Skip to content

Women and girls across the state set to benefit from Community Activation Grants Program

Thursday, 08 May 2025
Coach and players of Warrnambool Wolves standing together at training

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:

Participation

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 incEast Gippsland Shire Council
Wyclif Cricket ClubBoroondara City Council

Capability

OrganistionLocal government
Alphington Bowls Club IncDarebin City Council
Bell Park Sports ClubGreater Geelong City Council
Bowls Victoria LtdDarebin City Council
Broadmeadows Basketball Assoc IncHume City Council
Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club IncorporatedMount Alexander Shire Council
Castlemaine Rocky Riders Mountain Bike Club IncMount Alexander Shire Council
City of BoroondaraBoroondara City Council
City of Port PhillipPort Phillip City Council
Climbing QTsHorsham Rural City Council
Darebin Women's Sports Club IncDarebin City Council
Drysdale Hawks Football Club IncGreater Geelong City Council
East Gippsland Shire CouncilEast Gippsland Shire Council
Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club IncYarra City Council
Football Integration Development AssociationHobsons Bay City Council
GippSportBass Coast Shire Council
Glenelg Pony ClubGlenelg Shire Council
Grovedale Sports Club IncGreater Geelong City Council
Kyneton District Soccer Club IncorporatedHepburn Shire Council
Mansfield Shire CouncilMansfield Shire Council
Mount Alexander Shire CouncilMount Alexander Shire Council
Myrtleford Pony Club IncAlpine Shire Council
OrganisationPrimary LGA
Pride in Sport (ACON)Yarra City Council
Queer Sporting AllianceDarebin City Council
SAILING LIFTS YOUR SPIRITS LTDBuloke Shire Council
South Gippsland Shire CouncilSouth Gippsland Shire Council
Strathbogie Shire CouncilStrathbogie Shire Council
Surfing Victoria IncSurf Coast Shire Council
Table Tennis Victoria IncPort Phillip City Council
Volleyball Victoria IncGreater Dandenong City Council
Wellington Shire CouncilEast Gippsland Shire Council
Whitehorse City CouncilWhitehorse City Council
Wodonga Diamonds Football ClubWodonga City Council
Yarra City CouncilYarra City Council

Community leaders

NameOrganisationLocal 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:  8 May 2025

Back to top

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal Owners of Country throughout Victoria and pay our respects to them, their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

We respect and welcome people of all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, abilities and cultures.