The Game On – Teaming up for Climate Action – Round 1 provides support for up to 500 community sports clubs across Australia to upgrade facilities for climate resilience and energy efficiency. Delivered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the programme offers one-off grants of up to $100,000 per eligible club or group of clubs, with total funding of $35.262 million available over two rounds across three years (2026–27 to 2028–29).

Overview

The Australian Government invites applications through an open non‑competitive process for projects under Outcome 1, Program 1.2: Support reliable, secure and affordable energy. The programme aims to help community sports clubs reduce energy costs and environmental impact while improving the comfort and usability of their facilities. Grants may be used for upgrades such as solar panels, energy‑efficient lighting, water‑saving measures, insulation, and other climate‑smart improvements. Groups of clubs may apply together as a consortium, allowing funding to support multiple facilities through a single application.

Funding and Benefits

• Grant amount: Up to $100,000 per application (one‑off grant).
• Total programme funding: $35.262 million across two rounds.
• Project duration: Grant activity must be completed by 20 April 2028.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have an account with an Australian financial institution.

Individual sports clubs must be one of the following entity types:

• Company
• Cooperative
• Incorporated Association
• Indigenous Corporation
• School or tertiary education institution (only if meeting additional eligibility requirements in section 4.2)

Lead organisation of a small consortium must be one of the above entity types, or:

• Corporate State or Territory Entity
• Statutory Entity
• Local government
• Non‑corporate State or Territory Entity (ACT only)

Lead organisation of a large consortium must be one of the entity types listed for small consortia, except that Local Government is not eligible for large consortia. Trustees applying on behalf of a trust must be an eligible entity type as listed above.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted via the online form on GrantConnect. To apply, applicants must:

• complete the online application form
• provide all requested information
• address all eligibility and assessment criteria
• include all necessary attachments
• submit the application to the Community Grants Hub by the deadline.

A webinar about the programme will be held on 2 July 2026 and will be recorded and made available online. Interested parties may register by emailing GameOn@dcceew.gov.au.

Deadline and Timeline

• Applications close: 28 July 2026, 9:00 pm AEST (ACT local time). Applications may close earlier if funding capacity is exceeded; early submission is encouraged.
• Assessment of applications: August 2026
• Approval of outcomes: September 2026
• Notification to applicants: October 2026
• Negotiations and award of grant agreements: November 2026
• Earliest start date of grant activity: December 2026
• End date of grant activity: 20 April 2028

Contact Information

Community Grants Hub
Email: support@communitygrants.gov.au
Web: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/contact-us

For webinar registration: GameOn@dcceew.gov.au