Community Sporting Clubs

Ms STINSON (Badcoe) (15:03): My question is for the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. How is the government supporting community sporting clubs throughout the state through investment in equipment and program costs?

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD (Reynell—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:03): I thank the member for Badcoe for her question. I acknowledge her fierce passion and support for local clubs in her area—clubs that she regularly visits, including the Millswood Bowling Club, the Edwardstown footy club and a range of others she advocates for all the time in terms of support for the betterment of their club, for those who engage with particular clubs and for the local community in which they play their particular sport.

A couple of weeks ago, 502 clubs were informed that they had been successful in their application for funds through the Active Club Program. I congratulate every one of those clubs and acknowledge all the volunteers who prepared the applications for funds through the grant program. This round 51 of the Active Club Program was available for program and equipment funding and was assessed on a statewide basis.

Within this funding, clubs with 100 members and above were eligible for funds up to $3,000 and clubs with less than 100 members were eligible for $1,500. For the first time, recreational fishing clubs were deemed eligible for this grant funding stream. That follows a commitment that we put to people at the election. I was really pleased that that commitment has been honoured and that through that action our government has recognised recreational fishing as an active recreation activity eligible for recreation-related grant programs.

As I have spoken about in this house before, clubs were also able, for the very first time, to utilise their funding to help break down barriers around menstruation that can impact female participation in physical activity. This includes using grants for period products, flexible uniform offerings and menstrual health training and resources. I am really proud that our re-established Women in Sport Taskforce identified the need for this inclusion in the grant program and that we were able to quickly act upon that recommendation. Of the 502 successful organisations, I am really pleased to announce that 210 organisations indicated that they would utilise their funding, or part of their funding, for menstrual health initiatives.

Other eligible projects or purchases that clubs will undertake using this funding include sporting equipment; uniforms and protective gear; professional development for coaches or officials; and medical training, such as trainer courses, first-aid courses and concussion-in-sport education. They can use it for medical equipment, club promotion, technology associated with growing participation and playing venue maintenance of equipment. I'm really happy to advise the house that successful applicants were found right across the state, with 34 per cent in regional areas and 19 per cent in the greater metropolitan area.

Following the execution of these grants, I will be writing to all members and providing certificates for them to use to provide to successful applicants in their electorates. I really hope all members take up that opportunity to congratulate their local clubs and the hardworking volunteers within them. I also encourage members to encourage clubs in their areas to apply for the Active Club Program again when it opens later this year.

Sporting clubs are at the heart of communities, doing so much to bring people together. I thank the volunteers who make them so and the volunteers for their efforts in applying for this grant funding stream.