Support for Gymnastics Australia affiliated clubs

With recent developments regarding the Coronavirus outbreak in Australia, Gymnastics Australia's affiliated clubs are facing major operational, financial and logistical challenges.

These challenges will vary from club-to-club, and as we have seen already they will evolve quickly and often without notice. 

To try and help you understand the variety of federal and state assistance packages available, we have compiled a list of available government assistance options for clubs at this time.

We also encourage clubs to work with your respective state/territory association.

Use the links below to skip to the relevant section:

Insurance and Child Safety

Federal Government

Australian Taxation Office

ACT Government

NSW Government

NT Government

QLD Government

SA Government

TAS Government

VIC Government

WA Government


Insurance and Child Safety


Many coaches and clubs have contacted us or our insurance brokers, Marsh to seek clarity on whether home-based programs and outdoor programs delivered virtually, would be covered under the National Risk Protection Program (NRPP).  We can confirm that home-based programs and outdoor programs will be covered under the NRPP, but with certain parameters needing to be applied.

We have created this fact sheet with information and guidance on the types of programs you can provide to athletes whilst still being covered under the National Risk Protection Program (NRPP).



Federal Government


The Government is providing up to $100,000 to eligible small and medium-sized businesses, and not for-profits (NFPs) that employ people, with a minimum payment of $20,000.

An additional payment is also being introduced in the July – October 2020 period. Eligible entities will receive an additional payment equal to the total of all of the Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payments they have received. This means that eligible entities will receive at least $20,000 up to a total of $100,000 under both payments.

More information: https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/businesses


Australian Taxation Office


On 12 March 2020, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) announced a series of administrative concessions to assist businesses impacted by COVID-19, which include:

  • deferring by up to 4 months the payment of tax amounts due through the BAS (including PAYG instalments), income tax assessments, FBT assessments and excise by affected businesses;
  • allowing affected businesses on a quarterly reporting cycle to opt into monthly GST reporting to get quicker access to any GST refunds;
  • allowing affected businesses to vary PAYG instalment amounts to zero for the April 2020 quarter. Businesses that vary their PAYG instalment to zero can also claim a refund for any instalments made for the September 2019 and December 2019 quarters;
  • remitting any interest and penalties, incurred by affected businesses on or after 23 January 2020, that have been applied to tax liabilities; and
  • allowing affected businesses to enter into low-interest payment plans for their existing and ongoing tax liabilities.

The ATO assistance is not automatic, taxpayers must first contact the ATO to request assistance, and if eligible, the ATO will ‘tailor the assistance package for the relevant taxpayer.

Support available for business

To assist businesses (including sole traders) experiencing financial difficulty as a result of COVID-19, the Australian Taxation Office are implementing relief options:

  • Large business
  • Payment deferrals
  • Monthly GST credits
  • PAYG instalments
  • Remitting interest and penalties
  • Low interest payment plans
  • Super guarantee payments
  • Supporting your wellbeing

More information: https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Dealing-with-disasters/In-detail/Specific-disasters/COVID-19/


ACT Government


The ACT Government is delivering a $137 million economic survival package to support the ACT community through the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures include:

  • $2,622 credit to commercial rates bill
  • $750 rebate to small businesses through their next electricity bill
  • Businesses that pay up to $10m in wages will be able to defer payroll tax for 12 months
  • Affected industries will receive a one-off six month waiver on payroll tax
  • Taxi and rideshare fees waived
  • Food and liquor licence fees waived
  • $20m fund for simple infrastructure works on public buildings
  • Funding for clubs to retain casual staff
  • Public sector staff in events or entertainment redeployed to maintenance works

More information: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/


NSW Government


Key elements of the NSW COVID-19 package include:

  • $450 million for the waiver of payroll tax for businesses with payrolls of up to $10 million for three months (the rest of 2019-20). This means these businesses will save a quarter of their annual payroll tax bill in 2019-20
  • $56 million to bring forward the next round of payroll tax cuts by raising the threshold limit to $1 million in 2020-21
  • $80 million to waive a range of fees and charges for small businesses including bars, cafes, restaurants and tradies
  • $250 million to employ additional cleaners of public infrastructure such as transport assets, schools and other public buildings
  • more than $250 million to bring forward maintenance on public assets including social housing and crown land fencing
  • $500 million to bring forward capital works and maintenance.

