Cardinia Shire Council’s Aboriginal and CALD Sports Assistance Program now open

Cardinia Shire’s Aboriginal and CALD Sports Assistance Program is now open - providing financial support to enable young people from Aboriginal and CALD communities who live in the Victorian Cardinia Shire to join a sporting club.

Cardinia Shire Council will pay 50% of the sporting club membership fee, up to a maximum of $250 every year for each participant.

Cardinia Shire Council Mayor Brett Owen said this program was aimed at helping those young people from Aboriginal or CALD backgrounds who could not afford to start or continue taking part in sport.

Mayor Owen notes “sport not only improves wellbeing and physical health but also helps people feel included in their community.

“For some of our Aboriginal and CALD community members, not being able to afford to take part in sport is one of the main things that stop them participating in sporting clubs.

“We are hoping this financial assistance will help in this space and get our diverse communities more active and involved in local sports programs.”

A number of sporting clubs have become ‘clubs of choice’ under the Aboriginal and CALD Sport Assistance Program. This means that these clubs have actively signed up to be a part of the program and have undergone inclusion and diversity training.

If you wish to join a club which is not listed below, Cardinia Shire Council will work with the club to support your participation.

• Bunyip Tennis Club

• Bunyip & District Soccer Club

• Garfield Football Club

• Officer Tennis Club

• Officer City Soccer Club

• Upper Beaconsfield Cricket Club

• Reach Gymnastics

Applications for the Winter season close 30th April or until funding allocation is exhausted. Applications for the Summer season will open in August 2021.

For more information about Cardinia Shire’s Aboriginal and CALD Sports Assistance Program go to www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/sportsprogram

Image courtesy of Bunyip Tennis Club Facebook