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The Queensland Government has tripled funding to the flagship 'Get in the Game' grassroots sports initiative.

Announcing the funding, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said the increase from the program's original $16 million over three years to $47.8 million over the same period was a huge boost to his commitment to support grassroots sporting clubs across Queensland.

Premier Newman explained "Get in the Game will now provide help to thousands more Queensland families by reducing the costs of club registrations and funding better equipment and infrastructure.

"Through better planning processes and financial management, we're ensuring Queensland children have the chance to participate in sport by providing funding directly to community clubs."

Queensland Sport and Recreation Minister Steve Dickson added that initial demand for 'Get in the Game', through its three funding components - 'Get Started', 'Get Going' and 'Get Playing' - had been overwhelming.

Minister Dickson stated "when this program was first announced it was estimated over the life of the scheme it would provide around 40,000 grants of up to $150 for kids to join clubs, 200 grants of $10,000 for clubs to purchase equipment, and 80 grants of $100,000 for clubs to renew facilities.

"This announcement means the original number of grants for the three year period will now be available each and every year."

Minister Dickson said the increase in funding had been prompted by the scheme's popularity, with the National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing (NPRSR) Department receiving hundreds more grant applications than there was funding available.

He added "more than 900 clubs applied for round one of Get Going, which provides up to $10,000 to help clubs grow through the purchase of new sporting equipment or promoting new membership initiatives.

"There were also more than 240 applications for round one of Get Playing, which provides up to $100,000 to help clubs with facility development.

"The first round of Get Started, a program which provides help with registration fees for kids who are least able to afford to join a sporting club, saw the allocations of 12,000 available vouchers exhausted in just three weeks."

Minister Dickson said one of the greatest things about the program was that more than 20% of vouchers were issued to children who had never been members of a sporting club before.

For more information go to www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/funding/getinthegame

25th July 2012 - NEW PERRY PARK SPORTS FACILITY ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY TO ‘GET IN THE GAME’

28th June 2012 - RECOVERY FUNDS TO AID DAMAGED QUEENSLAND SPORTS CLUBS

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