Sport and Recreation COVID-19 Cleaning Subsidy, supported by Lotterywest guidelines

Program guidelines

Purpose

The Sport and Recreation COVID-19 Cleaning Subsidy supported by Lotterywest (COVID-19 Cleaning Subsidy) is designed to help eligible community sport and active recreation organisations, their volunteers and members manage and comply with COVID-19 related venue/equipment cleaning and personal hygiene costs.

This program consists of two subsidy streams:

Venue/clubroom cleaning and hygiene: $2000 subsidy (GST exclusive)
Organisations that own, operate or lease a facility/venue and are directly responsible for costs associated with cleaning and personal hygiene.
Hygiene and equipment cleaning: $500 subsidy (GST exclusive).

Organisations that do not operate or lease a facility/venue and are responsible for equipment cleaning and personal hygiene costs only.

The COVID-19 Cleaning Subsidy is part of the Western Australian State Government’s COVID-19 response and recovery. The State Government recognises that community sport and active recreation organisations play a valuable role in communities across the state, and that clubs and organisations are unlikely to have budgeted for additional costs associated with clubrooms/equipment cleaning and personal hygiene support for volunteers. This subsidy will assist organisations to deliver a safe and clean environment; supporting them to deliver sport, recreation and physical activity opportunities for the community.

Eligibility

Who can apply?

Applications can be submitted by any Western Australian community sport and active recreation organisations whose core business is to provide an activity/program that meets the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) definition of sportⁱ and/or active recreationⁱⁱ.

Organisations must meet the following mandatory eligibility criteria:

have a registered Australian Business Number (ABN).
the organisation’s core business is to provide an activity/program that meets DLGSC’s definition of sportⁱ and/or active recreationⁱⁱ.
if claiming the $2000 subsidy, in addition to meeting the above criteria, the organisation must operate a facility/venue where sport or active recreation activities are conducted.

Organisations must also meet one of the following:

be an incorporated association under the Associations Incorporation Act 2015 (WA); or
be a commercial club/sole trader registered and affiliated with the DLGSC recognised state sporting association for the sport/activity that the business provides.

Who cannot apply (ineligible organisations)?

The following organisations are not eligible for subsidy funding:

educational institutions, including schools, universities and TAFE colleges
social incorporated groups, including P&C’s and social recreation clubs
recreation centres
local government authorities
commercial club/sole traders/businesses, unless affiliated with DLGSC recognised state sporting association.

How funding may be used

Subsidy funding must only be used for:

equipment and materials for sanitisation, cleaning and safe participation in physical activity (for example, cleaning products, hand sanitiser, disposable face masks, Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) for volunteers)
printing of COVID-19 related signage to display around club room or grounds
costs associated with the physical cleaning of a venue (for example, paying cleaners or staff)
purchase of additional equipment to facilitate a healthy and hygienic environment for participants.

Funding not to be used for (ineligible items)

Subsidy funding cannot be used for:

purchasing new uniforms or the cost to clean uniforms (for example, dry cleaning)
cleaning equipment not used for sanitisation (for example, vacuum cleaners)
costs associated with organisation administration, fees and charges.

How to apply

Create an online account on the DLGSC KidSport portal and register your organisation’s details (skip this step if you already have an account).
Once registered, applicants can then apply for a COVID-19 Cleaning Subsidy by completing the online application form and attaching supporting documentation before the closing date and time (see below).
Wait for your application to be assessed. If required, DLGSC may request further information to assist with the assessment.

Applications open on Wednesday 18 May 2022 and close at 5pm on Monday 30 May 2022. Late applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must submit the following with their online application:

bank verification (for example, bank statement)
if applying for funding stream 1 (venue/clubroom cleaning and hygiene), submit the lease/facility documentation to demonstrate that the organisation operates a facility/venue (for example, lease agreement).

Assessment

Applications will be assessed against the eligibility criteria.
Applications will be assessed in order of date received, with approvals processed until funding is exhausted.
If approved, the applicant will be notified via email and funding will be paid electronically to the applicant’s nominated bank account.
Payments to successful applicants will take approximately four (4) weeks from closing date.
Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified via email.

Terms and conditions

By applying for the COVID-19 Cleaning Subsidy, applicants agree:

to comply with the terms and conditions applicable to the COVID-19 Cleaning Subsidy.
that DLGSC may share data to other government agencies to help determine eligibility.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they are providing true and correct information. The DLGSC reserves the right to audit subsidy recipients and examine evidence in relation to the organisation’s eligibility requirements.

Important information

Only one subsidy application per organisation

Organisations will be eligible for one subsidy only, in the nominated subsidy stream. Organisations cannot access both subsidy streams.

Organisation with multiple venues or multiple teams

Organisations cannot apply for multiple venues or multiple teams. Each eligible organisation may only apply for one subsidy payment.

Only one application is permitted for each organisation and that organisation will not be eligible for more than one subsidy payment.

Spending more than the successful subsidy amount on eligible equipment

At their own discretion, organisations may decide to spend more than the received subsidy amount on eligible equipment. However, any additional costs must be met by the organisation.

Quotes and invoices aren’t required

Organisations are not required to obtain quotes and/or invoices as part of the application process. However, claimed subsidy expenses/purchases may be subject to an audit by DLGSC or its representatives. If your organisation is requested by DLGSC to provide receipts or invoices for expenses/purchases relating to this subsidy, your organisation will be required to provide these within 10 business days of the request. Receipts must be maintained for 12 months.

Checking incorporation status

Incorporation status can be checked online at the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Associations Online or by calling 61 8 6251 2916 or 1300 30 40 74 (for country callers).

Becoming an incorporated organisation

Not-for-profit organisations can apply for incorporation at the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Associations Online or by calling 61 8 6251 2916 or 1300 30 40 74 (for country callers).

Many social, sporting and community groups can become an incorporated association under the Associations Incorporation Act 2015. The Act provides an economical and practical way to establish an incorporated legal entity with capacity to function in its own right.

Obtaining an ABN

Organisations can register for an Australian Business Number (ABN) through the Australian Government by visiting Register for an ABN or by calling 13 28 46.

Requirement to obtain an ABN and be GST registered

Organisations must have an ABN to be a part of the GST system. Organisations with an annual turnover less than $150,000 per annum are not required to register for GST, however, they still need to apply for an ABN for dealings with government and other agencies.

The Australian Taxation Office GST ruling requires the grant or subsidy recipient to have an ABN and be registered or eligible to be registered for GST.

Organisations will need an Australian Business Number (ABN) to register for GST, as the ABN is part of the GST system. The ABN will also be your GST registration number.

Key definitions

Community sport and active recreation organisation: is an organisation whose main purpose is to provide the community with a sport and recreation service and as part of that service and/or delivery, may also operate a facility where clubs are present and sporting activities take place.
State sporting association: is a DLGSC-recognised state sporting association in Western Australia.
Peak body: is a DLGSC-recognised Peak body in Western Australia.
ⁱSport: human activity capable of achieving a result requiring physical exertion and/or physical skill which, by its nature and organisation, is competitive and is generally accepted as being a sport.
ⁱⁱActive recreation: any physical activity undertaken during leisure time outside of structured, competitive sport, including unstructured play involving physical activity/exertion.
Participant: refers to a direct ‘joining in’ and active engagement by a person with a particular sport, active recreation and/or any other forms of physical activity.

Further information

If you have any questions or need help completing your application, please call the DLGSC Sport and Recreation Community Engagement team on 61 8 9492 9911 or email participation@dlgsc.wa.gov.au

Page reviewed 12 February 2024