There are a number of funding assistance programs available to assist athletes to attend championship events.
For specific information, please visit the websites listed below.
Emerging Athlete Pathways
The Emerging Athlete Pathways program supports eligible young athletes, coaches and officials aged 10-18 years to progress on a development pathway by providing financial assistance to help alleviate the costs associated with attending state, national and international events.
Eligible athletes, coaches and officials may apply for funding assistance for up to 2 events each financial year across any event tiers (applicants can apply for 2 events of the same tier). Funding can be applied for as soon as they, or their team, have officially been selected to attend the event, up until 6 months after the event start date.
Funding is available in the following 3 tiers:
- state or state school event
- national or national school event
- international event.
Applicants must be at least 10 years of age and under the age of 19 at the start of the event and must travel at least 125km road distance (one way) from their residence to attend the championship.
Lodging an application or meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding.
Emerging Athlete Pathways event considerations
The Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games (DSROPG) and the Emerging Athlete Pathways team are solely responsible for assessing event and applicant eligibility and therefore QRSS is unable to comment on those details. Please contact EAP@sport.qld.gov.au for information regarding event availability.
Please note that the 10-11 years rugby league (Vic Jensen) carnival and the 10-11 years netball carnival do not meet the eligibility criteria guidelines set by The Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games.
2026 QRSS event submissions
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Please login to your application and check the list for approved events - https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/emerging-athlete-pathways/apply
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1 November - 25 December 2025
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These events have been assessed. Approved events were added to the list within the Enquire application. Applications will remain open for six months from the event start date.
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26 December 2025 - 28 February 2026
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These events have been assessed. Approved events were added to the list within the Enquire application. Applications will remain open for six months from the event start date.
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1 March - 30 June 2026
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Request received from DSROPG for eligible QRSS events to be submitted for consideration. (25 February 2026).
Eligible QRSS events will undergo DSROPG's assessment and approval processes.
Approved events will be added to the list within the Enquire application. Applications will remain open for 6 months from the event start date.
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1 July onwards
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Eligible QRSS events beginning from 1 July onwards will be submitted for consideration once DSROPG open submissions.
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The Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund
The Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund proudly invests in Australia’s sporting stars of today and tomorrow by providing financial scholarships to support and empower talented young athletes who are facing barriers to achieving their dreams.
For more information, please visit the Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund website.
Australian Sports Commission – Local Sporting Champions
The Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12–18 participating in state, national or international championships. Successful applicants will receive up to $750 towards the cost of attending their nominated championships.
For more information, please visit the
Sport Australia website.
South West Indigenous Network (SWIN) Pathways Program
The
Pathways Program was created to further the sporting journeys of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people through assistance with the costs of competing, which can often exempt families from being able to send their young people to competition. This program provides pathways for young people to travel the state to represent their communities at regional and state level sporting competitions.
For more information about the SWIN Pathways Program, please visit the
SWIN website.
Play On! vouchers
Play On! assists children and young people who can least afford or may otherwise benefit from joining a sport or recreation club. Eligible children can apply for a voucher valued up to $200 which can be redeemed at a registered sport or recreation club (this is not applicable to QRSS championships).
For more information, please visit the Play On! website.
Council grants
Many local councils offer the opportunity to apply for grants for athletes who fit the eligibility criteria. Some examples include:
For more information on assistance programs in your area, please visit the regional school sport page.