Gilchrist Foundation Sports Institution

The goal of the Gilchrist Foundation Sports Institution is to assist disadvantaged and underprivileged people to have the opportunity to live a more healthy, active and fulfilled life through the medium of sport or sport related activity.

The Foundation believes that the benefits of sport for an individual and society include:

  • the health benefits to the individual of physical activity reducing preventable disease and improving mental health and well-being;
  • facilitating the building of social wellbeing and friendship, for example allowing for different abilities to participate providing inclusive practice and social connection;
  • strengthening balance, coordination and mobility skills leading to better health;
  • teaching the individual life skills such as working as part of team, collaborating and planning, strengthening pride, developing confidence, self-discipline and self-reliance;
  • facilitating increased self-esteem through a sense of achievement;
  • promoting active inclusion by disadvantaged in society;
  • witnessing of others’ participation and the benefit of relating to mentors.

Individual Applicants:

Assistance is open to a person who is or persons who are:

  • under 25 years of age;
  • able to satisfy the Foundation that they are disadvantaged or underprivileged.
  • able to demonstrate how the proposed assistance will improve their health or welfare.

By way of example a person or persons may qualify for assistance if they:

  • reside in a poor or distressed rural, remote or regional area.
  • is an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander;
  • suffer from poverty or financial hardship (criteria based on data provided by Australian Council of Social Service);
  • are disadvantaged by their circumstances caused by family trauma such as domestic violence, criminality, alcohol or drugs.
  • have a physical or intellectual disability.
  • have suffered in a natural or man- made disaster such as fire flood or crime.
  • live in an area with high levels of youth crime.
  • live in an area with high unemployment.

Examples of p[ossible assistance are:

  • Provide lessons with a coach for a period.
  • Enable attendance at an intensive sports camp or specialised program.
  • Assist access to sports programs or facilities or equipment;
  • Assist access to participation by a person in further training which they can take back to his or her community for example in remote regional Australia.

Groups:

The Foundation also considers requests for assistance from community groups and schools and other sections of the public which are able to demonstrate how the Foundation’s assistance will advance health outcomes or social and public welfare outcomes in that community or group, for example, a school or community in a poor or distressed rural, remote or regional area (such as an area decimated by flood or fire).

Examples of possible assistance are:

  • Assist access to participation by a person in further training which they can take back to his or her community for example in remote regional Australia;
  • Provide volunteers, mentors and role models for events or activities;
  • Contribute to a particular event to highlight the plight of individuals or groups, seeking opportunities for marginalized individuals.

Applicants will be required to provide any evidence reasonably requested by the Foundation to confirm their eligibility.

Selection Process:

Selection of who will receive assistance is at the discretion of the Foundation  which will consider whether:

An applicant meets the eligibility requirements;

The likelihood of the applicant to successfully complete the training or program or event for which the assistance is sought;

The applicant’s family or other support;

The applicant’s performance in interview with Foundation;

The capacity of the applicant to be accountable to the Foundation in relation to the support received; and

Any other criteria determined by the trustee from time to time

Application process

The Application form is available HERE.    

Applications must be completed and submitted on this website.

All information supplied as part of the application process must be true and correct at the time of submission and the Applicant must inform the Sports Institution immediately if any information supplied as part of the application becomes incorrect after the date of submission.

Applicants may attach any relevant documentation (maximum 6 documents) in support of their application e.g. resume, letters of support, certificates, evidence of eligibility etc.

The Sports Institution will take all reasonable steps to verify the validity of any application (including an Applicant’s identity, age, place of residence and relevant documentation).  

As part of the application process the Applicant must supply the name and contact details of two personal referees. Referees cannot be family members. Reference checks will be conducted and by providing contact details of a referee, the Applicant consents to this.

Every Applicant who successfully applies to the Sports Institution for assistance will receive confirmation that their application being received.

Awarding of Assistance

Assistance is provided to Applicants at the absolute discretion of the Foundation.

The total amount of Assistance will vary according to the applicant, and the support required based on the application.

Assistance may be paid directly to the Recipient by electronic funds transfer into their bank account or to the service provider who/ which is providing assistance to the Recipient.

Assistance might be provided to a Recipient to meet costs associated with them accessing sport  including:

tuition or training costs for a fixed period;

cost of equipment, uniform up to a total amount;

contribution towards costs of living away from home up to a fixed amount;

travel costs up to a fixed amount.

Acceptance of Assistance

When an offer of assistance is made, it is the responsibility of the Recipient to accept the offer in writing within the given time period. Failure to accept the offer within this timeframe may result in the offer of assistance being withdrawn at the discretion of the Foundation.

Recipients must agree to:

use any Assistance for the purpose it is provided,

participate in an evaluation process undertaken by the Foundation,

to provide reports on their progress to the Sports Institution on request,

to their service provider such as their coach providing reports on their progress to the Sports Institution on request.

Termination of Assistance

The Sports Institution has discretion to terminate Assistance or not make any further payments at the discretion of the Foundation including if:

the behaviour of the Recipient is considered to bring the Sports Institution into disrepute;

the Sports Institution is satisfied that the Recipient has failed to comply with or meet any requirements associated with the grant of Assistance.

Once terminated, Assistance will only be reinstated at the discretion of the Foundation.

Publicity

By applying for Assistance, Applicants agree to participate in all promotional activity (such as publicity and photography) surrounding the awarding of the Assistance, free of charge. Applicants who are awarded Assistance consent to the Sports Institution using their name, likeness, image and/or voice (including photograph, film and/or recording of the same) in any media for an unlimited period without compensation for the purpose of promoting the Foundation.

Liability

Other than any liability that cannot be excluded by law (including the Australian Consumer Law), The Sports Institution (including its officers, employees and agents) excludes all liability (including negligence), for any personal injury suffered or sustained in connection with the Assistance and any loss or damage (including loss of opportunity), whether direct, indirect, special or consequential, arising in any way out of the Assistance.

Privacy Statement

The Sports Institution will collect information to manage applications for a Assistance and the awarding of Assistance to successful Applicants in accordance with its privacy policy. Personal information collected may also be disclosed to third parties with the applicant’s consent or as permitted or required by law.