Grants now open for Sporting Schools

Sporting opportunities for children are set to expand now that primary schools can apply for funding grants through the Australian Government’s $100 million Sporting Schools program.

Federal Minister for Health and Sport Sussan Ley announced that over 2,000 primary schools have registered for the program and could now apply for funding to provide before, during and after school hours sporting programs.

Minister Ley said the new Sporting School’s program would allow schools more flexibility to deliver sporting program for their communities to ultimately get more Australian children active, engaged and having fun more often.

Minister Ley explained “Sporting Schools is a key part of the (Federal) Government’s plan to encourage children right across Australia to develop healthy and active lifestyles early in life.”

The program aims to eventually include 5,700 primary schools across the country and to target over 850,000 children to get involved in a before, during or after school sporting activity.

Minister Ley added “we want more schools to register to be involved with Australia’s largest school-based sporting program.

“We want Australian kids to benefit from the positive health and well-being outcomes that come from an active lifestyle and are developed through a lifelong interest in sport.”

Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive, Simon Hollingsworth says the before, during and after school hours sporting program is designed to deliver sports for local schools’ particular needs and ultimately to get Australia’s children active, engaged and having fun, more often.

Hollingsworth explains “we are well and truly on target with more than 2,300 schools already registered with the ultimate goal of getting more than 850,000 primary school children into the program.

“The Sporting Schools program is designed to combat the busy and time-poor lives of Australian parents so that they can find time to schedule sport into their children’s routine,” he said.

“Sporting Schools has partnered with more than 30 of the country’s leading sporting organisations that are developing resources and activities for schools to use,” he said.

“This is about developing children’s love of sport during their early years ... about nurturing their love of fitness and activity so that they become committed to a long term sporting life and foster the skills for leadership, teamwork, social inclusion and community spirit.”

Registrations can be made through the Get Involved page on the Sporting Schools website. Click here to visit the website.

9th May 2015 - NEW ATHLETICS PROGRAM TO ENGAGE 850,000 AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL CHILDREN

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12th March 2011 - AFTER-SCHOOL EXERCISE DECLINES IN NSW DESPITE FEDERAL BACKING

5th June 2009 - REPORT CALLS FOR ‘MORE FACILITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY’