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SA South Australian Football Facilities Fund Round 4

SA South Australian Football Facilities Fund Round 4

  • Significant Strategic Projects: Up to $300,000.
  • Strategic Projects, changerooms: Up to $200,000.
  • Strategic Projects, new oval or oval reconstruction: Up to $150,000.
  • Strategic Projects, new sports lighting or full replacement of poles and lights: Up to $100,000.
  • Strategic Projects, lighting luminaire upgrades: Up to 50% of total project costs, capped at $75,000.
  • Strategic Projects, irrigation or drainage upgrades: Up to 50% of total project costs, capped at $75,000.
  • Supporting Infrastructure Projects, goal posts, behind-goal netting, timekeepers facilities, interchange facilities and coaches boxes: Up to 50% of total project costs, capped at $50,000.
  • Supporting Infrastructure Projects, permanent electronic scoreboards: Up to 50% of total project costs, capped at $25,000.
  • Significant and Strategic Projects do not require a fully confirmed funding model when the application is submitted. Applicants must provide a clear funding strategy and identify potential funding sources and co-contributions.
  • Supporting Infrastructure Projects require matched funding and a fully confirmed, project-ready funding model.
  • Financial and in-kind contributions must be identified and supported by evidence where applicable.
  • Applications close: February 8th 2027 at 5.00 pm.
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The South Australian Football Facilities Fund supports the development of Australian Rules football facilities across South Australia. Round 4 provides funding for facilities that are inclusive, accessible, welcoming and fit for purpose.

Funding is available for significant strategic developments, capacity and inclusion improvements, and supporting infrastructure. Eligible projects may include precinct upgrades, new or redeveloped changerooms, sports lighting, oval reconstruction, irrigation, drainage, goal posts, behind-goal netting, interchange facilities, coaches boxes and permanent electronic scoreboards.

The program seeks to increase venue capacity, support growing participation, improve facilities for participants of all genders and abilities, strengthen player and umpire pathways, and improve experiences for volunteers, spectators and the broader community. Projects must be located in South Australia and demonstrate appropriate planning, stakeholder engagement, land tenure arrangements, costings and project delivery capacity.

Key Requirements

  • Inclusive and accessible facilities: Projects should provide fit-for-purpose facilities that accommodate diverse participants, particularly participants of all genders and abilities.
  • Venue capacity: Projects should improve the carrying capacity, quality or functionality of existing venues or increase facility supply through new ovals, particularly in growth areas.
  • Participation and pathways: Applicants must explain how the project will improve or sustain participation in South Australian football and support player and umpire pathways where relevant.
  • Community outcomes: Projects should improve safety, functionality and the experience provided to participants, officials, volunteers, spectators and community users.
  • Project readiness: Applications must clearly define the project scope, methodology, delivery timeframe and project management arrangements.
  • Facility standards: Projects must meet relevant Australian standards and align with the AFL Preferred Community Facility Guidelines.
  • Land and venue arrangements: Applicants must demonstrate relevant land tenure and have approval, support or acknowledgement from the venue owner. If the applicant does not own the land, an appropriate occupancy arrangement is required.
  • Planning and cost evidence: Applications must include relevant plans, quotes, cost estimates and evidence supporting proposed funding sources and contributions.
  • Strategic justification: Applicants must demonstrate the need for the project, its alignment with local or regional planning, and how it addresses an identified facility or community need.
  • Stakeholder engagement: Applicants must demonstrate consultation with relevant stakeholders, which may include venue owners, football organisations, local governments, clubs and other community users

 

What is eligible for funding?

  • Full precinct upgrades that deliver transformative outcomes for football.
  • Projects that unlock new or underused green space.
  • Construction or refurbishment of player and umpire changerooms.
  • All-gender changeroom facilities.
  • New or upgraded oval lighting.
  • Oval reconstruction and new oval development.
  • Irrigation and drainage upgrades.
  • Goal posts and behind-goal netting.
  • Timekeepers facilities.
  • Interchange and coaches boxes.
  • Permanent electronic scoreboards.
  • Modular and multipurpose buildings that support club sustainability.
  • Facilities supporting spectator enjoyment, volunteer participation and safety.
  • Improvements that increase venue carrying capacity.
  • Projects supporting high-performance and participation pathways.
  • Functional, self-contained project stages.
  • Facility fit-out included as part of a broader eligible project

 

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants

  • Local governments.
  • Affiliated community football clubs.
  • SANFL League football clubs.
  • Umpire associations.
  • Schools and tertiary education institutions with strong links to football clubs or competitions and facilities used as regular community competition or training venues.
  • Schools and tertiary education institutions that commit to making facilities available for future community football use. 

Other eligibility considerations

  • The project must be located in South Australia.
  • The project must meet the AFL Preferred Community Facility Guidelines.
  • The applicant must provide evidence of approval, support or acknowledgement from the venue owner.
  • Applicants may group multiple projects into one application, but the relevant maximum funding caps still apply.
  • Applicants must provide their correct legal name and Australian Business Number.
  • Applicants without an Australian Business Number must provide a completed Statement by Supplier form.
  • If the applicant is not the landowner, an occupancy arrangement is required for at least three years.
  • Projects on school land require a completed long-term Joint Use Agreement.
  • The grant materials contain different descriptions of the requirements applying to education institutions. Applicants should apply the stricter requirement and ensure a long-term Joint Use Agreement is in place with an affiliated community or SANFL League football club

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging a professional government grant writer consultant. Avant Group is Australia’s largest independent grants advisory firm. Find out more about our government grant writing and consulting service here. 

How can I get help understanding if I’m eligible for this grant? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.