women throughout Australia the opportunity to advance in their leadership journey via a range of development programs and training. In previous years courses undertaken by recipients have included these topics:
- Leadership Skills and Management
- Sports Administration
- Communications and Media
- Coaching and officiating
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- People and Culture
- Integrity
- Finance
- Sport science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine (STEMM)
Please Note: Governance courses are no longer included in the WLIS Individual Grants Program. A separate approach to supporting governance training is currently being developed and will be communicated through relevant channels once available.
Important dates
Applications open: Wednesday 15 October 2025
Applications close: Friday 14 November 2025
Applicants notified: January 2026
Successful grants payment processed: January 2026
Applications must be submitted before 3:00pm AEDT. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Please note the closing times and time differences for each state below.
- NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS: 3:00pm
- QLD: 2:00pm
- SA: 2:30pm
- NT: 1:30pm
- WA: 12:00pm
Guidelines
The WLIS guidelines set out the funding requirement for the WLIS Individual Grants Program. Please read these carefully prior to applying.
2026 WLIS Individual Grant Guidelines
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible you must meet these criteria:
- Identify as a woman
- Aged 18 years or over
- An Australian citizen or have been granted permanent residence status
- Currently involved in a paid or volunteer capacity for either:
- A National Sporting Organisation (NSO) or National Sporting Organisation for people with Disability (NSOD), recognised by the ASC (Australian Sports Directory)
- Local Club or State/Territory Sporting Organisations (SSO) affiliated with an NSO or NSOD recognised by the ASC (Australian Sports Directory)
- Commonwealth Games Association,
- The National Institute Network (NIN),
- Australian Sports Foundation
- A media organisation as a sport journalist/writer
- Not be a current employee of the ASC
- Not have received support through the WLIS program within the last two years^ (Please note: This does not include participation in the WLIS Workshops)
- Not have any outstanding debts or reporting requirements through other funding programs or services administered by the ASC.
- Selected course/training must commence in 2026.
- Supporting organisation is not named on the Workplace Gender Equality Agency website non-compliant organisations list., opens in a new tab
- Supporting organisation is not named in the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, opens in a new tab on its list of “Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme, opens in a new tab”.
*Current employee also includes consultants contracted to the ASC where this engagement is the only link to the sporting sector. ASC cannot be the supporting organisation. ^WLIS Programs refer to; Individual Grants, Athlete Accelerate, Talent Development Programs
Applicants must meet all the above eligibility requirements. The ASC may at its sole discretion, offer an applicant special consideration if an eligibility requirement set out in the guidelines cannot be met due to extenuating circumstances.
Funding
In 2026, $200,000 (GST exclusive) is available to support professional development and training for eligible women in the sporting sector. This amount will be allocated across the following three tiers:
Tier | Course Level | Maximum Grant Amount (excl GST) | Total Tier Funds Available |
Tier 1 | Advanced professional development courses | $8000 - $10,000 | Approx. $50,000 |
Tier 2 | Intermediate professional development courses | $4000 - $7,999 | Approx. $80,000 |
Tier 3 | Foundational professional development courses | $0 - $3,999 | Approx. $70,000 |
Total program funds | $200,000 |
Please note: Only one application per applicant will be accepted. If more than one application is submitted, the last submitted application will be assessed.
How to apply
Before you apply, please read these 2026 WLIS Individual Grant Guidelines to make sure you understand all relevant requirements.
The ASC is committed to ensuring inclusivity in our grant processes. If you are unable to submit the application online, please contract wlis@ausport.gov.au or call (02) 6214 1463 to discuss other options for submission.
Only one application per applicant will be accepted. If more than one application is submitted, the last submitted application will be assessed.
- Check your eligibility: Individuals will need to ensure they have met the eligibility criteria.
