Community sport and active recreation clubs nurturing and promoting opportunities for women and girls, on and off the field, are again eligible for funding support via the 2021-22 Change Our Game Community Activation Grants Program.

Applications for the Program, offered through the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, are now open. The Program supports the delivery of initiatives that bring together communities to celebrate gender equality in women’s sport, promote alternative participation options for women and girls, and provide opportunities for clubs to gain relevant skills and knowledge of gender equality practices in community sport.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to eligible organisations including community sport and active recreation clubs, state sporting associations, regional sports assemblies and local government authorities across Victoria, providing opportunities for women and girls at the grassroots level to achieve their potential both on and off the field.

Head of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation Sarah Styles said, “Change Our Game is changing the environment for women and girls in sport and recreation. As we all look to return to the pitch, court, ground and everything in between, it’s never been more important for all clubs to be considering how they build a truly equal environment on and off the field.”

Since the Program was established in 2018, 242 grants have been provided to support community sport and recreation organisations to host initiatives ranging from come-and-try days to community forums and educational sessions.

Previous grant recipient Frank Pizzo from the Northern Falcons Football Club said, “Our grant enabled us to engage two keynote speakers, former Matilda’s goal keeper Melissa Barbieri and Life Coach Matthew Scholes, who provided a real insight into the issues faced by women and girls in sporting clubs.

“It was a fantastic initiative and really helped us navigate our way building an engaged and active female community network within the club."

For further information and to apply, click here.

Wednesday 2 February, 2022