Acrobatic gymnastics (acro) is a partner gymnastics discipline where athletes perform dynamic and static elements — tosses, catches, balances, and pyramids — in pairs (men's pair, women's pair, mixed pair) or groups (women's group of 4, men's group of 4). Gymnastics Australia governs acrobatic gymnastics. This guide covers the key funding sources for Australian acro clubs.
Gymnastics Australia governs acrobatic gymnastics:
- Men's pair, women's pair, mixed pair
- Women's group (4 athletes) and men's group (4 athletes)
- National championship events
- World Acrobatics Championships — international competition
- Junior and cadet development
Contact Gymnastics Australia and your state gymnastics body for national programme access.
State associations govern acrobatic gymnastics:
- Gymnastics NSW: NSW acro clubs
- Gymnastics Victoria: Victorian acro
- Gymnastics QLD, WA, SA: State programmes
Sport Australia funds acrobatic gymnastics through Gymnastics Australia:
- National programme investment
- Participation development
State sport agencies fund community acro:
- Equipment grants for mats and safety infrastructure
- Junior development
- Women's participation (women predominate in acro)
Gaming grants fund acrobatic gymnastics clubs:
- NSW ClubGRANTS: Community sport development
- State gaming trusts: Equipment and programme grants
Typical gaming grant applications for acrobatic gymnastics:
- Landing mats (thick crash mats for dynamic element landings) — $500–$3,000 each
- Sprung floor sections (for balances and tumbling) — $5,000–$20,000+
- Foam pit blocks (for learning and progression)
- Training beam and bar (for strength and skill development)
- Music system for choreography practice
Acrobatic gymnastics requires significant safety equipment:
- Landing mats: Thick crash mats — essential for dynamic elements (tosses and catches) — $500–$3,000 each
- Sprung floor: Elasticated floor for tumbling and balances — $5,000–$20,000
- Foam pit: For learning new dynamics safely — $5,000–$15,000
- Block mats: Foam blocks for stacking and support
- Music system: For choreography — essential for competition preparation
Safety infrastructure (crash mats, foam pit) is the primary capital need for acro clubs.
Junior development:
- Cadet (U16) and junior (U18): National competitive pathways
- Schools acrobatics: Physical education with acrobatic elements
- Junior clubs: After-school acro training
Acrobatic gymnastics develops exceptional strength, flexibility, trust, and teamwork — powerful outcomes for youth development funders.
Women's participation dominates acro:
- Women's pair and women's group: Primary participation categories
- Sport Australia: Women in sport investment
- Women's acro community is significantly larger than men's in most clubs
Acrobatic gymnastics intersects with performance:
- Circus arts: Acrobatic techniques used in contemporary circus
- Dance and physical theatre: Partner work crossing disciplines
- Australia Council for the Arts: Dance and physical performance grants if performance-oriented
Clubs with performance programmes can access both sport and arts funding.
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Participant numbers: Athletes by role (base, top, middle), age, gender, and partnership
- Safety equipment: Crash mats, foam pit — high-priority safety items
- Junior development: Cadet and junior pathway to national competition
- Women's participation: Female athletes — acro's primary community
- Training infrastructure: Floor and mats justified per club size
- Partnership stability: Long-term base/top partnerships — investment continuity
- Organisation governance: Affiliation to Gymnastics Australia and state body
Tahua's grants management platform helps acrobatic gymnastics clubs manage grant applications across Gymnastics Australia, state agencies, gaming trusts, and community funders, tracking safety equipment, junior development, and participation outcomes.