NNSWF Indigenous Scholarships

In 2025, 11 scholarships will be awarded to Indigenous players, referees and coaches. Three scholarships will be available for female players aged 13 to 16 years old in 2025 and two scholarships for male players aged 13 to 16 years old in 2025. Four scholarships will be available for referees aged 14 to 19 years old in 2025 and 2 scholarships will be available for coaches aged 18 years and older in 2025.

Key Details - Player

Applications open: 2 December 2024
Applications close: 20 December 2025
Successful applicants will be announced in January 2025
Scholarships will provide funding assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players in the NNSWF player development pathway
Find the guidelines here:

player_scholarship_guidelines.docx
The Scholarship will provide assistance (per player) as follows:

Item	Per Player
Option 1	$100 x4 = $400 TSP Terms $100 Talent Development Game Day
Option 2	$100 x4 = $400 TSP Terms $50 Talent Development Game Day $50 Training kit
Option 3	$100 x2 = $200 TSP Term 3 and 4 $150 Talent Development Game Day $50 Training Kit

Player - Eligibility and Assessment Criteria

Who is Eligible to Apply for the Scholarship?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Players who are registered as a player within the national Play Football registration system and who intend to register in 2025.
Boys turning 13 - 16 in the 2025 calendar year
Girls turning 13 - 16 in the 2025 calendar year

Assessment Criteria:

Applications will be assessed on merit and scored against the following criteria:

Current registered player
Playing history
Technical assessment if deemed necessary by NNSWF’s Technical Department
Letter of Support from Regional Zone or Premier Club Technical Director that confirms a position in a Premier Competition Program has or will be offered to the applicant

Scholarship Time Frame:

Stage	Item	Contribution	Timeframe
Option 1	Talent Support Program 2x Talent Development Game Days	Up to $500 (Up to $400 for TSP Program Fees and up to $100 Talent Development Game Day)	Jan - Dec 2025
Option 2	Talent Support Program 1x Talent Development Game Days 1x Training Kit	Up to $500 (up to $400 for TSP Program Fees and up to $50 for kit costs & $50 Talent Development Game Day)	Jan - Dec 2025
Option 3	Talent Support Program 3x Talent Development Game Days 1x Training Kit	Up to $500 (Up to $200 for TSP Program Fees and up to $50 for kit costs & $150 Talent Development Game Day)	Jan - Dec 2025

Key Details - Coach

Applications open: 2 December 2024
Applications close: 20 December 2025
Successful applicants will be announced in January 2025
Scholarships will provide funding assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander coaches to complete a Football Australia Foundation of Football or Football Australia/AFC Advanced coaching course
Find the guidelines here:

talented_coaches_scholarship_guidelines.docx
The scholarship will provide assistance (per coach) as follows:

Item

Per Coach

Contribution towards FA/AFC

Advanced Licence Course

Up to $1000

Coach - Eligibility and Assessment Criteria

Who is Eligible to Apply for the Scholarship?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Players who are registered as a coach within the national PlayFootball registration system and who intent to register in 2025.
Minimum age: 18 years and older

Assessment Criteria:

Applications will be assessed on merit and scored against the following criteria:

Applicaent to have completed one or more community coaching courses
History of coaching experience and specifically developing players
An outline of how the applicant wishes to progress as a coach over the next five years

Key Details - Referee

Applications open: 2 December 2024
Applications close: 20 December 2025
Successful applicants will be announced in January 2025
Scholarships will provide funding to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander referees to attend a 2025 Development Event at the discretion of the Referee Department
Find the guidelines here:

talented_referee_scholarship_guidelines.docx
The scholarship will provide assistance (per referee) as follows:

Options	Hunter Region
Match Official Registration Fee & Other Equipment	$500
Champion Of Champion Tournament	$500
Community State Championships Tournament	$500

Referee - Eligibility and Assessment Criteria

Who is eligible to apply for the scholarship?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander referees who are registered as a referee within the national PlayFootball registration system in 2024 and who intend to register in 2025.
Referees turning between 14 and 19 years old in 2025

Assessment Criteria:

Applications will be assessed on merit and scored against the following criteria:

Currently registered with Football Australia
History as a referee
Technical assessment if deemed necessary by NNSWF's Referee Department
Entry level referees are encouraged to apply
An outline of how the applicant wishes to progress as a referee over the next five years

Scholarship Time Frame:

Stage	Item
Match Official Registration Fee and other equipment	$500
Champion of Champion Tournament	$500
Community State Championships Tournament	$500

Past Recipients

2021 Recipients

(Not all scholarships were awarded in 2021)

Players

The RTC Group NNSWF Indigenous Talented Player Scholarship helped recipients with fees and costs associated with Talent Support Programs and the National Youth Championships. The recipients were:

Violet Nicholson: Tamworth FC, Northern Inland
Kruze Davidson: Charlestown Azzurri FC, NNSWF Premier Competitions (Hunter Region)
Jardie Morris: Macleay Valley Rangers, Football Mid North Coast
Lara Turner: New Lambton FC, NNSWF Premier Competitions (Hunter Region)

Coaches

The RTC Group NNSWF Indigenous ‘C’ Licence Coaching Scholarship helped recipients complete Football Australia’s ‘C’ Licence advanced coaching accreditation. The recipient was: