Record investment package announced for all levels of Australian sport

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has today unveiled a record investment of $385 million in 70 sports over the next 18 months with the investment aimed at ensuring Australians have premium pathways and support at all levels of sport, from participation to high performance.

The announcement has resulted in 95% of Olympic and Paralympic summer sports receiving increased funding with an average investment increase of 64% per year, compared to the period leading up to the Paris Games.

This is the first time the ASC has allocated funding that stretches from the playground to the podium, building on the success of the sector-wide High Performance (Win Well) and Participation (Play Well) strategies.

Win Well Funding
Following 12 months of consultation with sports on their strategy and performance targets leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympics, the Win Well funding highlights include:

• More sports being supported, with an increase from 54 to 68 summer Olympic and Paralympic programs to be funded in the lead-up to LA2028

• Para sport investment doubled by an additional $54.9million over two years 

• Seven new teams to receive funding across Lacrosse, Flag Football, Goalball and Blind Football

• Two additional one-off investment streams worth over $25million, including a stream focused on addressing sector gaps related to workforce planning and staff development.

Play Well Funding
The investment in 63 sports will not only fund participation activities but also aligns with the Play Well Strategy, with highlights including:

• More sports receiving ASC investment than ever before

• $43.9million funding to create safe, welcoming, inclusive and fun places to play sport

• Five sports receiving funding for the first time: Australian Dragon Boat Federation, Handball Australia, Australian Flying Disc Association, American Football Australia and the Gaelic Football and Hurling Association of Australasia

• More than double the number of people to be directly employed to deliver participation activities across sports.

All Win Well and Play Well Funding will be allocated from 1st January 2025 until 30th June 2026. 

Federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells noted “this is a record funding package for Australian sport, so they can take full advantage of the generational opportunity between now and Brisbane 2032.

“Our record $385 million investment in high performance sport over the next 18 months, which includes a doubling of investment in Para sport, will enable our athletes to win well on the road to Los Angeles while also encouraging more Australians to play sport.

“We are creating more opportunities for more athletes by increasing the number of sports we support from 54 to 68 summer Olympic and Paralympic programs.

“It’s important that our kids and community sporting champions experience the same level of opportunity and I welcome the Play Well funding goal to create a safe, fair and sustainable sport system that grows participation and nurtures tomorrow’s champions.”

Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive Kieren Perkins added “the remaining eight years until Brisbane 2032 is our chance to unite and inspire Australia through sport.

“The Play Well and Win Well funding announced today lays the foundation to do just that. We will be supporting more Australians to enjoy their sport than ever before, from those in grassroots to our Olympians, Paralympians and Commonwealth Games athletes making us proud on the world stage.

“I would like to thank the Australian Government for their vision and ongoing support to allow all Australians to both play well and win well.”

Athletics Australia Chief Executive Simon Hollingsworth shared “Early investment in the LA cycle is so critical to setting sports up for success so that we can collectively deliver on the shared vision of the Win Well HP 2032+ Strategy.”

Boccia Australia Chair Richard Boele added “we were incredibly proud of our two silver medals in Paris and the increased investment in boccia over the next 18 months will significantly lift our performance on the road to LA2028.” Boccia is played by athletes with a significant physical impairment affecting all four limbs. Athletes compete in singles, pairs and team events.

Australian Flying Disc Association (AFDA) Chief Executive Maxwell Gratton advised “this investment enables the AFDA to capitalise on the interest in our sport by hiring additional staff, upgrading our competition management systems and growing our junior and youth participation opportunities.

“Our Ulti-Mates and Fly programs offered through Sporting Schools are also helping introduce primary and secondary school students to our wonderful game.”

Winter and Commonwealth Games only sports (Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, Snow Australia, Netball Australia and Bowls Australia) all recently received an uplift for their current investment cycle (Milano Cortina 2026 and Glasgow 2026) and will continue to be supported by ASC investment but have a different cycle due to the timing of their benchmark sporting events.

For more information about ASC funding and grants, visit www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding

Image top. Lacrosse is one of seven new teams to receive funding across. Credit: Lacrosse Australia; Image centre: ASC Play Well initiative; Image below. Australian Boccia team at Paris 2024. Credit Paralympics Australia