Hon Anika Wells MP
Federal Minister for Aged Care; Sport
Zaneta Mascarenhas MP
Federal Member for Swan
MEDIA RELEASE: ALMOST $1 MILLION GRANT TO GET WOMEN AND GIRLS INTO SOCCER ACROSS WA
Football West will receive $997,339 to develop girls participation in soccer across WA. They will receive the funding under the Australian Government’s $200 million Play Our Way program, which is designed to remove barriers to women and girls participating in sport and physical activity.
Football West, based at the Sam Kerr Football Centre in Queens Park, will use the money to develop female football in regional Western Australia by addressing the barriers and disadvantage experiences by women and girls across all aspects of the world game.
Our Game WA, a project led by Football West, will develop the sport across regional WA. The project has two parts: Leading Our Game will be the development of a new female only coaching course, and Growing Our Game will be a combination of initiatives that create female friendly environment for women and girls.
Football West is one of the many groups around the nation which will receive Play Our Way funding for participation programs, or new or modified equipment suitable for women and girls across a range of sports and physical activity programs.
More than 660 applications for funding were received. Funding is being offered to initiatives nationwide, with a focus on women and girls who face additional barriers to participation. This includes First Nations women and girls, women and girls with disability or who are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Assessment of applications under the facilities stream of the Play Our Way Grant Program to support construction of new and modified sporting facilities, playing areas and spaces, is still in progress.
More information on the Play Our Way Grant Opportunity can be found at https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/play-our-way-program
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, Anika Wells:
“Play Our way is all about creating greater opportunities for women and girls to have an equal chance to get the fun, satisfaction and health benefits sport offers.
“The huge response to this grant opportunity, and the range of great project ideas, show that Australian communities want to be more supportive of women and girls.”
Quotes attributable to Zaneta Mascarenhas MP
“Congratulations to Football West for its successful application for this grant.
“Based at the Sam Kerr Football Centre, Football West is creating an exciting environment for women and girls to pursue their dreams.
“I am confident Our Game WA will now have the resources to build capacity for regional clubs across WA to deliver a safe and inclusive environment for women and girls.
“This grant will help more female athletes in WA to reach their full potential.”
[ENDS]
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Minister Wells: Chris Garry 0472 840 665
Z. Mascarenhas: Melissa Robinson 0403 953 162
Photo: Zaneta Mascarenhas MP and junior female players at Sam Kerr Football Centre
