Scroll down for the Minister’s response, or click here to discover more about how we’re working for Wendouree.

Original constituency question from Juliana Addison MP to Parliament –

My question is directed to the Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Youth regarding support for grassroots community sport in my electorate of Wendouree.

Would the minister please update me on the community sporting associations and clubs in my electorate that have received support through various Victorian government grant programs since the beginning of the COVID pandemic?

I have welcomed the support received to date and hope that the Andrews Labor government will continue to provide important funding for our local sporting associations, clubs and teams. Grassroots community sport encourages positive health and social outcomes. I wish to thank the minister for the strong ongoing support to various Ballarat sporting organisations, recognising the important role they play in enhancing the social fabric of our community.

I look forward to the minister’s response and continuing to support community sport in Ballarat.

Response from the Hon. Ros Spence MP, Minister for Community Sport (14th July 2021)

I thank the Member for Wendouree for her question and for her continued support of community sport in her local community.

The Andrews Labor Government has provided support through various grant programs to ensure community sport and active recreation clubs, associations and leagues continue to survive and thrive through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The $40 million Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Short-term Survival Package was designed to support the viability of community sport and active recreation organisations impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Of this funding, 81 grants totalling $241,125 has been provided to organisations in the Wendouree electorate.

The Sporting Club Grants Program provides grants to assist in the purchase of sports uniforms and equipment, to improve the capacity and accessibility of Victorian clubs and other sport and active recreation organisations, and increase the skills of coaches, officials and managers.

The latest round included a one-off ‘COVID-19 Recovery’ category to address the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the community sport and recreation sector, as well as a ‘Community Sport Event Support’ category to provide support to eligible clubs that have incurred irrecoverable costs after events or activities were cancelled or postponed as a result of the February 2021 and May/June 2021 lockdowns.

Since March 2020, the Sporting Club Grants Program has provided 64 grants totalling $118,927 to clubs within the Wendouree electorate. This includes $1,000 to Wendouree Cricket Club, along with more than $4,900 to Ballarat and District Soccer Association to support its COVIDSafe initiatives and associated costs.

The Athlete Pathway Grants Program provides funding to help with travel costs for recipients to attend state representative events, training or compete at events that contribute to their sporting pathways. This year the program expanded its scope to include funding for athlete development beyond travel costs, to address the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on many of our athletes’ progress.

Under this program, three grants totalling $3,500 has been provided to recipients within Wendouree electorate since the beginning of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Thank you again to the Member for Wendouree for raising this important matter, and for her ongoing advocacy of community sport in the Wendouree electorate.