Trainee Sponsorship Eligibility

The sponsor must lodge a nomination to employ or engage sports people from overseas. The nomination must provide details of the position and the skills, qualifications and experience required by the overseas person who will fill the position.

Nomination requirements

To nominate a position the sponsor should have either:

• been approved as a sport sponsor, or
• already lodged an application to become an approved sport sponsor.

Unpaid positions

A nomination for an unpaid position can only be approved where the work or activity to be undertaken would not attract a salary or wage if undertaken by an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident. 

If the nomination relates to a volunteer position or an amateur competitor entered into a sporting event the person will receive no remuneration for doing the work or activity other than:

• reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred by the person in doing the work
• prize money.

Salary or wages

The salary or wages payable to the nominated person must be in accordance with Australian labour laws and practices.

If there is no award, and it is not a volunteer position, the nominated person must receive at least the minimum federal award rate.

Nominating a trainee 

The information that should be submitted with the nomination is:

• the contract between the Australian sporting organisation, government agency or foreign government agency and the nominated primary applicant. The contract should clearly detail:
  • the period for which the contract is valid
  • the level of remuneration
  • the duties of the position
  • details of any employment to be undertaken by the primary applicant for a person or organisation other than the organisation with which the primary applicant propose to train
  • the estimated number of hours per week the primary applicant are expected to serve the sporting organisation
  • whether the primary applicant’s dependent family members are covered by the contractual arrangements

• a copy of the structured training program outlining:
  • the objectives and outcomes of the structured training program
  • the length and number of hours per week of the training program
  • whether the proposed nature and duration of the training program is consistent with the structured training program usually provided to Australian national representatives in the relevant sporting field
  • how the training will add to or enhance the nominated primary applicant’s skill level in the relevant sport after leaving Australia

• a letter of endorsement from the Australian national sporting body (or peak sporting body if no national body exists) confirming:
  • that the nominated primary person is currently competing, coaching or instructing at the national level in their own country.

Before lodging an application, please read all related requirements.
See: Eligibility