Outdoor Active Recreation Program guidelines

About the program

The Outdoor Active Recreation Participation Program (program) will provide flexible and responsive investment in innovative projects which increase participation and promote inclusion in outdoor active recreation.

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) is seeking to support projects that align with the More People More Active Outdoors Framework. It is strongly encouraged that organisations familiarise themselves with this framework prior to applying.

The framework identifies 5 key pillars that underpin the benefits of outdoor recreation:

1. Personal development, challenge, and enjoyment
   • building resilience
   • fostering spirit and identity
   • changing lives of young people at risk
   • encouraging challenge and risk taking.
2. Improved health and wellbeing
   • physical and mental health benefits
   • social cohesion and inclusion
   • avoided healthcare costs.
3. Outdoor learning
   • outdoor literacy
   • outdoor education.
4. Connection to nature
   • getting back to nature
   • volunteering
   • environmental stewardship.
5. Economic Development
   • investment in tourism and recreational facilities
   • pathways to employment.

The framework also identifies the participation spectrum as a mechanism to improving experiences in outdoor active recreation. Progressing participants along the spectrum from Aware to Independent is key to getting more people to be more active outdoors.

Definitions

Outdoor recreation

is activities undertaken outdoors in natural, rural, or urban open spaces where the environment is an important focus of the activity and there is a relationship between the participant and the outdoor environment, involving either interaction or appreciation and which may require modification or enhancement of outdoor settings to enable these activities to occur.

Active recreation

is activities engaged in for the purpose of relaxation, health and wellbeing or enjoyment with the primary activity requiring physical exertion, and the primary focus on human activity.

Innovation

refers to new, clever ideas or changes to previous processes, programs, products, or services to adapt and respond to the community. Innovation is change that adds value.

Objectives

1. Increase inclusive participation opportunities for all Western Australians to actively engage in outdoor recreation.
2. Provide opportunity for people to participate in outdoor active recreation to help develop resilience, leadership, problem solving skills and build lifelong involvement and healthy habits. 
3. Provide opportunity to move people from Aware to Independent (as identified in the framework).
4. Support outdoor active recreation organisations to streamline their business and deliver their activities in an innovative/different way.

Funding

Grants between $5000 to $50,000 are available via a competitive funding round.

Grants will be allocated across a range of project sizes and funding amounts to support recreation organisations of varying size and capacity.

Organisations are encouraged to contribute cash and/or in-kind support to the total project.

Funding can be used for

• personnel costs (e.g. employment of trainer, etc.)
• training of volunteers (e.g. attainment of skills/qualifications, Working with Children Checks, first aid training)
• venue and equipment hire (not owned or occupied by applicant)
• training and workshops
• marketing/communication costs that are directly related to the project
• administration (e.g. telephone, postage, stationary, etc.)
• catering
• provision of interpreting and translating services
• transport/travel (e.g. participant bus transport, facilitator travel to regional locations, etc.)
• insurance (for applications not greater than $5000 only). 

Funding cannot be used for

• existing programs, competitions, activities, or work that can be delivered or extended without additional funding
• projects undertaken outside of Western Australia, including tours and camps
• projects or activities that have already been funded by DLGSC, unless it expands the reach
• single experiences or one-day events
• projects must not commence before approval has been granted by DLGSC.  No retrospective funding will be considered
• purchase of merchandise or equipment (e.g. clothing, water bottles, navigation equipment, first aid equipment, etc.)
• trophies, prize money or gifts
• individual membership fees
• capital works
• hospitality functions (e.g. catering, alcohol, entertainment).

Eligible organisations

The following organisations are eligible to apply:

• incorporated sporting, recreation and community organisations and associations
• not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee
• local governments.

