RECREATION AND SPORT FUNDING

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (14:36): My question is for the Minister for Recreation and Sport. Can the minister inform the house of the allocation of funds to sports and recreation groups through two new grant programs?

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (14:36): I can, and I thank the member for Taylor for her question. I also thank her for inviting me earlier this year to the midnight basketball program in her electorate. I am happy to announce to members today that the allocation of funds via the Sport and Recreation Development and Inclusion Program (SRDIP) and the Sport and Recreation Sustainability Program (SRSP) has now been finalised.

Both of these funding programs are brand new initiatives developed out of a grants review conducted by the Office for Recreation and Sport last year and aim to assist in the provision of sport and recreation services and participation opportunities. This grant review was a very important piece of work for the sport and recreation industry, allowing them to work in partnership with us and provide their feedback to improve our funding programs for the future.

The review found that stakeholders were largely satisfied with our existing grant programs, but also highlighted the sport and recreation sector's concerns about the sustainability of lower-profile sports, which are so vitally important to overall participation levels. As a result, it was determined that there was a need to realign the programs to improve sustainability of all sport and recreation organisations and to provide an enhanced focus on outcomes through funding for targeted programs and projects. I believe these two new funding programs certainly achieve these aims and I am very happy with what we have been able to accomplish.

Under the SRSP program, 75 state sport and recreation organisations will receive $3.022 million to assist them in providing leadership for sport and active recreation in South Australia. Funding for the organisations ranges from $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000. From this funding, organisations will be expected to provide vision and direction for their sports, along with supporting their members and affiliates.

Under the SRDIP program, a total of 113 projects will be provided with $4.023 million in funding to develop and implement projects in areas such as growth and development of the respective sport or activity, service improvement or addressing barriers to inclusion. Recipients under the SRDIP program include state sport and recreation organisations, industry representative bodies, state sport disability organisations, local councils, sporting clubs and community groups.

Some important changes have been made to the process for distributing money, with untied core funding being simplified and reduced and a greater emphasis placed on project-based grants. This shift is designed to create more accountability and put the onus on the sports to deliver better programs to South Australians. The state government holds a strong commitment to supporting active recreation and sport organisations, given their important role in improving our overall health and wellbeing. I am delighted to be able to provide this funding assistance, which will assist in seeing our sporting and recreation sector continue to create a more active and healthier South Australia.