There are more opportunities for people living in Western Victoria to get active and healthy with 18 local sporting clubs sharing in over $737,000 in funding from VicHealth for sports clubs across the state.
Through VicHealth’s funding, local sports clubs have created more opportunities for women and girls to get active by offering new female teams or programs, and providing facilities and equipment to ensure clubs can grow with their community.
The grants will also support clubs to introduce social, flexible and accessible sports programs to empower more people in the community to give sport a go regardless of their ability, gender or cultural background.
Building on the success of VicHealth’s This Girl Can – Victoria campaign, 50 clubs across Victoria will also receive funding to promote active lifestyles as part of a state-wide movement to get more women active.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney is thrilled to see more activities, teams and opportunities for less active people in the community to get involved in sport.
“Active Club Grants help to create more fantastic opportunities for people of all ages, genders and abilities to get active and enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle,” Ms Tierney said.
“Being involved in community sport is a great outlet for everyone, where you can make new friends and improve your own health and wellbeing. There are great opportunities for people in Western Victoria to join a local club and get active.”
Local clubs funded in Western Victoria include:
- Anglesea Motor Yacht Club ($9041.82) – introducing Australian Sailing’s OutThere Sailing Program to increase youth participation (aged 12-17) by offering an alternative to traditional sailing programs. The club will also promote the This Girl Can Victoria campaign at their club as part of a state-wide movement to get more women active.
- Anglesea Bowling Club Inc ($3000) – introducing Bowls Australia’s Jack Attack program which provides opportunities for adults to experience bowls in a new short and sharp version of the game that makes it fun, social and entertaining.
- Apollo Bay Surf Life Saving Club ($1921) – introducing two new female teams to participate in their surf boat rowing teams. The club will also promote the This Girl Can Victoria campaign at their club as part of a state-wide movement to get more women active.
- Casterton Croquet Club ($2070) – introducing All Abilities Croquet, a modified version of croquet that suits both indoor activities at locations such as hospitals/nursing homes and an outdoor version at the club.
- Colac and District Cricket Association Inc ($2625) – introducing their first women’s team for season 2019-20, building on their successful girls competition from season 2018-19. The club will also promote the This Girl Can Victoria campaign at their club as part of a state-wide movement to get more women active.
- Colac Basketball Association ($3000) – introducing an all abilities introductory basketball program for people with disabilities.
- Colac Bowling Club ($3000) – introducing Bowls Australia’s Jack Attack program which provides opportunities for adults to experience bowls in a new short and sharp version of the game that makes it fun, social and entertaining.
- Glenelg Pony Club Inc ($2750) – introducing Flatwork Fillies – a club-led dressage program designed to re-engage women into equestrian sports. This includes parents of existing junior riders.
- Heywood Golf Club Inc ($3000) – introducing two new programs to increase participation in golf, including a Get Into Golf program for adult women and Golf Australia’s MyGolf program for girls Under 10.
- Old Collegians Football Netball Club ($2908.35) – introducing a football team for women (aged 18+) to complement their existing football teams for junior girls. The club will also promote the This Girl Can Victoria campaign at their club as part of a state-wide movement to get more women active.
- Portland Soccer Sports and Recreation Club ($2800) – introducing Football Victoria’s Soccer Mums program for adult women, which engages and re-engages female participants into soccer though a social version of the game.
- Portland Yacht Club ($1839.36) – introducing Australian Sailing’s SheSails program to introduce females to sailing by being supportive, social and non-competitive. The club will also promote the This Girl Can Victoria campaign at their club as part of a state-wide movement to get more women active.
- Simpson Bowls Club Inc ($2184) – introducing Bowls Victoria’s Bowling with Babies program which enables mums to play bowls and be active in a fun, relaxing and comfortable environment, with their baby; barefoot bowls and school group activities.
- Surf Coast Mountain Bike Club ($2818.80) – a newly formed club, will introduce programs that enable women to come and try riding with and get a feel for the trails without having to outlay money for a bike.
- Warrnambool & District Cricket Association ($2450) – introducing more opportunities for young female participants to continue playing cricket as they move out of the junior ranks; and also open up a new pathway or initiative for local woman to engage in the sport.
- Warrnambool & District Hockey Association ($1840) – introducing a program to give the girls a chance to be coached, newly introduced or brought back to hockey through training by experienced female coaches in a relaxed and friendly environment.
- Warrnambool City Netball Association ($2925) – introducing Pickleball, a modified sport program that is a hybrid of tennis, badminton, table tennis, and squash.
- Warrnambool Wolves Soccer Club ($3000) – introducing Football Victoria’s Soccer Mums program for adult women, which engages and re-engages female participants into soccer though a social version of the game.
VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio said Active Club Grants have supported hundreds of clubs across Victoria to get more people in their community moving in new ways.
“Our This Girl Can – Victoria campaign has been hugely successful at showing that women and girls, as well as a wide variety of people from different backgrounds, want to be active and live healthy lives.
“Through these grants, more Victorians can participate in modified or social versions of traditional sport where your age, ability, background, lifestyle or gender isn’t a barrier to taking part.”
For more information about VicHealth’s Active Clubs Grants including a full list of funded clubs, go to www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/activeclub