More information: https://preview.nsw.gov.au/news/health-boost-and-economic-stimulus


NT Government


  • Business Improvement Grant - $20 million

All Territory businesses will be able to access a $10,000 grant, followed by an additional $10,000 grant if they contribute $10,000 of their own.

Read more on the Business Improvement Grant.

  • Immediate Work Grant - $5 million

Grants of up to $100,000 will be given to not-for-profit and community organisations to engage local businesses to do repairs, renovations and upgrades to their property and facilities.

Read more on the Immediate Work Grant.

  • Structural adjustment package - $5 million

This program will provide direct support for cafes, restaurants and other venues who serve the public.

Read more on the Business Structural Adjustment Package.

  • Payroll tax exemption

The payroll tax exemption for hiring Territory employees has been extended to 30 June 2021.

For more information on eligibility for employers, go to the Department of Treasury and Finance website.

More information: https://business.nt.gov.au/recovery


QLD Government


  • $500 million loan facility

A new Jobs Support $500 million loan facility, interest free for the first 12 months, has been created to support businesses to keep Queenslanders in work and will comprise loans of up to $250,000.

$500 million loan facility.

  • Payroll tax deferment

All Queensland businesses impacted by the coronavirus outbreak can defer lodging and paying payroll tax until 31 July 2020.

The payroll tax relief package for Queensland businesses..

  • $27.25 million coronavirus industry recovery package

This package will assist local government, business and industry with resilience and recovery strategies. It includes targeted financial support and advice, promotion for Queensland, and counselling and support.

$27.25m package to provide immediate assistance.

  • Support for small businesses

Support for small business factsheet (PDF 238KB).

More information: https://www.ditid.qld.gov.au/covid-19/business-support


SA Government


Information is available on financial assistance, eligibility and timing for the Australian Government’s support for businesses.

This includes:

  • cashflow assistance providing $25,000 back to small and medium-sized businesses, with a minimum payment of $2,000 or eligible businesses
  • increasing the instant asset write-off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 and expanded access to include businesses with aggregated annual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million)
  • Backing Business Investment (BBI) - a 15 month incentive to support business investment and economic growth over the short-term, by accelerating depreciation deductions
  • supporting apprentices and trainees through a wage subsidy if you employ and apprentice of trainee.

For more information, visit the Supporting Business in South Australia website.


TAS Government


The Tasmanian Liberal Government has prepared a $420 million stimulus package to support Tasmania as we tackle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes:

Assistance for Small Businesses:

  • Interest Free Business Loans for Small Business
  • Payroll Tax Waivers
  • Government Maintenance Program
  • Improving Small Business Cash Flows

Tasmanian Support & Stimulus Package fact sheet: https://www.business.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/226377/Stimulus_Packages-Small_business_-_COVID-19_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Emergency COVID-19 online form - register your impact: https://k2.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/Runtime/Runtime/Form/EDC.FRM.EmergencyDataCollectionForm/

More information: https://www.business.tas.gov.au/


VIC Government


As part of a $1.7 billion economic survival package, the Victorian Government has announced $500 million to establish a Business Support Fund to assist small to medium businesses most impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

As part of the package, the Government will provide full payroll tax refunds for the 2019-20 financial year to small and medium-sized businesses with payroll of less than $3 million – giving $550 million back to businesses who need it.

The same businesses will also be able to defer any payroll tax for the first three months of the 2020/21 financial year until 1 January 2021, freeing up a further $83 million in cashflow.

Register your interest: https://fs2.formsite.com/diirdwebteam3/u3qeftcfcc/index.html

More information: https://www.business.vic.gov.au/disputes-disasters-and-succession-planning/illness-and-business-management-plan/coronavirus-business-support


WA Government


The WA State Government announced a $607 million stimulus package to support WA households, pensioners and small businesses in the wake of COVID-19. The package includes:

  • a freeze will be placed on household fees and charges, including electricity, water, motor vehicle charges, the emergency services levy and public transport fares.
  • an allocation of $402 million in the 2020-21 Budget will go towards paying for the freeze.
  • $91 million allocated to double the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) in 2020-21 to provide additional support to vulnerable Western Australians. The payment will increase from $300 to $600 for eligible concession card-holders.
  • $114 million in measures to support Western Australian small and medium businesses.
  • payroll tax paying businesses with a payroll between $1 million and $4 million will receive a one-off grant of $17,500
  • $1 million payroll tax threshold brought forward by six months to July 1, 2020
  • small and medium sized businesses affected by COVID-19 can now apply to defer payment of their 2019-20 payroll tax until July 21, 2020