Roller derby is a full-contact team sport on quad (four-wheel) roller skates — two teams race around an oval track, with a 'jammer' scoring points by lapping opposing 'blockers'. Roller Derby Australia governs the sport. Roller derby has a distinctive feminist and counter-cultural identity, very high women's participation, and a strong LGBTQI+ community presence. This guide covers the key funding sources.
Roller Derby Australia is the national governing body:
- Affiliated with the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) global structure
- National championship events
- League affiliation and standards
- Para derby and junior derby programmes
Contact Roller Derby Australia and your state body for access to national programme investment.
Sport Australia funds roller derby through Roller Derby Australia:
- National programme investment
- Participation growth for the sport
State sport agencies fund community roller derby:
- NSW Office of Sport: Roller derby league development
- Sport and Recreation Victoria: Roller derby as community sport
- Queensland, WA, SA: State sport grants
Roller derby is predominantly a women's and gender-diverse sport:
- Sport Australia: Women in sport participation investment — roller derby is genuinely women-led
- State sport agencies: Female participation grants
- Women's roller derby is the dominant form — men's (MRDA) and co-ed leagues are smaller
The women-led, feminist character of roller derby makes it well-aligned with women-in-sport grant priorities.
Roller derby has an exceptionally inclusive LGBTQI+ culture:
- Many leagues explicitly welcome gender diversity
- Trans and non-binary inclusion is a feature, not an afterthought
- LGBTQI+ community funders: Some community foundations fund LGBTQI+ sport and recreation
- The inclusive culture is a genuine strength for diversity-focused grant applications
Gaming grants fund roller derby leagues:
- NSW ClubGRANTS: Equipment and programme grants
- State gaming trusts: Equipment and development
Typical gaming grant applications for roller derby:
- Quad roller skates for club loan fleet
- Protective equipment: Helmets (dual-certified), wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads, mouth guards
- Training aids: Cones, agility equipment
- League uniforms (jerseys/shorts)
Roller derby requires specific equipment:
- Quad roller skates: Four-wheel derby-specific skates (not inline) — $200–$600+
- Helmet: Dual-certified (bicycle + ASTM roller derby) — essential and regulated
- Wrist guards: Compulsory safety equipment
- Knee pads: Derby-specific knee protection
- Elbow pads: Additional protection
- Mouthguard: Compulsory for contact
- Shorts and jersey: League uniform
Starting kit per skater costs $400–$800. Club loan fleets reduce barriers for new skaters.
Flat track roller derby is played on any smooth, flat indoor surface:
- Roller rinks: Purpose-built rinks are ideal but rare
- Basketball courts: Common venue for roller derby scrimmage and practice
- Warehouse spaces: Alternative venues
- Community halls with smooth floors: Accessible for training
Many leagues hire basketball courts or community halls — venue hire is a significant ongoing cost.
Junior Roller Derby Association (JRDA) governs junior derby:
- Junior leagues for skaters under 18
- Modified contact rules for younger participants
- Junior national events
Para roller derby is growing:
- Paralympics Australia: Not yet a Paralympic sport but disability inclusion in roller derby
- State disability sport organisations: Para sport investment
Roller derby leagues often have strong fundraising cultures:
- Bouts (games) as community events and fundraisers
- Merchandise sales
- Crowdfunding
- Community events
This self-reliance is a strength — leagues often have existing community fundraising before seeking formal grants.
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Participant numbers: Skaters by gender, age, and skill level
- Women's participation: The overwhelmingly female and gender-diverse membership
- LGBTQI+ inclusion: The inclusive character of the league — a genuine strength
- Equipment specifics: Skates and safety gear — justified per league size
- Junior derby: Young people in the sport
- Venue access: Confirmed indoor venue with smooth floor
- Community events: Bouts as community fundraisers — evidence of public engagement
- League governance: Financial health, affiliation to Roller Derby Australia
Tahua's grants management platform helps roller derby leagues manage grant applications across multiple funders, tracking equipment, inclusion, and participation outcomes that funders value.