- Published:
- Wednesday 29 September 2021
The Victorian Government is creating more participation opportunities to increase equity, diversity and inclusion in community sport.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence today announced almost $9 million to support a range of initiatives over two years from round two of the Government’s Together More Active program.
More than $6 million will fund 12 Sector Capability Building grants for Vicsport, Outdoors Victoria, Aquatics and Recreation Victoria and Victoria’s nine regional sport assemblies, to support sector sustainability and increase inclusive participation.
This includes funding to GippSport which will create more inclusive and sustainable participation opportunities for people with a disability, including wheel-chair basketball and tennis and Paralympic sports.
The peak body that supports the nine Regional Sporting Assemblies, Regional Sport Victoria, will receive $100,000 to develop its organisational capability and deliver its operational plan.
Of the initiatives announced, 57 project grants totalling more than $2.7 million will be shared across 45 organisations to boost engagement outcomes and build resilience and capacity. Funded projects include Rowing Victoria’s program for people with disabilities and UniSport Australia’s You Can Play LGBTIQ+ program.
Since July 2019, Together More Active has played a key part in the Government’s efforts to boost capacity and sustainability of sport and recreation, creating more participation opportunities, building membership and new program offerings to increase equity, diversity and inclusiveness.
For more information about grant opportunities available through the Together More Active program, visit sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence
“Encouraging diversity and inclusion creates more representation across community sports and helps everyone to keep active and stay healthy.”
“This funding will make a real difference in opening up equal access to sport as well as the sports industry off the field – opening doors to people from all parts of the community.”
Quotes attributable to GippSport executive officer Dan Poynton
“Community sports clubs are integral to the social fabric of Gippsland and they have a diverse range of needs, from volunteer recruitment and capacity building to supporting all-abilities, youth and junior programs.”
“This funding enables us to get feet on the ground working with clubs, leagues and associations across Gippsland and supporting the sector to re-start after interruptions due to the pandemic.”