Safe Shooting Program

Important dates

• Applications open – 25 September 2024
• Applications closed – 1 pm, 23 October 2024
• Application assessment completion – February 2025 onwards
• Grants must be accepted – Within 2 weeks of notification of grant award.
   

Project delivery timeframe – for successful applications:
Commencement 31 May 2025 and completion by 31 May 2026

The Office of Sport reserves the right to amend any of these dates during the Program, at its absolute discretion.

Key objectives

The Program aims to enhance sport shooting facilities across New South Wales in order to provide safe, inclusive and accessible shooting environments for local communities.

The key objectives of the Program are:   

• Improve the quality and safety of existing shooting facilities across New South Wales
• Remove barriers to participation in sport and recreation for everyone but particularly for women and girls, people with disability, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTQIA+ people 
• Increase utilisation of existing shooting facilities

Funding availability

The NSW Government has allocated up to $800,000 for this Program in 2024/25.

The Safe Shooting Program provides grants between $10,000 and $50,000 per facility.

Eligible applicants

Eligible applicants are: 

• NSW incorporated, community based not-for-profit shooting organisations (clubs and associations) that are approved by the NSW Firearms Registry. 
• Shooting ranges in NSW approved and administered by the NSW Firearms Registry. 
• NSW State Sporting Organisations relevant to the sport of shooting including NSW Amateur Pistol Association, NSW Clay Target Association and NSW Rifle Association. 

Ineligible applicants

Ineligible applicants are any organisation types not listed in the ‘eligible applicants’ section, and include (but are not limited to): 

• Incorporated, community-based, not-for-profit sporting organisations (clubs and associations whose primary purpose is to organise sporting activities/deliver sport programs) outside of the sport of shooting. 
• Individuals. 
• Schools, TAFEs, and Universities. 
• Parents and Citizens (P&Cs) Associations. 
• Progress Associations. 
• NSW Institute of Sport, Australian Sports Commission (incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport) and NSW Regional Academies of Sport. 
• NSW based professional sporting organisations competing in national or state competitions. 
• NSW Department of Education operated specialist sports high schools. 
• NSW Office of Sport recognised NSW State Sporting Organisations (including National Sporting Organisations where the state body is part of a unitary governance model) outside of the sport of shooting. 
• Australian Universities with NSW campuses.   
• NSW Government agencies. 
• Local government authorities in New South Wales.  
• Regional Joint Organisations of councils, the Lord Howe Island Board and the Unincorporated Far West groups. 
• Organisations providing sport and recreation programs that benefit the community, such as PCYCs, YMCA and YWCA. 
• Private enterprises (companies established under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), incorporated associations established under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) or incorporated limited partnerships established under the Partnership Act 1892 (NSW). 

An eligible organisation will be deemed not eligible for funding under this program if they are an organisation named: (i) by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse on its list of institutions that have not joined or signified their intent not to join the Scheme; or (ii) in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that has not yet joined the National Redress Scheme. 

Eligible projects

The Program can be used for: 

• New or upgraded firearms capital equipment which includes items not permanently attached to buildings or grounds and can be purchased straight off the shelf, and/or; 
• Construction or implementation of new or upgraded infrastructure. These are generally more complex projects which require the coordination, execution, and planning of construction phases. Staged components of a larger facility development are eligible, providing the stage being applied for meets the program eligibility criteria. 

Grant funding is available to cover only the capital cost of a project and any directly related project administration costs up to 10% of total costs. The project must be on land within NSW. Applicants should submit a landowner consent form for the project on the land on which the facility is to be developed or redeveloped. For projects located on public land, a landowner consent form or signed letter of consent from the appropriate authorised delegate must be provided. Additional information also sought includes evidence of applicant’s tenure and lease arrangements.

Examples of eligible project types and project components include (but are not limited to): 

• Upgrade of firearms capital equipment and/or facilities to comply with Workplace Health & Safety legislation or as directed by the NSW Firearms Registry. 
• Construction or implementation of new or upgraded security infrastructure that improves safety for users and the wider community.  
• New and upgraded provision of universally designed amenities that are beyond compliant according to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and provide dignified inclusion in sport participation, for example disability access, unisex toilets or change rooms designed to be female-friendly, including parent and child change spaces.
• Environmentally and operationally sustainable initiatives that support water, energy and financial savings including new or upgrades to lighting including technology-controlled and LED lighting and installation of solar panels and smart metering technology. 
• Projects that contribute to the financial sustainability of eligible shooting associations or clubs.  
• Erection of higher earth mounds or safety baffles to combat urban encroachment. 
• Buying or upgrading non-fixed equipment (e.g., electronic targetry, movable baffles and moveable bullet traps). 
• Projects that improve the storage, security and safety capability of shooting clubs. 
• Note that Office of Sport will not cover the cost of project overruns. Costs exceeding the budget must be covered by the grant recipient. Contingency may be requested via the application but is not mandatory. 
• Priority may be given to facilities identified as:  
  • Being in poor or unserviceable condition.  
  • Addressing a demonstrated need for the community.  
  • High urgency to address facility building compliance requirements e.g. safety, building standards, including the DDA. 

