Young athletes use grants to get going

NINE promising young athletes have received grant money to help them meet the costs of attending elite competitions in their chosen sport.

The federal government’s Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships.

In the electorate of Corangamite, funding was awarded to athletes competing in the disciplines of athletics, equestrian, ice hockey, swimming, sailing and yachting.

In June, 14-year-old sailor and grant recipient, Aidan Simmons, travelled to Turkey to compete at the 2022 Optimist World Championship in Bodrum.

Representing the Australian Optimist Dingy Association, the Indented Head sailor was joined by his 12-year-old brother and fellow sailor Callum Simmons, after he also received a grant enabling him to compete at the 2022 Optimist European Championship in Denmark.

Ocean Grove swimmer Hayley Mackinder, 15, also shared in the $5,800 worth of grant money awarded locally in Corangamite.

Representing School Sport Victoria, Hayley travelled to Queensland in August to compete at the School Sport Australia Swimming Championships.

Successful applicants receive $500-$750 towards the cost of attending their championships.

“We know families are doing it tough right now with the cost of living and we don’t want our young people to miss out because of that, so these grants are really important,” Corangamite federal member Libby Coker said.

“This money could be the difference between a young competitor being able to go on and do great things with their talent, or being forced to put their dream aside because the family finances don’t stretch that far.

“In recent years we have seen a drop-off in the number of people applying for this grant funding, probably because of the travel restrictions around COVID-19, but now that borders have reopened and travel is resuming I want to encourage people to apply.”

Local Sporting Champions round 3 grant applications are open until midnight on December 31.

For more information, head to sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding/local_sporting_champions