VICHEALTH ANNOUNCES local Active Club Grant recipients

Victorians struggling to find time to exercise will have more opportunities to get their heart rate up thanks to over $750,000 in funding from VicHealth.

More than 220 Victorian clubs, including Apollo Bay Sailing Club, Barwon Heads Bowling Club, Geelong Archers, Surf Coast Football Club and Torquay Hockey Club, will receive a share in Active Club Grant funding as part of a state-wide movement to create new female teams and programs.

VicHealth’s commitment will see more social sport options for Victorians who are disinterested in participating at a competitive level, while also giving clubs the chance to promote the This Girl Can – Victoria campaign.

VicHealth’s acting chief executive officer, Dr Lyn Roberts AO, said the grants will help encourage women and girls to community sports.

“Victorian women are half as likely as men to play sport, and it’s important to level the playing field and provide more opportunities for women and girls to take part in the sports they love,” Dr Roberts said.

“We also know many women feel intimidated to get involved in their local club, which is why we’re supporting clubs to promote This Girl Can – Victoria so women can feel comfortable to get involved regardless of their skill level or appearance.

“Last year our This Girl Can – Victoria campaign encouraged 285,000 Victorian women to get active. These grants will help even more Victorian women to feel confident to get out there and give sport a go.”

Dr Roberts said VicHealth’s proud to support hardworking grassroot clubs and volunteers across the state to get more
Victorians active and healthy.

“Playing sport is so good for our physical and mental health but we know not everyone in our community has the same opportunity to get involved,” she said.

“These grants will help get more Victorians into the game by offering modified or social versions of traditional sport where your age, ability, background, lifestyle or gender isn’t a barrier to taking part.”

Surf Coast Football Club will release more information over the next month about what the grant will mean for the club’s female cohort. The club’s currently seeking volunteers to assist with the facilitation of the grant.

The next funding round opens on July 30. For more information on VicHealth’s Active Club Grants, or to view the full list of recipients, visit vichealth.vic.gov.au/ activeclub.