ClubGRANTS Changes Lead to Funding Implications

One of the main changes in the guidelines is the inclusion of a requirement that 75 per cent of Category 1 funds must be allocated in accordance with local committee recommendations. If a club does not meet this requirement, they must submit a report to Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) within 45 days detailing the reasons why this requirement has not been met. A report will be provided to the Authority to consider whether the rebate is to be provided. This measure commences in the 2023-24 tax year.

As a reminder, eligible Category 1 funding includes expenditure allocated by clubs to projects and/or services that contribute to the welfare and broader social fabric of the local community, including:

• Community welfare and social services
• Community development
• Community health services
• Employment assistance activities.

Changes to the ClubGRANTS guidelines have been announced and they will affect the way you apply and allocate ClubGRANTS funds.

A previous Category 1 funding example includes the Wallarah Bay Recreation Club’s donation to Little Wings. This is a non-profit organisation that provides free, professional, safe flight and ground transport services for seriously ill children in rural and regional NSW, the ACT and QLD. They strive to ease the journey and help sick children access specialised medical services and treatments that are only available in major cities or towns.

Country Club Gledswood Hills’ donation to the Clontarf Foundation is another great example. The Clontarf Foundation uses a unique, innovative and highly successful approach to target one of the most at-risk groups in contemporary Australian society – young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.

Using the existing passion that these boys have for sport allows Clontarf to initially attract them to school and then keep them coming. It is, however, not a sporting program — it’s about developing the values, skills and abilities that will assist the boys to transition into meaningful employment and achieve better life outcomes. It partners with schools and communities to create ‘Clontarf Academies’ which are embedded within the school grounds and education program.

The updated guidelines commenced on 3 September to align with the start of the 2023-24 gaming machine tax year. The updated guidelines can be found here.

The full list of changes to current guidelines can be found here.