Elevate Learning Grants Program (Australia)

Deadline: 5-Feb-23

The Australian Sports Commission is seeking applications for its AIS Elevate Learning Grants Program to deliver a systematic approach to the education and professional development of the Performance Pathways workforce.

The Key Strategic Pillars of the AIS Performance Pathways Strategy is to develop and improve the effectiveness of Australian high-performance pathways to successfully identify, develop, support and progress talented athletes to achieve medal winning performances in the future.

A key focus area is to increase the capacity and capability of the Performance Pathways workforce, working with nationally categorized athletes at the Emerging, Developing and Podium Potential levels.

The AIS Elevate Learning Grants Program aims to deliver a bespoke approach to the education and professional development opportunities of the Performance Pathways workforce.

Purpose

• The purpose of the program is to invest in education and professional development opportunities for a sport-specific learning experience to improve the ability of the workforce to identify, develop, support and progress talented athletes (ie, categorized by the NSO).
• The cost of education, professional development opportunities and associate expenses can be supported.

The AIS Elevate Learning Grants Program targets

• Performance Pathway Coaches currently working directly with Performance Pathway athletes categorized as Emerging, Developing or Podium Potential;
• Performance Pathway Leads and Managers currently supporting the pathway network and currently working to lead with Performance Pathway athletes categorized as Emerging, Developing or Podium Potential;
• Performance Pathway Practitioners and Performance Support Team members currently working directly with Performance Pathway athletes categorized as Emerging, Developing or Podium Potential.

Grant information

• The maximum grant available to any individual is $5,000 (exclusive of GST);
• The final grant amount will be determined by the AIS as part of the assessment process. The amounts may vary between applicants and may not be the full amount applied for.;
• Applicants are encouraged to advise if there will be a co-contribution of costs towards the learning opportunity from the NSO or NIN partner (where applicable). This is favorable but not an essential requirement for the application. 

Activities and opportunities that will be supported may include (but are not limited to)

• Coaching accreditation
• Sport/discipline-specific learning courses
• Structured mentoring and training with peers (within and/or across disciplines)
• Attending conferences relevant to the performance pathway of strategic pillars
• Participation in formal network activities (e.g. attending AIS conferences)
• University or other educational based qualification relevant to the performance pathway strategic pillars
• Travel, accommodation or incidental costs associated with the above activities
  • The AIS will consider the following criteria in determining whether or not the travel and travel-related expenses are supported:
    • The travel is necessary to fulfill the objective of the activity and it directly benefits the activity, and;
    • The cost of travel is reasonable and represents efficient use of the grant.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must satisfy all of the following criteria:

• Be either a coach or practitioner working with nationally categorized pathway athlete (Emerging, Developing or Podium Potential categories), or working directly in a performance pathway environment (ie SIS.SAS);
• Be endorsed by their NSO (Performance Pathway lead) and/or an appropriate NIN Personnel from an AIS categorized sport;
• Apply for grant support for an activity commencing in 2022 and 2023 but has not been commenced at the time when the application is submitted; other
• Currently not a full time AIS or Sport Australia employee.
• An applicant can receive only one AIS Elevate Learning grant in 2022. If an applicant receives a grant in Round 1, the applicant is not eligible to apply again in Round 2 or Round 3.

For more information, visit Elevate Learning Grants Program (Australia) .