More women and girls in Victoria will be supported to participate in community sport and active recreation with more than 130 grants awarded through the 2024-25 Change Our Game Community Activation Grants Program.
The program offered grants of up to $10,000 across the 3 streams; enabling participation, building capabilities and leadership, with over 11,500 Victorians benefitting from this round of the program.
One example is Broadmeadows Basketball Association, which is offering a 9-week program for 60 multicultural women across 3 culturally diverse junior clubs. Their Beyond the Arc program will focus on providing basketball sessions for women and the opportunity for formal coaching accreditation.
The Wodonga Dolphins Water Polo Club is another successful recipient, with the club to implement a 10-week program aimed at beginners with varying levels of fitness.
Individual community leaders are also being supported through this year’s program, such as successful recipient Melissa Francis. The U14 Girls coach of the Warrnambool Wolves Football Club will complete the Football Australia/AFC C-Diploma to advance her coaching journey and support the club’s junior teams.
Warrnambool Wolves President, Jeff Morland-Hunt, shared the importance of supporting women such as Melissa to pursue their dreams in coaching and creating role models for the next generation coming through the ranks.
“One of our key goals is to invest in opportunities for both new and experienced coaches, with a strong focus on supporting junior and girls' coaching pathways. This grant brings us one step closer to achieving that vision.Melissa is a passionate and dedicated coach, and we’re thrilled to support her development as she helps strengthen and grow our junior girls’ soccer program.”Jeff Morland-Hunt
Director of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, Sarah Styles emphasised the importance of the Community Activation Grants Program and the positive impact it’s having on women and girls within community sport.
“Community sport has an unmatched footprint in Victoria and is a powerful vehicle to create positive change. We are dedicated to breaking down barriers to ensure a level playing field for women and girls through the Change Our Game Community Activation Grants.”
The program is just another step OWSR is taking to support the Fair Access Policy Roadmap, to ensure that women and girls have equitable access to facilities and can feel safe and welcomed within community sport and active recreation environments.
See the full list of recipients:
Organisation | Local government |
Aberfeldie Sports Club | Moonee Valley City Council |
Albert Park Yacht Club | Port Phillip City Council |
Apsley Pony Club | West Wimmera Shire Council |
Aspendale Gardens Community Service Inc | Kingston City Council |
Australian Football League Victoria (AFL Victoria) | Melbourne City Council |
Bacchus Marsh Basketball Association | Moorabool Shire Council |
Ballarat Roller Derby League | Ballarat City Council |
Bellarine and District Netball Association Inc | Greater Geelong City Council |
Bellarine Living And Learning Centre Inc | Greater Geelong City Council |
Bendigo Mountain Bike Club Inc. | Greater Bendigo City Council |
Brunswick Football Club Incorporated | Moreland City Council |
Burwood Cricket Club | Boroondara City Council |
Carnegie Basketball Club Incorporated | Glen Eira City Council |
Casey Warriors Rugby League Club Inc | Frankston City Council |
Chadstone Lacrosse Club Inc | Glen Eira City Council |
Community Bike HUB LTD | Maribyrnong City Council |
Cooma Cricket Club | Greater Shepparton City Council |
Cowes Yacht Club Inc | Bass Coast Shire Council |
Deaf Sports Recreation Victoria - Deaf Sports Australia | Frankston City Council |
Eastern Sirens Synchronized Swimming Club Inc | Whitehorse City Council |
Eltham Rugby Union Football Club inc | Nillumbik Shire Council |
First Hike Project Inc | Melbourne City Council |
Fitzroy Football Club Ltd | Yarra City Council |
Geelong Mountain Bike Club Inc | Greater Geelong City Council |
Gippsland Ranges Roller Derby Inc. | Latrobe City Council |
Green Gully Soccer Club Ltd | Brimbank City Council |
Greensborough Hockey Club Inc | Nillumbik Shire Council |
Hidden Valley Calisthenic Team Incorporated | Mitchell Shire Council |
Hillside Tennis Club | Melton City Council |
Hume City Squash Club Incorporated | Hume City Council |
Indented Head Yacht Club | Greater Geelong City Council |
Jump Ball Incorporated | Wyndham City Council |
Kerang Golf Club Inc | Gannawarra Shire Council |
Keysborough Golf Club Inc | Greater Dandenong City Council |
Knox City Cricket Club | Knox City Council |
Koroit Football-Netball Club Inc | Moyne Shire Council |
Kyabram Valley View Golf & Bowls Club Inc | Campaspe Shire Council |
Little Athletics Association of Victoria | Port Phillip City Council |
Lysterfield District Trail Riders | Casey City Council |
Maiden Gully Tennis Club Inc. | Loddon Shire Council |
Maldon Pony Club Inc | Mount Alexander Shire Council |
Maribyrnong Park St. Mary's Cricket Club Inc | Moonee Valley City Council |
Marque Sports Car Association Victoria | Kingston City Council |
Maryborough Soccer Club | Central Goldfields Shire Council |
Melbourne Canoe Club | Boroondara City Council |
Melbourne University Soccer Club | Yarra City Council |
Mornington Peninsula Athletic Club Inc. | Frankston City Council |
Multicultural Community Services Geelong Inc | Greater Geelong City Council |
Nestles Rowing Club Inc | Warrnambool City Council |
Newstead Cricket Club Inc | Mount Alexander Shire Council |
North West Wolves Rugby League Club Inc | Moonee Valley City Council |
