Sport and recreation funding, grants and scholarships
The department, through grants and scholarships, provides funding to organisations who facilitate sport and active recreation. Funding is important to support the industry and provide active opportunities for every Western Australian. There are a wide range of avenues to obtain funding (outlined below). These include funding for sport and community organisations, facilities, and special funding for regional areas.
Funding for sports organisations
Coach-in-Residence grants
The aim of the Country Sport Enrichment Scheme is to help country Western Australia experience and conduct major sporting events and sport development initiatives.
The State government, through the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR), supports State sporting associations (SSAs) in their development and promotion of the sport in hosting national events in Western Australia. This support can be through consultancy advice and/or funding.
The Organisational Sustainability Program (OSP) was developed to refine the way in which the Department works with key organisations in the WA sport and recreation industry to enable them to meet the challenges they face.
The Western Australian State Government through the Department of Sport and Recreation and Lotterywest provides significant financial assistance to sport in Western Australia through the Sports Lotteries Account.
The State Government provides funding through the Sports Lottery Account Country Package for country sports organisations.
Funding for community organisations
The Community Participation Funding scheme provides small grants of up to $5000 for projects that target low participation groups, particularly culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) and indigenous populations.
Funding for regional areas
Distance and infrastructure sometimes limit the opportunities for regional coaches and officials to access developmental opportunities which can reduce the chance for them to reach their full potential.
Funding is available under the scheme to improve economic and community infrastructure and services in regional Western Australia.
Enabling State sporting associations (SSAs) to develop to develop an infrastructure that provides a sequential pathway for talented regional athletes to achieve their potential in sport.
The Skywest Airlines Country Sport Development Program helps with the development of sport in country areas.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) in partnership with Healthway is launching a new and improved Smarter than Smoking Country Sport Scholarship Program for 2009/10.
The State Government provides funding through the Sports Lottery Account Country Package for country sports organisations.
Funding for community organisations
Distance and infrastructure sometimes limit the opportunities for regional coaches and officials to access developmental opportunities which can reduce the chance for them to reach their full potential.
Funding is available under the scheme to improve economic and community infrastructure and services in regional Western Australia.
Enabling State sporting associations (SSAs) to develop to develop an infrastructure that provides a sequential pathway for talented regional athletes to achieve their potential in sport.
The Skywest Airlines Country Sport Development Program helps with the development of sport in country areas.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) in partnership with Healthway is launching a new and improved Smarter than Smoking Country Sport Scholarship Program for 2009/10.
The State Government provides funding through the Sports Lottery Account Country Package for country sports organisations.
Training and development
The Sport and Recreation Career Development Program aims to equip participants with a better understanding of the sport and recreation industry, increased leadership skills and improved industry networks.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) and Central TAFE have joined forces for a pilot project offering a Certificate III in Fitness course for adults from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) backgrounds, and registrations are now open.
The Dr Heather MacGowan, OAM, Scholarship recognises the life's work and achievements of an inspirational and extraordinary woman.
The Department of Sport and Recreation is investing significant funding into its emerging leaders through The Western Australian Sport and Recreation Emerging Leaders Program.
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FutureNow – Creative and Leisure Industries Training Council Inc brings together industry leaders, training organisations and action groups to make recommendations to government regarding workforce development strategies for Western Australia.
Funding in 2007/08
In 2007/08 funding has included:
- $18.15 million in funding allocated to sport and recreation organisations which included $11.5m through the Sports Lotteries Account.
- $19.4 million invested in capital upgrades to sport and recreation camps at Hillarys, Orange Grove, Woodman Point, Point Walter and Quaranup.
- $10.52 million was allocated to local governments and sporting organisations to build or upgrade community sporting and recreation facilities.
- A total of 20,239 people visited the department’s four metropolitan recreation camps and recorded a combined 99,035 participations in an organised recreation program, which is a nine per cent increase on the previous year.
- Organisational, governance and planning consultancy support to State and regional sporting associations.
- $988,100 allocated through the Sport and Recreation Community Grants Scheme to initiate 91 projects that led to increased participation in physical activity, or enhanced skills by providers of sport and recreation. The scheme had a specific focus on projects focussing on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities.
- The department released the Recreation Strategic Reform Agenda and progressed implementation of its recommendations including the creation of a recreation focussed unit of fi ve staff, formation of the Recreation Advisory Panel, enhanced communications tools, strategic review of education and training framework in recreation and development of adventure activity standards.
- Partnered with the WA Sports Federation to coordinate and facilitate a statewide and industry education program on the Working With Children (Police Checks) Act 2004.
- The Premier’s Physical Activity Taskforce provided signifi cant momentum and commitment to coordinate the whole of government response on physical activity. The Taskforce was successfully transferred to the department from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
- Through the Country Sport Enrichment Scheme and Champions to the Regions Scheme the department provided $103,000 to help 10 sporting organisations to host seven State and national sporting events.
- Online services included free online school holiday calendar to promote sport and recreation based activities for school-aged children. More than 200 events were listed during each school holiday period. The Find a Club website gives users the ability to find sport and recreation clubs in their area.
- $157,500 provided to eight State sporting associations through the Regional Academy of Sport program to help country athletes and coaches.
- A total of $101,800 through the High Performance Coach Scholarship program was provided to 17 of the State’s most promising coaches who have the potential to work at the elite level of sport.
