Active Australia Innovation Challenge
Have a new idea to get your community active?
The Heart Foundation's Active Australia Innovation Challenge is offering grants of $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000 for new, innovative programs that get more people moving in local communities.
We’re looking for exciting and new approaches that are tailored to the unique needs of your community. Whether it’s a fresh concept or a clever twist on an existing idea, the goal is simple: help your target group move more and have fun doing it.
Key dates
Applications open: Monday 2 February 2026, 9:00am AEDT
Applications close: Sunday 1 March 2026, 5:00pm AEDT
Finalists advised: Friday 10 April 2026
Grant recipients advised: Friday 15 May 2026
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).
How it works
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.
Watch the video below to learn more about developing an idea that suits the needs of your community, the types of projects the grant supports as well as the application process and project stages.
Transcript
Do you have an idea that will help the people in your community become more active? The Heart Foundation's Active Australia Innovation Challenge is offering grants to help get your local community moving.
We're looking for ideas that help people within organisations such as community groups, councils, schools, universities, TAFEs, and colleges, to become more active.
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. Whatever your idea, for a chance to make it a reality, you must complete the online application.
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.
Get Inspired
Learn more about past grant recipients and their projects below.
No Lights No Lycra
No Lights No Lycra events encourage women to dance in the dark to improve their wellbeing through music, social connection and movement.
Active Connections
Active Connections is physical activity program at Cheltenham Community Centre which offers activities for diverse CALD communities.
Expanding Exercise
Project participants ride an exercise bike while wearing virtual reality goggles, turning exercise into an engaging and motivating experience.
Pedal Power
Pedal Power has equipped 70 boarding school students on Thursday Island with bikes, helmets, and racks, giving them a healthy way to get around.
Champ Builders
Champ Builders gets kids moving with regular physical activity through scheduled boxing classes followed by Headspace-guided mental health sessions.
Surfing the Spectrum | New South Wales
Surfing the Spectrum offers free surf lessons for autistic kids, expanding to five NSW communities with volunteers and trained surf clubs.
Loose Parts Play Pod | Queensland
A travelling play pod offers free, staffed sessions where kids aged 0–8 use simple materials to imagine, build, explore and stay active.
What you get
If your idea is chosen, you’ll receive the funding you need to kick-start your project, and ongoing support to help ensure its success. This includes access to an online training support program, workshops and discussion board.
Online training program
You’ll gain access to an online program to equip you with the knowledge and resources needed to plan, implement, market, evaluate your project.
Online workshops
You’ll be invited to a series of interactive online workshops led by Heart Foundation staff. Topics include media, marketing and evaluation.
Discussion board
Connect with fellow grant recipients through online discussion; share updates, insights and ideas community initiative ideas with others.
Ongoing support
The Heart Foundation provides ongoing support. You can call or email our Community Grants team to ask questions and get advice.
Connect with changemakers
You'll meet other grant participants who are passionate about making meaningful change in their communities.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply
What is the Active Australia Innovation Challenge?
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.
How does the challenge work?
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.
The application process
When can I submit my project idea?
Applications are open 9:00am AEST Monday 2 February 2026.
When do applications close?
Applications close 5:00pm AEST Sunday 1 March 2026. No late applications will be accepted.
Can I submit more than one idea?
Yes. Eligible organisations (or individuals partnering with an eligible organisation) can submit multiple ideas. Refer to the Application Guide for more information on eligibility.
How many grants will be awarded and up to what value ?
There will be up to 15 grants awarded. On the application form, you’ll be asked to select the amount of funding required to deliver your project; $10,000, $20,000 or $30,000. You’ll also need to submit your budget .
Do I need to provide any supporting documentation with the initial application?
Applicants are welcome to provide documents, photos or even a short video, to support their application. On the online application form, you’ll find a dedicated section where you can upload these supporting documents.
What do I need to do before submitting my application?
Read the guidelines to ensure you and your project idea are eligible. If you have any queries, email [email protected].
How can I be sure you’ve received my application?
Once you have submitted your application online you will see a confirmation page thanking you for your submission. If you are not redirected to the ‘thank you’ page and are unsure whether your application has processed correctly, please email [email protected].
How can I change my application?
Once an application has been submitted there is no way of changing it. Should you have any questions about this please email [email protected].
What if I miss the deadline for submitting my application – can I have an extension?
No extensions will be granted.
I’m not comfortable using a computer. How can I take part?
To help everyone participate, the Active Australia Innovation Challenge team are available to provide assistance and answer your questions. Contact us at [email protected].
I don’t have access to the internet – how do I submit my project idea?
Seek assistance from your partner organisation to support you in submitting your application. Contact us at [email protected].
Shortlisting and judging
Will ideas not selected/awarded receive feedback on their application?
All applicants will be advised by email if their application is not successful in progressing to the final pitch round. Due to the number of applications we receive, feedback will not be provided, however we can be contacted at [email protected] if you have any questions.
If my project is ineligible, will I be told why?
If your project is deemed ineligible by our judging panel, you’ll receive an email advising you of this. If you need more information, you’ll be able to contact our team for further information.
Can I ask for a reassessment?
Given the timeframes, we’re unable to reassess any applications that are deemed ineligible.
How do you pick the judges for the Active Australia Innovation Challenge?
Judging panels will consist of representatives from the Heart Foundation, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and external stakeholders with a background and expertise in physical activity, active living, innovation, health promotion and community development.
Can you explain how the applications are assessed?
Please refer to the Application Guide.
Partner organisations
How do I know if my partner organisation is eligible?
Any organisation with a registered ABN is eligible for this Challenge. Please refer to the ‘Who can apply’ section of the Guidelines for more information.
Can a business be a partner organisation?
Local businesses can be a part of the Active Australia Innovation Challenge. However, they must demonstrate that the primary outcome of the project is to benefit the community or group by increasing physical activity and not for private or for profit purpose.
Can I work for my partner organisation?
Yes, the applicant can work for the partner organisation noted in the submission. Please refer to the Application Guide for more information.
I have my own business with a registered ABN – am I eligible?
Please refer to the Application Guide to make sure you and your project idea are eligible for the Active Australia Innovation Challenge.
The grant and funding
Where is the money for this grant coming from?
The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has funded the annual Active Australia Innovation Challenge since 2018.
How can I contact the Heart Foundation?
You can contact us via email – [email protected].
Ready to make a difference?
Apply now
Have you reviewed the application guide?
When you're ready, click Apply now to begin your application on SmartSimple, our external online grants platform. You’ll need to register for a SmartSimple account before accessing the online application.
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The Active Australia Innovation Challenge is part of the Heart Foundation's National Walking Initiative, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. |