Earlier this semester, ANU Sport launched a Student Equipment Grant initiative, providing substantial subsidies for ANU students participating in eligible ANU Sport programs. The SSAF-funded grant aims to ease ongoing financial pressures experienced by students, and reduce barriers to sport and recreational participation. 

Eligibility criteria

According to ANU Sport’s website, actively enrolled ANU students who are current members of ANU Sport affiliated clubs, registered participants of Interhall Sport, UniSport Nationals, Social Sport or registered Elite Athletes are “eligible to receive up to a percentage of the total amount of their purchase.”

The percentages are as follows:

ANU Sport offers a number of examples of eligible equipment, including safety equipment such as shin pads, playing equipment such as racquets and sport-specific shoes, along with uniforms and sports bras. These purchases must also be made between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025. 

How many students can benefit from the grant?

As the principal supporter of sporting and recreational activities for students, ANU Sport receives partial funding from the Student Services Amenities Fee (SSAF). ANU Sport obtains a substantial portion of ANU’s SSAF allocation, having received 20 percent of the 2024 SSAF ($1,165,489.08). ANU Sport’s 20 percent allocation is set to remain for the next two years, in line with a three year funding model released last year. 

ANU Sport Manager, Kirsty McDonald, told Woroni that “the total funding for 2025 is a portion of ANU Sport’s SSAF allocation.” According to McDonald, ANU Sport has so far received 91 applications and is “expecting to receive another 100-150 applications.”

When asked if there is a prioritisation process associated with the Grant, McDonald told Woroni that funding is simply “prioritised to students who engage with services and programs ANU Sport delivers.”

Crucially, ANU Sport clarified that the grant allocation is capped, meaning that “once the budget has been exhausted by applicants, ANU Sport won’t be able to support any further applications under the current 2025 SSAF allocation.”

In light of “the financial pressures the current economic landscape is placing on students”, McDonald emphasised that ANU Sport is “hopeful” the grant “will remove some of the financial barriers students may face to participate in sport or recreational activities.”

“There has been genuine excitement from students. Students have commented in their applications that they will now be able to afford the equipment they require to participate.” 

Woroni spoke to an ANU student who applied for the grant, and a few weeks later received their reimbursement. This student became aware of the grant through a friend playing social sport through ANU. 

When asked about their thoughts on the initiative, the student expressed that they were “thoroughly impressed.” 

“Playing sport at university is such an important way to maintain fitness and create social connection, but… the cost of equipment is a significant barrier to access, especially when students want to try a new sport. This reimbursement is an incredible way to mitigate that barrier, and hopefully encourages more students to get involved,” the student said.

A review of the grant will be undertaken to examine “the demand and how it may be enhanced or expanded in future years,” McDonald explained. 

Ultimately, McDonald stated, “ANU Sport is committed to and always looking to find new avenues to support student engagement in Sport and Recreation on campus.”