Latest round of Victoria’s Athlete Pathway Travel Grants Program opens

The latest round of the Victorian Government’s Athlete Pathway Travel Grants Program is now open to support many of the state’s top emerging athletes and sports teams with their competing at events and meets.

The program was launched by the Victorian Government in 2015 to aid athletes, teams, coaches and officials cover travel and accommodation costs associated with competing at regional, state and national level.

It also supports emerging athletes attending pathway development programs and training and provides funding for athlete development beyond travel costs including fees for training camps, competition entry and registration.

Grants of up to $6,000 are available for recognised state sporting associations, regional academies of sport and state sport and active recreation bodies. Victorian sport and active recreation clubs can also apply for grants of up to $2,000.

Recently the program pitched in $6,000 towards travel costs for the Victorian Aces to compete at this year’s Australian Women’s Baseball Championship in South Australia.

It also provided $2,000 for the Ballarat Gold Swimming Club to send their senior swim team to compete at the 2022 Australian National Short Course Championships in Sydney.

Ballarat Gold Swimming Club committee member Jessica Rodda shared "the grant provided both experience and development opportunities for the further progression of each of the eight athletes involved. Everyone who attended achieved their dream of attending a National Championships and developed experience as an elite-level athlete."

Since 2015, more than 1,700 grant recipients have received more than $3.1 million to help pursue their goals.

The program is part of the Government’s commitment to increase local participation, stimulate local economies and create new jobs and volunteer opportunities.

Applications for the current round will be open until 20th March 2023. For further information visit sport.vic.gov.au/

Image:Victorian Aces. Credit: Australian Baseball League