Sporting Organisations welcome Australian Government’s record investment package

The Australian Sports Commission announcement yesterday of a record $385 million investment package in 70 sports over the next 18 months, supporting high-performance and participation initiatives through the ‘Win Well’ and ‘Play Well’ funding streams has been welcomed by a number of sporting organisations.

This funding highlights the critical role sport plays in Australian communities and strengthens pathways from grassroots participation to elite success.   

Swimming Australia
Swimming Australia Chief Executive Rob Woodhouse said the announcement represents a welcome, significant and timely boost in investment to support Swimming Australia’s role inspiring the nation and encouraging more Australians to swim.

Woodhouse noted “this is a record level of investment for Swimming Australia’s High Performance Program and ensures that we can support our athletes and coaches to build on our success in Paris on the road towards Los Angeles in 2028, and beyond.

“We are grateful for the generous and continued support of the Australian Government, with particular thanks to Minister Wells and the Australian Sports Commission for backing our ambitions to Win Well when it matters and to encourage the generational opportunity between now and our home Olympics in 2032.  

“The Play Well investment will also support our work to align a national and inclusive participation strategy that supports the development of grassroots swimming.”

Football Australia
Football Australia welcomed the funding and is pleased to be allocated $6,319,500 over the next 18 months (1st Jan 2025 to 30th June 2026):

• Win Well funding: $5,379,000

• Play Well funding: $940,500

This represents a 25% increase in high-performance funding compared to the previous cycle, reaffirming football's position as Australia's most popular team sport and its growing influence on and off the pitch.

This investment will boost Football Australia’s efforts to grow the game at every level. The Win Well funding will support high-performance programs, preparing the Subway Socceroos, CommBank Matildas, CommBank ParaMatildas, CommBank Pararoos and Youth National Teams for success on the global stage. It also strengthens talent pathways, coaching, and sports science and sports medicine initiatives.  

The Play Well funding focuses on grassroots development, promoting inclusive participation, and creating safe, welcoming environments for players, coaches, and volunteers across the country.  Football is the largest participation sport in Australia and on the back of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™, football has also experienced significant growth in Women and Girls participation.

Football Australia Chief Executive, James Johnson noted "this record investment from the Australian Government is a testament to the power of sport to inspire and connect our communities.  

“The increased funding through the Win Well program will enhance our ability to compete on the global stage, while the Play Well program enables us to bring the joy of football to more Australians, ensuring inclusive, safe, and welcoming environments for all.

"I would like to sincerely thank the Federal Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells, and the Australian Government for their unwavering support and belief in the future of Australian football. This funding will empower us to build on the incredible momentum of our game, uniting Australians through football and preparing our athletes for success on the road to Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.”

Hockey Australia
Hockey Australia welcomes the groundbreaking sports investment package from the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), marking a major milestone for Australian hockey as it starts preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

This is the first time the ASC has allocated funding that stretches from the playground to the podium, building on the success of the sector-wide High Performance (Win Well) and Participation (Play Well) strategies.

Hockey Australia Chief Executive David Pryles acknowledged the ASC and the significance of the funding for Australian hockey adding “The ASC’s investment package is a massive boost for hockey in Australia. The landmark funding allocation is vital for ensuring sustained excellence on the world stage which extends to LA 2028 and beyond to Brisbane 2032.

“The announcement reflects the ASC’s confidence in Hockey Australia’s ‘Win Well, Play Well’ strategy, and we acknowledge the support of the Australian Government with this significant boost as we nurture talent in all facets of our High Performance pathways and begin preparations for LA 2028 and beyond.”

Athletics Australia
Athletics Australia Chief Executive Simon Hollingsworth​​​​ advised “this record investment in high performance by the Australian Sports Commission is a game-changer for Australian athletics and we acknowledge the support of the Australian Government as we seek to build on our athletes’ fantastic results in Paris.

“Early investment in the LA cycle is so critical to setting sports up for success so that we can collectively deliver on the shared vision of the Win Well HP 2032+ Strategy.”

Boccia Australia
Boccia Australia Chair Richard Boele enthused “this extraordinary recognition of Para Sport in today’s funding announcement has the potential to impact every person with a disability wanting to play sport in Australia.

“We were incredibly proud of our two silver medals in Paris and the increased investment in boccia over the next 18 months will significantly lift our performance on the road to LA2028.

“On behalf of Boccia Australia, my heartfelt thanks to the Australian Government for your ongoing support of Boccia and our athletes.”

Australian Flying Disc Association
Australian Flying Disc Association (AFDA) Chief Executive Maxwell Gratton shared “this investment enables the AFDA to capitalise on the interest in our sport by hiring additional staff, upgrading our competition management systems and growing our junior and youth participation opportunities.

“Our Ulti-Mates and Fly programs offered through Sporting Schools are also helping introduce primary and secondary school students to our wonderful game.”

Commonwealth Games Australia
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) Chief Executive, Craig Phillips AM, has applauded the historic investment in sport confirmed yesterday by the Australian Sport Commission.

Phillips noted “we’ve previously declared that the road to Brisbane 2032, including at the Commonwealth Games, can only be paved with gold if sport investment matches the commitment of our athletes and those that support them.

“The confirmation of $385 million in sport investment today ensures that anything is now possible.

“We applaud the Australian Government for their wholehearted support, and the Australian Sports Commission for their leadership alongside partners including the beneficiary sports, the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia.”

Nine of the program sports for Glasgow 2026 will benefit from the announcement made today, ensuring their preparedness for the Games in two years’ time.

The remaining two sports of netball and bowls had their funding for Commonwealth Games preparations previously confirmed in 2023.

Commonwealth Games Australia is a member of the strategic leadership group for Win Well, alongside the ASC, Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia and representatives of sports and the national institute network.

For more information about ASC funding and grants, visit www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding

Image top. Dolphins Kaylee McKeown Credit: Swimming Queensland; Image centre Hockeyroos. Credit: Hockey Ausralia; Image below. Boccia Paris 2024. Credit: Paralympics Australia.