Ineligible projects 

Ineligible projects are any projects or project components that don’t meet the “Eligible projects” section and include but are not limited to:  

• Purchase of firearms or ammunition.  
• Purchase of protective clothing.  
• Projects that do not meet relevant Australian standards. 
• Projects on private land unless there is clear public benefit to the community’s interest in sport and active recreation and have documented consent from the landowner. 
• Costs associated with preparing and submitting the application for funding under this program. 
• Costs associated with feasibility, design, or development stages including feasibility studies, business cases and masterplans. 
• Facilities where little or no public access is available. 
• For the purchase or lease of land/facility. 
• Related to administrative or operational expenditure which are normally the responsibility of businesses, state agencies or local councils. 
• Retrospective funding, where projects have commenced construction or are completed prior to the execution of a funding agreement, or which could proceed without any NSW Government financial assistance. 
• Projects that have already been funded by the NSW Government unless significant new and additional project scope is identified. 
• General maintenance or replacement costs through normal wear and tear (e.g. painting, running costs and minor repairs to existing facilities). 
• For the building or upgrade of licensed areas and gaming areas. 
• Repair of facilities where the damage can be covered by insurance. 
• Ancillary infrastructure e.g. car parks or accommodation. 
• Project administration costs and costs for the ongoing operation of the facility. 

Please Note:  

Project budgets should not include any ineligible costs and these will be removed by assessors if included, at the absolute discretion of the Office of Sport. 

Application process

Step 1: Check your eligibility

• See Eligible Applicants section of these Guidelines to see which organisations can apply for funding
• If you are not eligible, you can partner with an eligible organisation, although they will need to be the applicant organisation and submit the application

Step 2: Understand the requirements

• Before you apply, please read these guidelines and related materials to make sure you understand all relevant requirements, including whether you are eligible to apply.
• You can find the relevant information on this webpage.

Step 3: Prepare your application

• Gather your evidence including letters of support, funding commitments, development approvals/exemptions, images/plans, quotes, participation data etc.
• The Office of Sport recommends that applicants familiarise themselves with the online application form ahead of preparing the application and plan to submit ahead of the closing date to reduce the risk of missing the deadline. 
• To submit a complying application all mandatory fields must be completed, and mandatory support documents should be uploaded and submitted.
• Applying for a grant is a simple process using the SmartyGrants platform.
• SmartyGrants offers a tool, SmartyFile that allows organisations to collaborate with team members, pre-fill information into forms and manage, view, search and sort submissions across multiple funders in one spot. Applicants with an ABN can use this function. 
• For questions relating to the grants program or for specific assistance with the online system, email the Office of Sport Grants Unit at infrastructuregrants@sport.nsw.gov.au or call 13 13 02 during standard office hours.

Step 4: Submit your application

• Complete your application by filling in each of the sections.
• Upload all required supporting documentation.
• Submit your application before the closing date and time. 
• The declaration section of the application should be approved by a person who has delegated authority to sign on behalf of the organisation e.g. Chairperson, President, Chief Executive Officer, General Manager, or authorised member of the Board or Committee of the applicant. 
• Projects must be submitted through the SmartyGrants website to be considered eligible.
• Successful submissions will be issued with a SmartyGrants system generated acknowledgement email containing a PDF copy of the application which will confirm the time the application was submitted.

Late applications

• Late applications can only be made where an applicant has started an application in SmartyGrants prior to the closing date/time. 
• If for some unforeseen reason you are not able to lodge your application on time, you must contact the Office of Sport at the earliest possible time and within one hour of the closing date/time. 
• A late application will only be considered where its acceptance would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process. The final determination on whether a late application will be accepted will be made by the Grant Assessment Panel supported by an independent probity advisor. 

Late supporting documentation

• If any document is not available prior to the closing date/time and you would like to submit this for consideration you must contact infrastructuregrants@sport.nsw.gov.au to request late document submission and list the documents your request relates to.  
• Late supporting documentation will only be accepted for applications already submitted in SmartyGrants before the closing date and time and will only be considered where its acceptance would not compromise the integrity and competitiveness of the process.  
• The final determination on whether a late supporting documentation will be accepted will be made by the Grant Assessment Panel supported by an independent probity advisor. 

Supporting documents

• Program Guidelines
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• State/National Sporting Organisation Statement of Support Form
• Landowner Consent Form
• Funding Agreement Template

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions about the application process.

Contact Us

Past Recipients

Safe Shooting Program 2022-23 grant recipients