Access & Support

Low Income Participation

Women’s Circus understands that financial pressures can be a barrier to participation for many. To support participation we offer:

• Concession prices for membership and our adult classes. We do not require proof of your financial situation and allow people to self nominate the price point that best suits their situation.
• Payment plans on term classes.
• Some heavily subsidised classes to support marginalised communities, for example our Circus Mixtape Class (Trans & Gender Diverse Only).
• Class offerings at multiple price points including short course and casual classes.

For our Youth program, to support participation we offer:

• Full and partial subsidies as funding allows.
• Casual class offerings across the terms, to offer a different price point to attend circus.
• Youth Holiday Programs offerings.
• Discounts for families with multiple children attending classes. 

Youth Program Subsidies

We aim to be able to offer subsidised places for our youth program each term to support families where cost is barrier to participation.  To achieve this, we rely on additional external funding, such as grants and donations. 

In Term 1 2025 we have support from the Victorian Women’s Benevolent Trust – The Alma and Albert Tivendale Sub-Fund to support 12 fully funded places across our youth program – ages 6 to 17. Due to the purpose of the grant, these places are only available to those of marginalised gender. 

We do not place stringent requirements, applications or prerequisites on accessing financial support. We hope to support families with significant financial barriers to participation. 

This could include but is not limited to: 

• Single Income Families 
• Families who rely on government support
• Families where a member has high support needs or medical costs

If you need a subsidised place for your young person to participate in class, please complete this expression of interest form (EOI).

We will reserve the following spots in our classes in Term 1 2025 for subsidised place: 

• Aerial Explorers: 1 Place
• Teens Allsorts: 1 Place
• Middle Kids Tuesday: 2 Places
• Trainee Tumblers Wednesday: 2 Places
• Middle Kids Thursday: 2 Places
• Trainee Tumblers Saturday: 2 Places
• Teen Aerials: 2 Places 

Two weeks prior to term, we will randomly select subsidised places from the EOIs we receive. We will then contact everyone who has expressed interest. 

We will keep your EOI on file, and as more places come available through future funding (even in future terms) we will be able to include you, without you having to apply again.

Discounts 

When families enrol more than one child/teen in our social circus program, each subsequent child will receive 10% off.  If the subsequent child/ren are taking multiple classes per term the discount will only apply to one term class. To access this discount please contact us via info@womenscircus.org.au or  (03) 9687 3665 and we can process your bookings with the discount for you.

First Nations Peoples

Australia’s circus industry contains several cultural and economic barriers that work to exclude the full participation and engagement of First Nations artists.

One way Women’s Circus strives to remove these barriers and encourage participation is by offering all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people free access to our training programs and membership.

Contact us to take out membership and enrol.

NDIS Funding

Do you self-manage your NDIS funding or have a Plan Manager? There are several places in your NDIS funding package for you to access our programs and services.

Women’s Circus are not a registered NDIS service provider, however we have a number of members and artists using NDIS funding to access our programs.

We can support your participation in our circus classes or create a private training program catered to your unique personal goals.

Here are places in your NDIS funding package you can use your money:

Core Support Budget

• Social, community and economic participation: Get involved with circus activities that connect you with other people and community, while helping you develop circus skills in areas of interest to you. For example, this funding could cover support services you need to participate in a class or one-on-one training such as support workers, or Auslan interpreters.
• Transport: Support getting to and from community-based activities such as circus classes or private training. Funding for transport is generally limited to people who cannot use public transport for reasons related to their disability.

Capacity Building Supports budget

• Increased Social & Community Participation: Development and training to increase your skills so you can participate in community, social and recreational activities, such as circus classes.
• Improved Relationships: This support will help you develop positive behaviours and interact with others, for example through circus classes.

If you require itemised invoices for classes or private programs to help make your claim, please contact us.

We will do our best to help, however specific questions about NDIS should be directed to your case manager or NDIS directly on 1800 800 110.

Check out Arts Access Victoria’s NDIS resources to assist with planning.