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The Victorian Government has today opened applications for the 2023-24 Change Our Game Community Activation Grants program aiming to help more women and girls from all backgrounds to get involved in the sport they love, right across the state.

Victorian Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence advised “this program is a fantastic opportunity for community sport and recreation clubs to take a positive steps towards making community sport more accessible and inclusive for everyone.”

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to support community sport and recreation clubs or organisations to increase participation, build capability, promote gender equity and support the professional development of women and girls playing, volunteering and working in community sport.

In this round of the program there’s also a strong focus on supporting club or organisation initiatives that encourage the equitable inclusion of women and girls from all backgrounds and experiences.

The program is part of the Government’s Change Our Game initiative, working to make sport more accessible, increasing local participation and providing opportunities for all Victorians to be leaders in their local sporting community.

Director of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation Sarah Styles shared “The Change Our Game Community Activation Grants program supports more women and girls to participate, engage and access sport and active recreation. Through this program we’re continuing to create change and lead Australia in ensuring a level playing field for all.”

Now in its seventh year, the Change Our Game Community Activation Grants program has provided more than $2.2 million towards 461 grants that have benefitted community sport and active recreation clubs and organisations across the state.

One such initiative was with the Benalla Golf Club that saw 75 women and girls participate in a ‘Fun on the Fairways – Girls in Golf’ program. The 9‑week program to learn golf skills, game play and course etiquette provided a safe and supportive environment and resulted in a 20% increase in competition rounds played by women.

Together with the Fair Access Policy, launched by the Victorian Government in August 2022, Change Our Game Community Activation Grants provides a great opportunity for clubs and organisations to extend equitable access to, and use of, community sports infrastructure, and build participants’ skills and knowledge.

These grants are part of the Government’s $18.8 million investment in the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation and the Change Our Game initiative since 2016.

Applications for this program close at 5pm AEDT, Monday 4th March 2024.

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

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