Sports Commission Chair welcomes Federal Budget's funding boost to help more Australians get active

Australian Sports Commission Chair Josephine Sukkar has welcomed the Australian Government’s $155 million package for sport announced in last night’s Federal Budget.

The 2022/23 Federal Budget includes more than $117 million to Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to extend the Sporting Schools program, fund projects to promote and create leadership opportunities for women and girls and expand community participation programs to help get Australians more active.

Sporting Schools has received $79.6 million which will see it continue to provide free and fun sporting activities to school children until the end of 2024.

Commenting on the funding, Sukkar advised "our national AusPlay survey shows that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decrease in children’s participation in organised sport. This renewed investment will help us to re-engage with more than two million children each year, helping them connect with and build skills in a sport they enjoy."

More than 600 women will benefit from an expanded Women Coaches program with $6.3 million in funding allocated over three years to identify, develop and empower women coaches from grassroots to the elite level.

More than $4 million will go towards women’s leadership programs to support women in community sport to take on leadership roles, transform community sport environments, systems and cultures to meet the needs and reap the rewards of diverse participation.

Nely in post Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive, Kieren Perkins advised "sport has the power to drive positive social change and we know there is no shortage of talented women in sport ready to take on leadership roles.

“This funding creates incredible opportunity for women and girls in sport as we strive for gender equity in the sector and positions the nation as a leader in this space.”

An additional $10.3 million will support a two-year extension of Sport Australia’s Participation Grant program. More than 500,000 participants have already benefitted from the program that is helping more Australians enjoy the social, personal and health benefits that participating in community sport brings with it.

Sport Australia’s national AusPlay survey has also received funding for a further four years while $2.8 million has been allocated to develop a National Sport Injury database to inform safer practices in community sport, assist in injury prevention and increase participation.

$10.6 million will also further support preparations for the Paralympic team ahead of Paris 2024.

This is on top of a $257 million funding commitment to sports for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic cycle, the first time the AIS has allocated funds for a full Games cycle.

$27.3 million was also committed to maintaining integrity of sport in Australia, covering areas such as anti-doping measures, anti-match fixing regulations and education of sport participants.

The Commissions has also welcomed funding to support the legacy outcomes for the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2023 World Transplant Games.

Key spending commitments to sport inthe 2022/23 Budget:

• $79.6 million for an additional two years for Sporting Schools, providing free and fun sporting activities for over two million students each year

• $10.3 million in new funding to support women in sport, with enhanced focus on coaching and leadership

• $10.3 million extension to Sport Australia’s participation programs to help get Aussies more active

• $10.6 million to further boost Paralympic support in the build-up to Paris 2024

Image: Australian Sports Commission Chair Josephine Sukkar, with newly in-post Chief Executive Kieren Perkins and Federal Sport Minister Richard Colbeck.