Australian Sports Commission Grants Over $10 Million To Grassroots Sport
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has announced a series of participation grants to help Australians engage in physical activity and experience the benefits of sport.
The latest round of Play Well grants has approved 69 projects, allocating $10.3 million to drive increased participation in various sports, including surfing, golf, badminton, table tennis, Aussie Rules, Masters, rugby league, softball, and orienteering. These funds will help expand their current programs and attract more individuals to participate in sports.
Football Australia will utilise the funding to enhance the game within Indigenous communities, as well as to expand their Miniroos and walking football initiatives. Motorsport Australia will broaden its reach with the Girls on Track program, and Wheelchair Rugby League Australia plans to introduce its NRL Wheelchair program in five states and territories.
In addition to supporting existing programs, the grants will also facilitate the launch of new projects. Surf Live Saving Australia’s Breaking Barriers event aims to include people with disabilities in surf sports, while Basketball Australia’s Ability Hoops program focuses on children with intellectual impairments.
Gridiron Australia has witnessed a surge in interest in flag football ever since it was designated as an Olympic sport for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. The funding received will support a new university tournament that aims to attract more participants and serve as a pathway to national and international university games.
DanceSport Australia’s National Vice President, Martyn Kibel, plans to attract up to 3,000 new participants by offering free beginner classes in Standard Ballroom, Latin American, and New Vogue dances. The funding will also facilitate the training of more coaches to meet the growing demand for all-abilities and wheelchair dancing classes.
Furthermore, 29 councils will receive funding of up to $40,000 to organise sporting events and come-and-try days. Activities range from skateboarding workshops in Victor Harbour, South Australia, to Indigenous youth cricket programs in New South Wales, and volleyball clinics in south-west Queensland.
The goal of these funds is to make sports more accessible, creating enjoyable and inclusive sporting environments for individuals of all ages, backgrounds, genders, and abilities.
