Active Australia Innovation Challenge

Provides grants for new, innovative projects that get more people moving in local communities.

The Active Australia Innovation Challenge is funded by the Australian Government and delivered by the Heart Foundation. It aims to encourage community groups, councils, schools (primary and secondary), tertiary institutions (universities, TAFEs, colleges), and other organisations to raise awareness of the benefits of physical activity and develop and implement innovative project ideas to encourage physical activity in a chosen group or community.

The Active Australia Innovation Challenge is intended to support people who do not meet Australia’s Physical Activity Guidelines, are at risk of chronic disease and live in communities with high levels of physical inactivity, including rural and remote regions.

Community groups, councils, schools (primary and secondary), tertiary institutions (universities, TAFEs, colleges), and other organisations are encouraged to come up with an innovative idea. The project idea should encourage physical activity in a chosen group or community and be submitted via an online application form. Eligible ideas will be identified using the guidelines and put forward for shortlisting. Finalists will be given the opportunity to present their project proposal via video link in front of a national judging panel of experts.

Before thinking about your project, it's important that you speak with your local community to understand what's stopping them from being physically active. You can develop your idea together before starting your application.

Past grant recipients include accessible dancing nights in local halls, a high intensity exercise program for workplaces, and a sensory garden for children with special needs.

To give yourself the best chance your application should address the barriers your community faces to being physically active, the rationale for your project idea, who it's for, impact it will have, and how you plan to make it a reality. You can submit photos and videos to support your application, they don't have to be perfect. A panel of judges will review all applications, and choose a list of finalists who will be invited to explore their idea further, and pitch it to the panel.

Provides grants for new, innovative projects that get more people moving in local communities.

Who is eligible?
- You can apply if you are a community group, council, school, university, TAFE, or an individual with an ABN.
- Your project must be a new idea that helps people in your group or community be more physically active.
- Your project will be suitable for your target your audience, addressing barriers and increasing enablers.
- The projects must be delivered within 12 months.
- Your project must take place in Australia. Remote, rural or metro.
- You must have an Australian Business Number (ABN).