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Student Hardship Fund (Sport Clubs)

La Trobe Sport will be offering student who face financial hardship, which may impact their ability to join a sporting club, an opportunity to receive a one-time bursary towards their club expenses. 

  • Purpose: To provide La Trobe University Students who are facing financial hardship or stress, which may impact their ability to join a sporting club, the opportunity for a grant to assist in joining a club.  
  • Available: $150 per student applicant if joining or member of a La Trobe University affiliated club. $100 per student applicant if joining or a member to a non-La Trobe University affiliated club. Funds available until exhausted. 
  • Application dates: Monday 17 February (LTU Clubs), Monday 24 February (Non-LTU Clubs) - 7 April, Monday 14 July (LTU Clubs), Monday 21 July (Non-LTU Clubs) - Monday 1 September. Funds available until exhausted. 

Application Form

Please click HERE to submit your hardship application. Please only submit one application per student. 

Application Form Requirements

  • Student contact details
  • Student number
  • Year level
  • Course 
  • Sports club name
  • Membership status
  • Sports club sport
  • Club contact details (if a non-LTU affiliated club)
  • Amount applying for ($)
  • Bank details
  • Written statement, detailing financial hardship, and how this financial hardship limits the ability to join a club. Included, how this financial suupport would assist, as well as the fees associated with participating in the club. This is recommended to be around 100 words, uploaded as a word document or pdf. 
  • Supporting evidence that will support financial hardship application (please see the bottom of the page for more information on the type of evidence needed to be submitted)*

*You may be asked for further supporting evidence for financial hardship if not included in application, please include this in your form. 

Application Timeline

Application Period 1

  • Monday 17 February - Applications open for students joining or member of an LTU affiliated club
  • Monday 24 February - Applications open to all (inclusive of students joining or belonging to non-LTU affiliated club)
  • Monday 7 April - Applications close

Application Period 2

  • Monday 14 July - Applications open for students joining or member of an LTU affiliated club
  • Monday 21 July - Applications open to all (inclusive of students joining or belonging to non-LTU affiliated club)
  • Monday 1 September - Applications close

Grant Guidelines and Eligibility

  1. Must be a current La Trobe University Student
  2. Must be experiencing financial hardship which limits the ability to join a sporting club. Please see types of financial hardship and stress (below) for more information.
  3. If joining a La Trobe University Sport club or member of one, to be funded up to $150, or a non-La Trobe University Sport club, up to $100.
  4. Funding eligible for:
    1. Membership fees of club
    2. Registration fees of association
    3. Equipment that, without it, would preclude the student from participating in the club
  5. Students need to consult the club prior to ensure the club cannot assist with this equipment
  6. Applications will only be approved for activities conducted in 2025. If fees are paid in 2024 (such as a club membership fee), it must be for activities in 2025.
  7. Should the fees set out in the application not meet the full $100 or $150, payment will only be for costs associated with joining the club. Example – should a club membership cost $82, payment will only be for $82 and not the full $100 or $150.
  8. Application does not equal automatic funding.
  9. Application must include the following:
    1. Written statement, detailing financial hardship, and how this financial hardship limits the ability to join the club
    2. Fees associated with joining the club (and the application amount)
  10. For La Trobe University Sports Clubs
    1. If the application is approved, the payment will be sent to the student once the student is a confirmed member of the club and paid the appropriate membership fees. If this is submitted in the application, the fee will be automatically paid if successful.
  11. For non-La Trobe University Clubs
    1. The application must include evidence of holding a club membership, and the payment for the club membership or related fees pivotal to be a member of the club.
    2. Club contact details must be provided in the application - this is to ensure that clubs can be contacted to ensure current membership being held to that club.

Types of fees not funded: 

  • Equipment not necessary to participation, or equipment that can be provided through the club
  • Social sporting competition registrations
  • Gym memberships, or fitness class passes
  • University Nationals registration and participation
Types of financial hardship and/ or stress

There are many types of financial hardship situations that may arise. Please see some examples below. This is not an exhuastive list, and intended to guide applicants. Reasons outside of the below will still be considered. 

  • Unemployment
  • Low income
  • Unexpected expenses
  • Family issues and lack of access to money 
  • Illness or injury leading to lower income or limited benefits (disability benefits, concessions)

Supporting Evidence for Financial Hardship Reason

You must upload evidence that supports your financial hardship circumstance. This evidence may include, but is not limited to - 

  • Youth Allowance letter
  • Centrelink allowances
  • JobSeeker letter
  • Concession entitlements
  • Letters of support from real estate agent/ tenant 
  • Carers card 
  • Placement letters (which may limit working ability)
  • Medical certificate (which may limit working ability)