- Application format: Determine if you will be submitting an online written application or a video submission
- Gain a Letter of Support Template: Obtain a letter of support from your manager, direct report or person within the organisation you volunteer with. The letter of support must include:
- The endorser’s name and job title
- The endorser’s organisation (e.g. NSO)
- Identifies the individual as being the applicant for the grant
- Expresses support for the specific course/project/activity being proposed
- Identify the course: Gather course details including:
- Course Title
- Course Fees
- Course provider
- Course dates
- Website link
- Prepare your assessment criteria response: It is suggested that applicants prepare responses to the assessment criteria in Word, to ensure correct spelling and punctuation
- Complete the online application form, opens in a new tab: You will need to create an online account and login.
- Submit your application
Please note: Individual Grant applicants who submit video responses to address the assessment criteria, will still be required to complete the other components of the online application form and submit responses in line with the process, including the closing date for applications.
The application process will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
If the application cannot be completed in one session, you can save the application and return to it later using your login details.
You will have access to your application after submitting but you will not be able to amend an application once submitted. Should you have any issues post submission please contact the WLIS team WLIS@ausport.gov.au
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the information within the application is complete and accurate. Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code 1995.
Additional information
Assessment and approvals
All applications will first be reviewed by the ASC to confirm they meet the eligibility criteria. Applications which do not meet the eligibility criteria will not progress further in the process.
An internal assessment panel will convene and assess all eligible applications against the criteria. The assessment panel will be made up of ASC staff. The assessment panel will make their recommendations to the ASC Executive General Manager Diversity, People and Culture who will be responsible for the final decision including:
- The approval of the grant recipients,
- The grant amount to be awarded, and
- The terms and conditions of the grants.
All decisions about funding are at the sole and absolute discretion of the ASC. Decisions are final and there is no appeal process.
Enquiries and feedback
If you have any questions regarding the WLIS program, please email wlis@ausport.gov.au
If you wish to lodge a complaint regarding the program this can be done via ASC’s complaints form: https://www.ausport.gov.au/contacts/feedback-and-complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
General questions
Under no circumstances will extensions be given.
If you need to edit your submitted application (before the closing date only), please email wlis@ausport.gov.au and request your form to be reopened. Please allow sufficient time for the team to respond to this request. Requests made on the day of closing may not be actioned.
Note: Applications cannot be changed after the closing date.
Please email Funding@ausport.gov.au
You will be notified of the outcome of your application by December 2024 via Smartygrants.
For probity reasons and to treat all applicants fairly and equally, it is not possible to give out information about the status of applications during the assessment process.
If you are successful, a letter of offer including the grant terms and conditions will be sent via Smartygrants. Grant payments will be processed within 10 days after the letter of offer and terms and conditions have been signed and returned to the ASC. Commencing December 2024.
Eligible applications will progress to the preliminary assessment phase where they will be assessed by an internal panel made up of ASC staff, based on responses provided in the application.
Shortlisted applications will proceed to the selection panel which will comprise representatives from NSO/NSODs and the ASC.
The external panel will make their recommendations to the ASC Executive General Manager, Diversity, People and Culture who will be responsible for the final decision.
Yes. Each grant application is assessed on how well it addresses the assessment criteria in comparing with other applications.
Requests for feedback should be directed to wlis@ausport.gov.au
No. The decisions are final and there is no appeal process.
Please email your enquiries to wlis@ausport.gov.au
Individual grants
For the purposes of its programs including the Women Leaders in Sport program, the ASC follows the Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender (published by the Attorney-General’s Department in July 2013 and updated November 2015).
These guidelines indicate "the Australian Government recognises that individuals may identify and be recognised within the community as a gender other than the sex they were assigned at birth or during infancy, or as a gender which is not exclusively male or female. This should be recognised and reflected in their personal records held by Australian Government departments and agencies."
Yes, employees of the National Institute Network are eligible to apply have a letter of support from their manager/supervisor to continue to support their career development.
Yes, employees of CombatAUS are eligible to apply.
No, applications from STASR employees will not be accepted.
No - applicants who have received an individual WLIS grant in the past 2 years are not eligible (Please note: this does not include attendance at a WLIS workshop)
No - only one application per applicant will be accepted for an individual grant and only one course can be applied for.
