Game Plan 2025: What the new changes to Australia’s sports grants could mean for you

As many of you will know, the Australian Government have, this year, introduced significant updates to the way sporting organisations (mostly schools to date) apply for and manage grants. These changes, if rolled out further, as seems likely, may mean that sporting businesses seeking grants need to reconsider structures and governance. This may include your finance function.

At their heart, these changes seem designed to streamline funding processes, improve accountability, and ensure that public funds are used effectively.

For sporting organisations, especially those operating with lean internal teams, these changes present both a challenge and an opportunity.

Organisations seeking future funding (or keeping existing funding) should be able to demonstrate:

• Robust financial systems.

• Transparent reporting mechanisms.

• The ability to manage funds centrally and efficiently.

This is where the conversation shifts from sport to strategy.

The new grant framework implicitly encourages sporting organisations to adopt centralised financial shared services, thereby consolidating functions such as budgeting, reporting, procurement, and compliance into a single, streamlined function that serves the entire organisation.

Why does that matter?

Because under the 2025 guidelines, financial governance is no longer a back-office concern—it’s a front-line requirement. Organisations that can’t demonstrate strong financial controls risk losing access to funding.

Key benefits of using an outsourced financial service (such as Navigate) include:

• Consistency in financial reporting across departments or regions.

• Improved compliance with grant conditions and audit requirements.

• Faster decision-making through real-time financial insights.

• Cost savings through reduced duplication of effort and better procurement practices.

• Future-focussed strategy as a result of accurate reports delivered early, allowing time for assessment and decision-making.

  
  

Outsourced accountancy or virtual CFO services can offer a scalable, strategic and cost-effective way to meet the new financial expectations. Consider:

• Strategic financial planning: Aligning budgets with grant cycles and program goals.

• Cash flow forecasting: Ensuring funds are available when needed.

• Grant compliance: Preparing financial reports that meet government standards.

• Procurement oversight: Helping ensure that spending aligns with grant conditions.

• Audit readiness: Maintaining documentation and systems that withstand scrutiny.

For our clients, Navigate becomes a strategic partner. We sit at your table (including in the board room).

What could this really look like on the ground?

Let’s consider a few examples:

Regional level sporting organisations

A club receives funding to run school clinics, for example. Under the new guidelines, they must track how every dollar is spent, ensure it aligns with eligible activities, and report back within strict timelines. Without an efficient an accurate accounting system, this becomes a logistical nightmare. With an outsourced finance function, they can automate reporting, manage cash flow, and stay compliant.

State level sporting organisations

Managing multiple programs across schools and regions is tough. There is a clear benefit from a finance setup that consolidates procurement, payroll, and grant reporting. Outsourcing these functions allows you to focus on program delivery and the state's future in the sport while maintaining financial integrity.

National level sporting organisations

Arguably, at national level, the complexity of managing multiple grants and stakeholders makes an even stronger case for centralised financial systems and expert financial leadership - whether in-house or outsourced. You need to keep the focus on the future of the sport as a whole.

Advice for sporting organisations in 2025

If you're considering applying for, or managing existing government sport grants this year, here’s what you should consider doing:

1. Review the guidelines thoroughly (of course)

2. Assess your financial infrastructure

Do you have the right financial expertise and system for managing grant funds? Are your reporting processes efficient and compliant? If not, it’s time to act (don't leave it too late).

3. Consider engaging an outsourced finance and accounting partner (we would say that)

Look for providers with experience in the not-for-profit or sports sector. They should understand grant compliance, financial reporting, and strategic planning. We, at Navigate, already work with some of the highest funded sporting organisations in the country. We're happy to talk or provide advice to you too.

4. Invest in financial technology

Cloud-based accounting platforms, grant management tools, and automated reporting systems can dramatically improve efficiency and accuracy. If you already have this in place, great. We at Navigate won't ask you to change that should we work together. We'll work with your systems.

A new era of accountability and opportunity when applying for sports grants?

The 2025 changes to Australia’s sport grant system are more than administrative tweaks. They, alongside newly-appointed Play Well senior boards to oversee decision-making, appear to signal a shift toward greater accountability, transparency, and strategic financial management.

For sporting organisations with their eye on a stronger future for the sport, this is a call to modernise.

Let us know if we can help or take a look at the services we offer here.