More Western Australian public school sporting facilities to be opened up for community use

As part of the Western Australian Government program to make sport more accessible for Western Australians, more sporting facilities on public school sites will be opened up for community use outside of school hours.

The $10 million initiative will enable more community groups to access public school facilities such as basketball, netball and volleyball courts, ovals and indoor sports halls for their activities.

The Community Use of School Sporting Facilities Program aims to facilitate partnerships and agreements between schools and community sporting groups to better utilise existing facilities.

From Term 1, 2025, funding will be available for purchase of eligible items such as goalposts, nets, hoops, backboards, netting and other minor equipment, as well as upgrades to facilities such as installation of gates, locks and monitoring equipment to support safe access outside of school hours.

To apply for funding, public schools will need to submit an application showing a commitment from a local sporting group intending to regularly access its facilities. This will be formalised through a Community Use Agreement between the school and community group, with funding to be prioritised for schools in areas where there is high demand for sporting facilities.

WA Premier Roger Cook, Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman and Education Minister Dr Tony Buti made the announcement at Springfield Primary School in Kallaroo, where works have begun on a $19.4 million redevelopment of the school that includes an upgrade of its hardcourts.

The redevelopment will also deliver two new general classroom blocks and a specialist teaching block with an inclusive learning area, as well as specialist art and science classrooms.

Construction is planned to take place over four stages, with anticipated final completion expected in time for Term 1, 2027. The first stage will be a new undercover area that is central to the whole school and opens onto an inviting natural area that will eventually link the teaching blocks.

The staged approach to construction will allow the school to continue to operate to reduce disruption while construction is being undertaken.

The Springfield Primary School redevelopment was a 2021 WA Labor Government election commitment, and is being delivered as part of the WA Government's record $4.8 billion investment in education infrastructure.

Premier Cook noted "this $10 million initiative is a win-win for WA public schools and community sporting groups, making better use of local sporting facilities outside of school hours.

"More local sporting groups will be able to access facilities that may have previously been unavailable to them - particularly in areas where there is high demand.

"Participating schools will also benefit from targeted funding to help improve their facilities.

"We want to make sport accessible to all Western Australians, and this new program will create more opportunities for them to stay active and connect with others in their local communities."

WA Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman added "We are creating greater opportunities for young people to be active, stay healthy and enjoy local sporting facilities, no matter where they live. This is particularly useful in areas where community facilities may be limited.

"There are significant social and economic benefits for everyone in having community sporting groups use what can sometimes be under-utilised publicly funded facilities.

"The more opportunities we can create for community use of school facilities, the better those facilities are going to be and the greater the return on investment both socially and economically."

WA Education Minister Dr Tony Buti shared "The Community Use of School Sporting Facilities Program highlights the benefits of collaboration between schools and sporting groups, and maximises the value of school facilities as community assets.

"This initiative strengthens community bonds and ensures school sporting facilities are used to their full potential outside of school hours.

"Not only does it contribute to enhanced co-operation and goodwill through stronger community engagement and increased awareness of school activities, security in and around the school is improved through regular out-of-hours use."