Go for Gold Fund

The objectives of the Go for Gold Fund are to:

• encourage greater physical activity and sport participation in schools across the State of Queensland, getting more children active, more often
• enhance physical activity opportunities for students and their communities in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Eligible applicants:

• state and non-state schools in Queensland (including primary, middle, high schools, and special schools)
• schools located on Norfolk Island

Eligible projects:

• building new facilities
• upgrading existing facilities
• replacing facilities at the end of their useful life
• extending the period of use of sports infrastructure

Ineligible applications:

• projects that have already commenced at the date of application
• projects with a main purpose not predominantly for use as a sporting facility
• funding sought for replacing ‘like for like’ surfaces or infrastructure not at the end of its useful life
• applications for swimming pool-related projects that don’t meet funding requirements
• funding requests for swimming pool filtration systems, chemical storage, grandstands, or fences
• applications from schools with an ICSEA of 1042 or more (Category 2 or 3 funding)
• applications exceeding Category 3 limit after location-based adjustment
• multiple or duplicate applications from a school
• applications not submitted by the school principal

1. Addressing disadvantage (40%)

Schools with a 2022 ICSEA will be scored as follows:

• 40 pts for an ICSEA below 887
• 32 pts for an ICSEA between 888 and 924
• 24 pts for an ICSEA between 925 – 945
• 16 pts for an ICSEA between 946 – 967
• 8 pts for an ICSEA between 968 – 988
• 0 pts for an ICSEA above 989

2. Ensuring best value for public funds (Value for Money) (20%)

• increase in physical activity or sport participation.
• category 2 and 3 applications should detail staffing resources and capacity to (increase) use (of) facility, including relevant sport training / coach development, and community organisation training pathways

3. Leveraging the collective impact (20%)

Commitment to community use of school sports infrastructure:

• school has an existing community hire agreement or the capacity to administer new community hire agreements
• category 2 funded projects should also detail community sporting organisations consulted about possible future use
• applicants may wish to seek co-contributions from third parties. For Category 3 funding applications, co-contributions may increase the application score
• project facilitates multiple uses or multiple user groups

4. Capacity to deliver infrastructure project (20%)

 Application addresses potential (negative) impacts, such as:

• on the local community, e.g., if field lighting has a neighborhood consultation process been included in the timeframe; or
• overuse of the facility (e.g., if fields used every day and night), parking issues (if the project increases vehicular traffic)
• application demonstrates management capacity to monitor additional cleaning/ impacts from use

Management of risks related to the delivery of physical infrastructure:

• project plan demonstrates capability to manage risks related to the delivery of school sports infrastructure, including but not limited to the following: location, design, site ownership, tenure, detailed approval pathways, and construction timeframes.
• if applicable, a community consultation strategy addressing community impacts is outlined
• for Category 3 applications, staff responsible for managing third-party use identified

You should read and understand the guidelines.

You should read the fact sheet.

You should complete the project plan.

Successful applicants will demonstrate:

• addressing disadvantage based on ICSEA scores
• ensuring best value for public funds through increased physical activity or sport participation
• leveraging the collective impact by committing to community use of school sports infrastructure and consulting with community sporting organisations
• capacity to deliver infrastructure projects by addressing potential negative impacts, demonstrating management capacity, and managing risks

New School Sports Infrastructure Planning Requirements:

• description of the proposed site’s lot on plan, address, or coordinates
• map of the location and photos of the surrounding area
• ownership or tenure information of the site
• draft building design, council flood property report (if applicable), and layout sketches
• inclusion of sustainability principles and choice of materials from a whole-of-life perspective
• initial assessment of site suitability and planning/zoning constraints
• approval pathway and timeframe for project delivery (completion by December 2025)
• list of tasks in the Delivery Strategy and indicative timeline with key milestones
• list of completed site-based investigations, assessments, and works
• non-state school applicants may seek a letter of advice from their local council
• evidence of existing development approvals or Ministerial Infrastructure Designations
• additional information may be requested during stage 2 assessment

Relevant supporting information:

• mitigation of physical constraints (e.g., unexploded ordinances, mining tenure, geophysical and geotechnical constraints)
• existing approvals under the Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999
• waterways, wetlands, protected habitats, vegetation, and hazard areas
• ownership and tenure issues, including easements, encroachments, leases, etc
• infrastructure considerations such as water supply, sewage mains, or stormwater network infrastructure

Applications are submitted online via the Queensland Government website.

Book a no obligation discovery session with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.