Inline skating encompasses multiple disciplines — recreational skating, inline hockey, speed skating, roller derby, aggressive inline, and freestyle. Multiple governing bodies cover different aspects of the sport. This guide covers the key funding sources for inline skating and related disciplines across Australia.
Inline skating disciplines and their governing bodies:
- Inline hockey: Inline Hockey Australia — stick sport on inline skates
- Speed skating: Speed Skating Australia (inline and ice)
- Roller derby: Roller Derby Australia — contact sport on quad skates
- Aggressive inline/freestyle: Less formalised competition structure
- Recreational skating: Generally ungoverned, managed through skating clubs or parks
Inline Hockey Australia governs inline hockey (rink hockey without ice):
- National championship events
- Club affiliation
- International connection through World Skate
Contact Inline Hockey Australia for national programme investment access.
Roller Derby Australia governs flat track roller derby:
- WFTDA-affiliated leagues
- National and state competitions
- Strong women's participation — roller derby is predominantly a women's sport
Speed Skating Australia covers inline speed skating:
- National inline speed skating championships
- Competitive racing on velodromes and outdoor tracks
Skateparks serve aggressive inline (and skateboarding, BMX) communities:
- Local councils: Primary funders for skatepark construction and maintenance
- State government: Some state capital investment in skatepark infrastructure
- Private investment: Skate schools sometimes build private facilities
Skatepark grants are separate from club sport grants — access local council infrastructure and recreation budgets.
Gaming grants fund inline skating clubs:
- NSW ClubGRANTS: Equipment and programme grants
- State gaming trusts: Equipment and development
Typical applications for inline skating clubs:
- Inline skates for loan fleet (beginners)
- Protective equipment: Helmets, wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads
- Inline hockey equipment: Sticks, pucks, goals
- Roller derby equipment: Mouthguards, wrist guards, knee and elbow pads, helmets
Recreational and speed skating:
- Inline skates (recreational vs. performance varies widely in cost)
- Protective equipment: Helmet, knee, elbow, wrist pads
Inline hockey:
- Inline hockey skates (similar to ice hockey skates with wheels)
- Sticks, pucks, helmets, shoulder pads, gloves
- Nets and goals
Roller derby:
- Quad skates (not inline — four-wheel side-by-side) — derby-specific
- Full protective gear: Derby helmet, wrist, knee, elbow, mouthguard
- Booty shorts and league uniform
Roller derby has very high women's participation:
- Sport Australia: Women in sport investment
- State sport agencies: Female sport development
- Many leagues are women-only or gender-inclusive
Junior development:
- Learn-to-skate programmes: Entry-level recreational skating
- Junior inline hockey: Youth competition
- School skating: Some schools with skating programmes
Smooth outdoor surfaces and paths:
- Local councils: Walking and cycling paths used for skating
- Dedicated skating rinks: Indoor rinks (some combine with ice)
- Outdoor roller rinks: Historical — less common now
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Participant numbers: Skaters by discipline, age, and gender
- Equipment specifics: Skates, protective gear — justified per programme
- Junior development: Children learning to skate
- Women's participation: Roller derby's female participation is a strength
- Safety protocols: Protective equipment requirement for all participants
- Venue access: Rink, velodrome, or outdoor surface confirmed
- Club governance: Financial health, affiliation to relevant national body
Tahua's grants management platform helps skating clubs manage grant applications across multiple funders, tracking equipment, participation, and programme outcomes.