Wodonga Waterpolo Club among recipients of Victorian Government 'Change Our Game' sport funding

The Wodonga Dolphins Waterpolo Club is among the recipients of Victorian Government grants as part of The Change Our Game Community Activation Grants program, benefitting more than 11,500 individuals.

The Wodonga Dolphins Waterpolo Club will deliver the Funfit Ladies Water Polo Program, a 10-week program with modified rules catering to beginners with all levels of fitness.

The Change Our Game Community Activation Grants program delivers grants of up to $10,000 to community sport and recreation clubs to help inspire women and girls to take part - including new women's programs, opportunities for club leadership roles and other on and off field options.

Since 2018, The Change Our Game Community Activation Grants program has provided more than 700 grants totalling more than $3.7 million for community sport and active recreation clubs and organisations across the state.

Another recipient, Broadmeadows Basketball Association, will provide 60 multicultural women from three junior clubs access to a nine-week program featuring closed basketball sessions and the opportunity for formal coaching accreditation.

Community leaders are also backed through the program - among them Warrnambool Wolves Football Club's U14 Girls Coach Melissa Francis, who will undertake the Football Australia/AFC C-Diploma to further her coaching journey and support the club's junior teams.

Through the Fair Access Policy Roadmap, launched in August 2022, and the Community Activation Grants Program, the State Government is helping community sporting organisations achieve more equitable access and increase the number of women and girls actively taking part in their club.

Victorian Director of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation Sarah Styles noted "Community sport is a powerful vehicle to create positive change. We are dedicated to breaking down barriers and fostering a level playing field for women and girls in community sport."

Warrnambool Wolves Club President Jeff Morland-Hunt added "as part of our strategic plan, one of our key goals is to invest in opportunities for both new and experienced coaches, with a strong focus on supporting junior and girls' coaching pathways. This grant brings us one step closer to achieving that vision.”

For more information about Change Our Game programs, visit changeourgame.vic.gov.au.