North-Eastern District Golf Association | Wodonga City Council |
Northern Zone Pony Club Association of Victoria Inc. | Moira Shire Council |
Nunawading Cricket Club Inc | Greater Dandenong City Council |
Ocean Grove Tennis Club Inc | Greater Geelong City Council |
One Ball Inc | Port Phillip City Council |
Orbost Pony Club Inc | East Gippsland Shire Council |
Ormond Junior Football Club | Glen Eira City Council |
Paddle Victoria | Greater Shepparton City Council |
Persian Happy Family Inc | Manningham City Council |
Reclink Australia | City of Greater Geelong |
Riddells Creek Volleyball Association Inc | Macedon Ranges Shire Council |
Romsey Golf Club | Macedon Ranges Shire Council |
Rumbalara Football Netball Club | Greater Shepparton City Council |
Rutherglen Park Reserve Committee of Management Inc | Indigo Shire Council |
Rye Junior Football Club | Mornington Peninsula Shire Council |
Sale Netball Association | East Gippsland Shire Council |
South Yarra Soccer Club Inc | Stonnington City Council |
Southern Gippsland Junior Football Competition | South Gippsland Shire Council |
Surf Coast Volleyball Association Incorporated | Surf Coast Shire Council |
Swan Hill Budokai Inc. | Swan Hill Rural City Council |
Thomastown United Cricket Club | Nillumbik Shire Council |
Tyabb Junior Football Club inc | Mornington Peninsula Shire Council |
Victorian Synchronized Iceskating Club | Melbourne City Council |
Wangaratta Cycling Club Inc | Towong Shire Council |
Westcoast Adult Riding Club Inc | Greater Geelong City Council |
Williamstown Seagulls FIDA Football Club Inc | Hobsons Bay City Council |
WMG Football Club Ltd | Hume City Council |
WMNS Racing Collaborative Inc. | Greater Geelong City Council |
Wodonga Dolphins Water Polo Club Inc | Wodonga City Council |
| Wy Yung Football Club & Netball inc | East Gippsland Shire Council |
| Wyclif Cricket Club | Boroondara City Council |
| Organistion | Local government |
|---|---|
| Alphington Bowls Club Inc | Darebin City Council |
| Bell Park Sports Club | Greater Geelong City Council |
| Bowls Victoria Ltd | Darebin City Council |
| Broadmeadows Basketball Assoc Inc | Hume City Council |
| Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club Incorporated | Mount Alexander Shire Council |
| Castlemaine Rocky Riders Mountain Bike Club Inc | Mount Alexander Shire Council |
| City of Boroondara | Boroondara City Council |
| City of Port Phillip | Port Phillip City Council |
| Climbing QTs | Horsham Rural City Council |
| Darebin Women's Sports Club Inc | Darebin City Council |
| Drysdale Hawks Football Club Inc | Greater Geelong City Council |
| East Gippsland Shire Council | East Gippsland Shire Council |
| Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club Inc | Yarra City Council |
| Football Integration Development Association | Hobsons Bay City Council |
| GippSport | Bass Coast Shire Council |
| Glenelg Pony Club | Glenelg Shire Council |
| Grovedale Sports Club Inc | Greater Geelong City Council |
| Kyneton District Soccer Club Incorporated | Hepburn Shire Council |
| Mansfield Shire Council | Mansfield Shire Council |
| Mount Alexander Shire Council | Mount Alexander Shire Council |
| Myrtleford Pony Club Inc | Alpine Shire Council |
| Pride in Sport (ACON) | Yarra City Council |
| Queer Sporting Alliance | Darebin City Council |
| SAILING LIFTS YOUR SPIRITS LTD | Buloke Shire Council |
| South Gippsland Shire Council | South Gippsland Shire Council |
| Strathbogie Shire Council | Strathbogie Shire Council |
| Surfing Victoria Inc | Surf Coast Shire Council |
| Table Tennis Victoria Inc | Port Phillip City Council |
| Volleyball Victoria Inc | Greater Dandenong City Council |
| Wellington Shire Council | East Gippsland Shire Council |
| Whitehorse City Council | Whitehorse City Council |
| Wodonga Diamonds Football Club | Wodonga City Council |
| Yarra City Council | Yarra City Council |
| Name | Organisation | Local government |
|---|---|---|
Alex Baldwin | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Amanda Campbell | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Brooke Williams | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Chelsea Gravener | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Cody Decker-Cooper | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Georgia Taylor | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Grace Hudson | Drysdale Soccer Club | Greater Geelong City Council |
Imogen Amos | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Jackie Noonan | Mt Wycheproof and District Racing Club | Buloke Shire Council |
Janet Lister | Anglesea Cricket Club Inc | Surf Coast Shire Council |
Kristie Bryce | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Larissa Patton | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Megan Wait | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Melissa Francis | Warrnambool Wolves Football Club Inc | Warrnambool City Council |
Melissa Hendy | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Nicole Paramanis | Freedom Sports Foundation Limited | Hobsons Bay City Council |
Sheree Carroll | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Stephanie Smith | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Tamara James | Sebastopol Vikings Soccer Club | Ballarat City Council |
Torri Tillig | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Trinity Johns | St Arnaud Netball Club Incorporated | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Veronica Wilson | St Arnaud Netball Club | Northern Grampians Shire Council |
Page last updated: 12 May 2025
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