Victorian Government extends support for Clubs, Associations and Leagues

The Victorian Government is extending its support to grassroots community sports, including local clubs, associations and leagues, to ensure they continue to survive and thrive.

Applications are now open for a third round of the State Government’s Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Survival Package, with clubs able to apply for $1,500 and associations and leagues able to apply for $2,500.

Clubs that received a $1,000 boost in the first or second round of the package will also automatically receive a $750 top-up, while leagues and associations funded in the first or second round will receive a further $1,500 top-up. No additional application is required from those organisations and payment will be made over the coming weeks.

Also announced are the successful 45 state sporting associations, state sport and recreation bodies, and regional academies of sport to receive a share in more than $8.3 million through round two of the package.

Organisations including AFL Victoria, Gymnastics Victoria, YMCA, Little Athletics Victoria, Bendigo Academy of Sport, Outdoors Victoria and Sport Inclusion Australia are among those to receive much needed support through the second round of the Survival Package.

More than $30 million has been invested in clubs, leagues, state associations and other organisations from the Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Survival Package for community sport and active recreation.

In this round, the Government is providing grants for even more clubs and associations doing it tough, so they can survive and come back ready to play. The boost will help clubs and associations that lost revenue due to the cancellation of training, development programs and competition.

It will help these organisations safely operate, support their members and athletes and assist with developing and maintaining their COVIDSafe sports plans.

For further information and a list of all successful recipients of the Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Survival Package, visit sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding.

Victorian  Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence notes “Victorians can’t play the sports they love without the support of strong clubs, leagues and peak bodies.

“These grants are helping community sport to come back and thrive in a COVIDSafe way, with the health and wellbeing benefits clear to see at local grounds and stadiums across the state.”

President of the Sunbury Football Netball Club Mark Cooke added “Sunbury Football Netball Club Inc. (Juniors) will be forever grateful for the funding it received, our club was able to pay for utility costs last year, as well as for cleaning materials and sanitizer, to ensure our safe return this year.”

For further information and a list of all successful recipients of the Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Survival Package, visit sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding.

Image courtesy of Sunbury Football Netball Club