If more than one application is submitted, the last submitted application will be assessed.
Course level is defined by the degree of difficulty or complexity of the content of the course in a specific subject area.
No. The grant funding must be paid into your personal account.
The ASC encourages recipients to seek professional tax advice in relation to any impact that the WLIS grant may have on your personal tax situation. The ASC is unable to provide specific advice given each individuals’ tax situation is different.
You will need to discuss and seek support from the relevant recognised National Sporting Organisation.
Yes, you are eligible. The club will need to be associated with a state sporting organisation that is affiliated with a national sporting organisation recognised by the ASC (listed here).
You will need to obtain a letter of support from your Club President (if you are the club president, please obtain a letter of support from a committee member).
To be eligible for a WLIS grant you must hold a paid or volunteer role within your club.
No, Education/subject units that is part of a program leading to a degree where the applicant has the option to defer fees to HECS-HELP loans. Short/ standalone courses at universities or other institutions are eligible
No. However if you work or volunteer at a sporting organisation or club you are able to apply. The club will need to be affiliated with a National Sporting Organisation that is recognised by the ASC
You will need to obtain a letter of support from your Club President.
If your course is cancelled or postponed, you can request an extension or identify a replacement course and submit a request for change by emailing wlis@ausport.gov.au. Approval of your request is not guaranteed. The ASC will consider the request based on the length of extension and the suitability of the replacement course.
If a suitable arrangement cannot be made you will be required to repay the full amount of the grant back to the ASC.
Successful completion of your course is a condition of the grant funding. If you fail your course you will be required to repay the grant funding to the ASC.
- Club level- The Club President or Vice President
- If you are the president, please obtain your letter of support from a committee member
- NSO/SSO – manager/direct report
- Media - letter from a manager within your organisation or a letter of endorsement from a professional reference
Important: You can not endorse your own letter of support.
No. Individuals should submit their own applications as the courses should be specific to their own professional development. The grant must be paid to and managed by the individual. Not the organisation.
Organisation grants
No - to be eligible for an organisation grant your organisation must be a National Sporting Organisation, or be a state/territory sporting organisation of, that is recognised by the ASC (listed here)
No - to be eligible for an organisation grant your organisation must be a National Sporting Organisation, or be a state/territory sporting organisation of, that is recognised by the ASC (listed here)
The support letter must be provided by the Chair or CEO or Equivalent.
It is highly recommended you contact the WLIS team to discuss your project before you apply, to set up a meeting please email wlis@ausport.gov.au
The ASC encourages all grant recipients to promote their stories and achievements via social media.
Please reference the ‘Women Leaders in Sport Program’, tag the ASC by searching 'Australian Sports Commission' on LinkedIn,, opens in a new tabFacebook,, opens in a new tabTwitter,, opens in a new tab and Instagram, opens in a new tab, and don't forget to include the hashtag #WLIS.
We advise using the Australian Sports Commission and AIS logos on any promotional materials produced. Logos and guidelines for use of Australian Government acknowledgment and crest can be accessed via our clearinghouse for sport: ASC Communications | Clearinghouse for Sport. If you have any questions regarding branding or use of logos please contact marketing@ausport.gov.au
When acknowledging the Australia Sports Commission Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) grants please include the following
‘The Australian Sports Commission manages the Women Leaders in Sport program through the support of the Office for Women.’
Women Leaders in Sport – Individual Grants program
Please note: the below list is an example of courses previously applied for. We recommend you use this as a guide only and undertake your own research to meet your training and development needs.
WLIS individual grant - course examples (updated 2025)
Letter of support
An endorsed letter of support from your manager, direct report, or colleague within the organisation you are employed at or volunteer with, must accompany the individual grant application (uploaded at time of application).
Please limit the supporting letter to one page and include the following information:
- Confirm the applicants’ position within the organisation and length of employment or volunteer period
- Outline how the organisation will support the applicants career development after completing the selected training/ course.
- Be signed and dated by support person
Please note that you cannot be the endorser of your own application.