AFL Victoria welcomes government support for community football
AFL Victoria welcomes the Victorian Government’s support for community sport, a major area of focus in the recently released state budget.
A highlight of the budget was confirmation that the Country Football and Netball Program will continue for another year, a great result for towns across regional and rural Victoria where local football clubs bring communities together and facilities are an important part of clubs.
The Country Football Netball Program provides funding to assist country football and netball clubs, associations and umpiring organisations to improve facilities in rural, regional and outer metropolitan locations.
Established in 2005, the program supports upgrades such as ground resurfacing, the installation of lighting, safer netball courts and new pavilions with accessible and female-friendly change rooms for players and umpires.
The partnership between AFL Victoria, the Victorian Government, AFL and Netball Victoria has now delivered more than $35 million to support more than 550 projects and is testament to the government’s ongoing commitment to investing in community sport.
Other budget commitments that benefit grassroots football include the continuation of the Local Sport Infrastructure Fund and Get Active Kids Sports, as well as support for the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation programs to unite communities in Melbourne’s west through sport.
Head of AFL Victoria, Ben Kavenagh, said: “With participation growth and the surge in popularity of women and girls football over the past decade, there is a greater need for communities to have access to fit-for-purpose infrastructure at their local sporting clubs.
“Grassroots football will benefit greatly from the latest set of budget commitments. We are thankful for the continued support from the Victorian Government to invest in these important programs, benefiting communities and the game of Australian football across the state.”
Click here for the media release from the Minister for Community Sport, the Hon Ros Spence.
The AFL works with stakeholders across Victoria in the planning and development of welcoming and fit-for-purpose facilities from elite through to grassroots.
A shining example of stakeholders coming together to deliver a significant facility outcome is the recently redeveloped Reid Oval in the regional Victorian town of Warrnambool, which took out the top national honour in the Australian Football League’s annual Ken Gannon Community Football Facilities Awards.
In 2021, the $13.3 million MacPherson Park project in Melton won the top national award and is another recent example of stakeholders across government and sport coming together to deliver a fantastic outcome for the community.
