Some of the main changes for the Knockout Health Challenge are:

1. Program funds for teams have increased. There is no prize money this year, however this means we can give teams more money to run activities or initiatives. The funds have increased to $5,000 per team.


2. Registering and applying is easier. Team managers will apply for their team on the Knockout Health Challenge website. This year, we won't be collecting team members’ information, for example weight. Because we want to understand what results matter to the community.

This year we will be running yarning circles to find out what you would like to see improved about the challenge.

We also want to know what health benefits are important to you. This is so we can create culturally safe and reliable ways to measure the progress of your team members.

What types of activities can we include?
The challenge is a community-led and owned program. Each team has the flexibility to run activities or initiatives that meet their communities' healthy living needs, rather than focusing on weight loss.
For example:

• weekly boot-camp style workouts
• walking groups
• group cooking classes
• nutrition or physical activity education sessions

People of all ages can participate.

• Children under 18 years of age will need their parent / carer to provide consent
• Team managers and support teams will need to have current Working with Children checks

Teams involved in the Knockout Health Challenge may be contacted to take part in a yarning circle. We are running yarning circles to hear your ideas for the future of the program. Joining the yarning circles is voluntary. You can also email us at [email protected].

A team manager can apply for a team (group of participants) with the support of a host organisation. Host organisations can be your local Aboriginal medical service, community controlled health service, land council, local health district, or local business with an ABN. If approved, your host organisation receives the funds for your team to run your planned activities or initiatives in the challenge.

Applications close 11:59pm 6 June 2025.

For more advice and information about the application, contact [email protected].

Successful applicants will be notified by Monday 30 June 2025. All applicants will be contacted via email.

Initiatives will run from 21 July 2025.

The first payment will be processed once the host organisation signs and returns the contract. The final payment will be processed once the host organisation confirms the budget spend, after the challenge completion.

While there are no restrictions on team sizes, teams that can reach and impact the broader community (i.e., larger teams) are preferred.

The team managers are:

• required to submit the application form and all required documents before applications close
• responsible for planning and running the activities or initiatives, in collaboration with their team
• required to submit a final report at the end of week 10
• encouraged to attend network meetings led by NSW Health
• required to have a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) if their team has people under 18 years old.

The support team includes the team manager and other people who will organise, motivate, educate, and support team members throughout the initiative. These may include Aboriginal health workers, dietitians, personal trainers, representatives from a local Aboriginal medical service, or representatives from your local health district.

Host organisations can be your local Aboriginal medical service, community controlled health service, land council, local health district, or local business with an ABN.

Communities with stronger links to local health services have more support for their activities and create more sustainable initiatives.

Please reach out to the Knockout Health Challenge team if you would like support connecting to a local host organisation.

The host organisation supports the team manager to deliver their activities with the team. This may include supporting teams to connect to local services, providing access to facilities or allocating resources to deliver the activities. The host organisation must have an ABN and will be asked to sign a contract with NSW Health to receive the funds. They are required to support the team manager to use the funds as agreed in the contract, and will be asked to confirm the expenditure at the end of the challenge.

Applications will be assessed based on how the activities or initiatives will support healthy eating and active living behaviours. The application assessment team will prefer plans that can reach and improve the health of your broader community.

Applications should show detail on your planned activities or initiatives and clear information on how your team will spend the funds.

Yes! T-shirts will be provided for participants of successful teams.

The Knockout Health Challenge is open to people of all ages! For teams that have people under the age of 18, the team manager and support team must all hold valid Working with Children Checks.

Please contact the Knockout Health Challenge team if you would like feedback on your application.

Email us here:
[email protected].
Please allow 48 hours for a response.