Panthers welcomes funding for Women’s Academy and Community Hub

The Penrith Panthers have approved of the Coalition’s recent decision to allocate AUD$10 million towards the establishment of a Women’s Academy and Community Hub.

The new Academy is set to feature a high-performance gym, recovery centre, medical and physiotherapy facilities, as well as performance analysis and sports science laboratories, complemented by education and leadership spaces designed to empower female athletes.

The Community Hub aims to enhance the club’s social impact and will become the base for the Panthers Foundation.

It will also accommodate “Panthers on the Prowl,” a program dedicated to supporting local youth and their families.

Chairman of the Panthers Group, Peter Graham, affirmed the club’s commitment to matching the Coalition’s funding, paving the way for a state-of-the-art AUD$20 million facility targeting the needs of women and girls in Western Sydney.

“The Penrith Panthers Women’s Academy and Community Hub will provide a world-class training environment for female athletes and a dedicated home for our expanding community programmes,” Graham said.

Further articulating, this investment is crucial in addressing disparities in sports and in opening new avenues for women and girls, while bolstering the Panthers’ social contributions within the Western Sydney and Western NSW communities.

CEO of the Penrith District Rugby League Football Club, Matt Cameron, added: “The Women’s Academy and Community Hub will fill the void in resources, drive measurable community outcomes, and yield long-term social and economic gains for the region.”

In addition, Shadow Minister for Western Sydney and Federal Member for Lindsay, Melissa McIntosh, said: “It is time the Panthers had an NRLW team, and this commitment from the Coalition brings us closer to seeing our talented female players represented in future seasons.”

Moreover, Liberal candidate for Macquarie, Mike Creed, stressed the positive ramifications this funding decision will have for female athletes across Western Sydney, spanning from Emu Plains and the Blue Mountains to the Hawkesbury region.

The establishment of the Women’s Academy and Community Hub represents a significant advancement for female participation in sports, reflecting the broader commitment to developing equal opportunities within Australian rugby league.

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