Support for childrens' sport and volunteers in WA

Nearly 1,000 children have taken up a Western Australian Government offer to pay their registration fees to join a sports club while volunteer-led sporting associations are to receive increased WA Government funding.

Announcing that 942 children in the State's Great Southern region had have taken up the offer to pay their registration fees to join a sports club, Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett said he was delighted to learn how this program was helping so many Western Australian children get involved in sport.

Premier Barnett explained "the figures show that almost half these children have never been involved with sporting clubs before, clearly demonstrating that the program is giving children an opportunity they would not otherwise have had.

"Sports clubs not only get children involved in physical activity, they also give the kids and their families a chance to get involved in the community, particularly in regional areas where so often, sporting clubs really form the heart of the community." Under the KidSport scheme, eligible children aged between five and 18 years receive membership fee subsidies of up to $200 a year, with no restrictions on the number of children assisted in the same family.

Western Australian Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron said 3,730 children from regional WA had taken up the KidSport offer - the biggest proportion had come from the Great Southern where 216 children from Albany had signed up - 121 from Denmark and 75 from Mt Barker.

Minister Waldron stated "I have no doubt that this project has the potential to build on its success of the last 12 months and continue to deliver significant benefits to individuals, families and communities in the long term." Mr Waldron said.

Minister Waldron also announced that the Western Australian Government was allocating $1.63million to allow sport and recreation volunteers involved in the 43 sporting groups to focus their time on getting West Australians active.

Minister Waldron explained "sport is so important to the lives of West Australians, it contributes to the wellbeing of both our individuals and communities.

"State sporting associations provide our people with opportunities to participate in a variety of activities so they can choose the sport that keeps them interested and active for life.

"By supporting these associations, the State Government is ensuring all West Australians continue to have the opportunity to participate in the sports they love."

The Western Australian Government provides funding and support for 84 State sporting associations to deliver sport and recreation in WA.

The smaller sports benefiting from this funding are run and driven by volunteers in the community who are passionate about providing the opportunity for West Australians to participate.

Minister Waldron concluded "our State sporting associations range from major State-wide sports such as Australian rules football and netball, to smaller sports, including archery, croquet and Gaelic football.

"The Department of Sport and Recreation helps these organisations through funding and advice and support to run and grow their organisations. Often, the funding support is minimal and it is the support to these volunteers that is critical.

"That is where these grants will make a positive difference."

4th March 2011 - VOLUNTEERS THE BACKBONE OF WA SPORT

28th June 2010 - RESEARCH LIFTS LID ON MANAGERS OF VOLUNTEERS

30th October 2009 - SPORT EMPLOYS 110,000: SUPPORTED BY 1.7 MILLION VOLUNTEERS