Remote Sporting Schools

What’s changing for remote schools?

From 2026, Sporting Schools grants for schools located in remote Australia will become annual grants (rather than a per-term cycle). Remote Sporting Schools is designed to better support the unique circumstances of schools in remote areas by providing:

• Year-round flexibility - plan and book activities across the full school year (not just term by term)
• Broader sports options - you can choose to deliver a Sporting Schools partner sport or another sport or physical activity that better suits your school
• More control spending your grant - grants up to $10,000 per school annually with more eligible grant expenses.

Explore Remote Sporting Schools

Our Remote Sporting Schools micro course is your go-to guide for making the most of the program, walking you through everything you need to know, from navigating grant applications and the School Portal, to booking with one of our 40+ national sport partners. Read now, opens in a new tab to learn how it works and how you can get involved to get Aussie kids more active, more often in remote communities.

State and Territory support

Need help connecting with sport providers in your area? Contact your Regional Sport & Recreation Office and let them know which sports you're interested in.

How do you know if your school is in a remote or very remote area?

We use the Australian Bureau of Statistics Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia Plus (ARIA+, opens in a new tab). Schools can check their location via the Australian Schools List, opens in a new tab.

Take advantage of your environment

Embrace your surroundings by offering non-traditional sports and physical activities tailored to student interests and the local environment. From skateboarding and fishing to horse riding, schools can deliver engaging experiences that resonate with students and utilise local resources effectively.

Combine with other schools to run multi-sport gala days

Schools can pool their grants together, to organise multi-sport gala days, centralising sports sessions in a larger town and serving multiple schools. This approach reduces costs, enhances efficiency, and boosts community engagement. The events can feature a variety of sports delivered over a half or a full day, providing students with exposure to a range of activities, coaching, and interschool competition throughout the semester.

No deliverer, no worries!

The grant can be used for self-delivered sports programs with over 40 sports available. Sports can send the school an equipment pack and offer basic training, along with guidance on safe usage. This gives schools confidence to lead 'free play' sports activities and games with minimal training. This gives students the opportunity to try different sports and the school even gets to keep the equipment for future use.

Intensive delivery and upskilling of communities

In very remote areas like islands and outback locations, schools can utilise their grants to cover travel and accommodation costs for deliverers. These deliverers can run intensive programs over several days, residing within the local community. Alongside delivering sport sessions, they have the opportunity to offer professional development to older students and community members, to ensure legacy remains in the school.