New grants to help Wide Bay get active

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is encouraging local organisations to apply for a share in the Driving Social Inclusion through Sport and Physical Activity grants program.
 
Applications are open now for the $19.6 million program which aims to break down the barriers to people getting active and bring communities together.
 
“Sport is an Australian tradition and a way of life for many people in Wide Bay, but not everyone finds it easy to get involved,” Mr O’Brien said.
 
“Playing sport is a great way to be a part of the community so it’s important we provide a helping hand for people who want to take part, particularly people with disabilities, indigenous people and new arrivals.
 
“Wide Bay is home to some incredible sportspeople, and we are also seeing an increasing number of women and girls taking part, so these grants will also help build on that fantastic participation boom and help everyone feel welcome at our local sporting clubs.”
 
Minister for Youth and Sport, Richard Colbeck said the grants are part of the Morrison Government’s plan to make Australia the world’s most active sporting nation.
 
“Playing sport and engaging in physical activity is great for our physical and mental health, so we want to make sure more Aussies get more active, more often,” Minister Colbeck said.
 
“Our Government’s national Sport 2030 plan is to make Australia the world’s most active sporting nation, and to do that we need everyone joining in.
 
“We have also invested $190 million to grassroots sporting infrastructure to encourage female participation, because everyone should feel welcome at their local sporting club.”
 
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, David Coleman, said the program is part of the Government’s $71 million investment in social cohesion initiatives to build stronger communities.
 
“Sport plays an important role in the lives of so many Australians and is a great way for migrants to build connections, improve their English language skills and feel more at home,” Minister Coleman said.
“So many of our greatest athletes have migrated to Australia, and the achievements in sport of people of all backgrounds is a key part of the Australian story.”
 
The grants are open to applications from not-for-profit organisations including local community organisations, sporting organisations and local government entities and are available assist the following community groups get involved in sport and recreational activities:

• newly arrived migrants and refugees;
• people with a physical or mental disability
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and
• women;

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• engaging with community organisations to deliver sport and physical activity projects;
• coaching clinics to teach sports skills and techniques;
• participation in local sports competitions;
• instruction in exercise and physical activity classes delivered by qualified instructors;
• research and data collection; and
• recruitment and engagement of translators required to deliver the activities.

 
Further information about the Driving Social Inclusion through Sport and Physical Activity Grant Opportunity (GO2645) is available from the GrantConnect website.
 
  

ENDS

Media Contact:
For Mr O’Brien:  Clementine Norton (07) 4121 2936