Do you know a talented young athlete who needs help with their sporting travel costs?
Emerging Athlete Pathways is a Queensland Government initiative that aims to assist young Queensland athletes on their pathway to elite success. The travel subsidy provides financial assistance to athletes and officials under the age of 18 who face long travel times to get to competitions.
Eligible athletes or officials who need to travel at least 250km one way to their event can apply for up to $200 for a state or state school event, $400 for a national or national school event, or $600 for an international event.
Based on community feedback, the Queensland Government has improved the subsidy, with Emerging Athlete Pathways trialling pre-event payments from January 2020 for eligible events.
By supporting young athletes, the Queensland Government aims to assist the next generation of Queensland’s sporting talent and inspire others to lead an active lifestyle.
Pathways for athletes, coaches and officials also helps ensure young athletes are attracted to and stay in Queensland as their home state, and keeps Queensland winning.
The program is now open.
It’s all part of Activate! Queensland 2019–2029, the Queensland Government’s 10-year strategy to get more Queenslanders moving, more often.
Find out more about the travel subsidy program at qld.gov.au/emergingathletepathways.
Application process
Through the community consultation process for Activate! Queensland, athletes told us it would be helpful to receive their travel subsidy before travelling.
As a result of this feedback, Emerging Athlete Pathways will see a trial of pre-event payments come into effect from 23 January 2020.
To view the current list of eligible events, check your own eligibility, or apply for the subsidy, visit qld.gov.au/emergingathletepathways.
Adding an eligible event to the events list
- Noting that applications for the subsidy can take up to 10 weeks to process and with applicants unable to apply for pre-event payment less than 8 weeks from the event, it is vital that event nominators provide event details to Sport and Recreation well in advance to ensure they are available for pre-event payment.
- Details can be supplied now via a full 12-month calendar of events or, as events are locked in.
- If event details are not supplied sufficiently in advance, applicants may not be eligible for pre-payment but they can still apply for post-event payment as per the current program arrangement.
- Applicants can apply for the subsidy up to 16 weeks prior to an event and six months post-event.