In addition, to be eligible for funding, applicants must:

• be incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (WA), or an Indigenous organisation under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI), or a local government or a Company Limited by Guarantee
• possess an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• maintain appropriate and sufficient insurance cover for the duration of the project. A certificate of currency of insurance/s for the coming year should be provided upon application. (Please note, for public liability insurance, a minimum value of ten million per claim or occurrence giving rise to a claim is required)
• conform with relevant State and Commonwealth legislation (e.g. Working with Children (Criminal Records Checking) Act 2004, Liquor Control Act, and Drugs in Sport Act)
• have appropriate health and safety and risk management policies and practices in place to deliver the project/s
• organisations with outstanding acquittals for any DLGSC grant may have payments withheld until outstanding acquittal documentation is received.

Ineligible organisations

• State Government departments or agencies
• individuals or private/commercial businesses
• professional sporting bodies, or elite sporting teams.

How to apply

Application information

The application form is available to download online.

1. Read the More People More Active Outdoors Framework.
2. Read and understand the grant guidelines before commencing the application process.
3. Discuss your project with the Recreation Team prior to applying.
4. Complete all sections of the application form with relevant supporting documentation (e.g. quotes, certificate of currency of insurance, comprehensive budget, project plan, relevant risk management plan or alignment to applicable Australian Adventure Activity Standards).
5. Submit your application form and relevant supporting documentation to recreation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au by 5pm on Monday 28 March 2022.

Things to note:

• Incomplete applications may be considered unsuccessful upon receipt.
• One application per organisation will be considered.
• Late applications will not be accepted.

Key dates

• Grant round opens: 8 March 2022
• Grant round closes: 28 March 2022
• Assessment and recommendation process: April 2022
• Applicants notified: May 2022
• Payment released: June 2022
• Project delivery dates: June 2022 to June 2023.

Assessment and acquittal process

Assessment process

• DLGSC will assess applications for compliance with the eligibility criteria.
• A panel will assess eligible applications against the program objectives and assessment criteria.
• The panel recommends grant recipients to the Minister for Sport and Recreation for approval.
• Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified via email.
• Not all applications will be successful and not all applications will be funded to the full amount requested.

Assessment criteria

Each application will be assessed against the following criteria:

Aligned to framework/strategy

The project aligns with the More People More Active Outdoors Framework, or other State strategy (such as the State Disability Strategy 2020-2023 or the Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy 2021/2029).

Demonstrated need

Identify the need for the project.

Innovative approach

Demonstrate that the project is a new approach, process, partnership, or audience, or an adaptation from conventional opportunities. Not considered core business for your organisation.

Organisational and inclusive participation benefits

Demonstrate how the project will benefit the recreation industry, increase inclusive participation, and/or progress participants along the participation spectrum.

Capacity and capability

Demonstrate readiness, capacity, expertise, and skills to deliver project outcomes.

Project plan and budget

Demonstrate a realistic timeframe and relevant budget.

Grant agreement

Approved applicants will be required to enter into a grant agreement which outlines the grant conditions, key deliverables and acquittal requirements. Once signed and returned, the grant will be paid directly to the eligible applicant body.

No grant monies will be paid to an individual.

Acquittal requirements

At the completion of the project, your organisation will need to complete an acquittal report to demonstrate that the funding has been spent in accordance with the grant agreement.

Your acquittal report must be submitted within 30 days of the project completion date as specified in the grant agreement.

Conditions of funding agreements

If your organisation has an ABN and is registered for GST, the grant will be grossed up by 10 per cent of the grant amount.

If your organisation has an ABN and is not registered for GST, no GST will be paid.

DLGSC acknowledgement and evaluation

Successful organisations will be required to acknowledge DLGSC. Further details will be provided to successful applicants within their grant agreement.

Successful organisations will be required to participate in any research and/or evaluations relating to this funding and/or funded projects.

Further information

Carol Hodgen
Senior Project Officer Recreation
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
Telephone 61 8 9492 9854
Email recreation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
PO Box 8349, Perth Business Centre WA 6849
246 Vincent Street, Leederville WA 6007