Innovation Challenge Program

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About the program

The Innovation Challenge Program will provide flexible and responsive investment in innovative projects which increase participation in physical activity. Projects will be supported based on need, project and organisational merit, innovation, sustainability of outcomes and consideration of the greatest return of investment. An innovative approach will be used allowing organisations to pitch their ideas through a face to face or video submission to a panel.

The program will be facilitated by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) and Healthway but driven collaboratively with community and industry ensuring it is relevant and responsive to community needs.

As part of the program Healthway is seeking to support innovative ideas that create physical activity opportunities for inactive young people and inactive girls and women. DLGSC is seeking ideas that allow sport and recreation organisations to streamline their business and deliver their activity in an innovative/different way. Further, DLGSC is also wanting ideas on how technology can be used in the sport and recreation sector.

A funding pool of $750,000 with $500,000 attributed to Healthway and $250,000 attributed to DLGSC.

What is meant by innovation?

In this context, 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.

This may include implementing new concepts, using under utilised spaces, developing new partnerships, establishing new programs outside traditional sport or recreation settings or using technology such as digital platforms and gamification to increase participation.

The program is expected to identify challenges and issues to be explored and developed, these are outlined in the primary objective and focus areas section of the document.

It is expected successful projects will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the complex nature of inactivity, barriers faced and the needs of the target group;
• Be designed and guided by the target group, including the use of co-design;
• Develop and work in quality partnerships;
• Create environments that support the change, that may include optimising the use of local facilities and spaces;
• Measure outcomes and evaluate the success of the program; and
• Identify options on how to scale-up what works and ensure sustainability.

The funding from both Healthway and DLGSC supports not-for-profit sport and active recreation organisations, to pivot operations, collaborate, innovate, develop new ways of working, maintain viability and build resilience. Local governments, tertiary institutions and community organisation who are well placed to engage at-risk groups are also able to respond to the Healthway challenges in partnership with sport and recreation organisations.

Primary objective and focus areas

The aim of the project is to develop ideas and proposals to respond to the focus areas identified by Healthway and DLGSC.

Healthway has chosen two key focus areas:

1. Create innovative physical activity opportunities for inactive young people (12 to 17 years);
2. Create innovative physical activity opportunities to engage inactive women and/or girls.

DLGSC has also chosen two focus areas:

1. Business Innovation — ideas that allow sport and recreation organisations to streamline their business and deliver their activity in an innovative/different way;
2. Using technology to drive and grow sport and recreation.

Funding may not be used for

• Project ideas that are deemed to be ‘business as usual’ for the applicant/s;
• Existing sporting programs, competitions, activities or work that can be delivered or extended without additional funding;
• Creation or extension of traditional sport competition pathways, e.g. creating a new U14 competition where there currently isn’t one in existence in a particular area;
• One-off events or activations;
• Activities delivered outside of Western Australia, including tours and camps;
• Programs delivered in schools during school hours, including those funded through the
• Australian Sports Commission’s Sporting Schools. Please note promotional activities in schools that are used to engage young people with your community sport or recreational program may be included as part of a marketing strategy, however the actual program delivery must be outside of school hours;
• Programs or participation opportunities where the intention is to deliberately injure or inflict harm on another individual;
• Project ideas that have been implemented or completed prior to the application being submitted.

Assessment criteria

Who can apply?

• Incorporated sporting, recreation and community organisations and associations.
• Local governments, tertiary institutions or community-based organisations who partner with a sport and active recreation organisations (Healthway only); Companies Limited by Guarantee where the company is wholly owned by a State Sporting Organisation.

What you must have to be eligible to apply?

• 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 $10 million per claim or occurrence giving rise to a claim is required;
• Your organisation conforms with relevant State and Federal legislation (e.g. Working with Children (Criminal Records Checking), Liquor Control, and Drugs in Sport);
• Your organisation has appropriate Health and Safety and Risk Management policies and practices in place to deliver the project(s).

Who can't apply

• State Government departments or agencies;
• Individuals or private/commercial businesses;
• Professional sporting bodies or elite sporting teams.

Application information

• Under this program, organisations may only receive one grant per financial year;
• Applicants should provide a copy of your organisation's strategic plan, latest annual report and previous two years audited financials (if not in your latest annual report).

What applications must address

Level of funding available

How to apply

1. Read the guidelines;
2. Complete the one pager ideas template to assist with your concept development (downloadable from the website);
3. Attend an applicant workshop (and bring your ideas template) — this will provide prospective applicants the knowledge and tools to develop a proposal;
4. Depending on the focus area selected, contact the relevant agency (Healthway or DLGSC) to discuss your idea prior to submission;
5. Develop appropriate community partnerships for the project;
6. Complete the application form with any relevant supporting documentation outlining how the funding will be spent;
7. Submit your application form via email to innovation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au

Assessment and notification

Key dates

The application and selection process will occur in April 2021 with funding agreement and payments occurring prior to 30 June 2021. The indicative program is as follows:

For further information

To discuss your application please contact:

Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries