Valley Sport Update - January 2025

Valley Sport Update - January 2025

January 30, 2025

Welcome to 2025! 🎉

We’re excited for a new year of opportunities - supporting sports clubs more closely, strengthening community connections, and introducing new programs soon.

Here’s our first newsletter for the year - check out what’s coming up and how you can get involved!

Good Sports Workshop - Supporting Your Club’s Wellbeing!

Join the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s Good Sports Program for an essential workshop designed to help your club foster a safe, healthy, and inclusive environment. Learn how to build positive policies around alcohol management, mental health, safe transport, and more - all while hearing from a Gold Accredited Good Sports Club on their success!

📅 Date: Wednesday, 26 February 2025
🕕 Time: 6:30-7:30pm
📍 Location: The Walter Lee Room, Shepparton Golf Club
15 Golf Drive, Shepparton, VIC

Don’t miss this chance to create a supportive space for your members and community. Check out the details below! ⬇️

⚽ Catch Up with Good Sports in Shepparton!

Following the Good Sports Workshop, the team will be in Shepparton for a casual drop-in session. If you have any questions, need help with the Good Sports Portal, or want to learn more about getting your club involved, this is a great chance to chat one-on-one!

📅 Date: Thursday, 27 February 2025
🕛 Time: Drop in anytime between 12 – 1 PM
📍 Location: Shepparton Sports Stadium, 120 Numurkah Road, Shepparton

No need to book—just stop by! If you can’t make it but would like to connect, reach out to Carly Rooney-Ewen at [email protected].

Vision Loss Awareness Training

Sport and recreation staff, coaches, organizations, associations, and community sport and recreation club members - this is for you!

Join Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria for an engaging and interactive Vision Loss Awareness Training session.

👓 What to Expect:

  • Hear first hand what it’s like to live with vision loss from a trainer who has personal experience.

  • Try vision loss simulation goggles to gain insight into one of five common eye conditions.

  • Learn practical tips to make your programs more inclusive and accessible for individuals with vision impairments.

📅 Date: Thursday 13th February
⏰ Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
📍 Location: North Shepparton Community and Learning Centre.
10-14 Parkside Drive Shepparton Vic 3630 (Opposite the old Wanganui Park Secondary College) Closest bus stop is Parkside Drive / Tyquin Street, via bus number 2 or 3.

🎟 Registrations:
This is a free event, but registration is mandatory. Secure your spot now by completing the form here: https://buff.ly/497oqz

Last week, Valley Sport had the privilege of attending the 2025 Diversity and Inclusion in Sport Forum, hosted by the Diversity and Inclusion in Sport Alliance (DISA)!

The forum focused on belonging in sport, highlighting the importance of fostering a culture of community and connectedness in sport.

It was inspiring to hear from a diverse range of voices across the sector, sparking meaningful conversations about how we can create more inclusive, accessible, and equitable sporting environments for all.

During the event, we also learned about the Intersectionality Framework, which can help support clubs in their journey toward greater inclusivity. If you're looking to enhance governance and leadership in Australian sport, check out the Intersectionality Roadmap here.

Chat to our team today about how you can create an inclusive environment at your club!

Let’s keep working towards building a sporting culture that’s welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to all!

 

The Change Our Game Community Activation Grants Program is now accepting applications! This funding supports initiatives that increase participation, build leadership, and promote the role of women and girls in community sport and recreation.

Funding Streams Available:
✅ Participation: Up to $10,000 to support and sustain female participation in sport.
✅ Capability: Up to $10,000 for education and training to promote gender equality and inclusion.
✅ Community Leaders: Up to $5,000 for women volunteers to access professional development.

📅 Key Dates:
📝 Applications open: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
⏳ Applications close: 5 PM AEDT, Wednesday, 26 February 2025
📢 Outcomes announced: May 2025

💡 Information Sessions: Learn more about eligibility and the application process by attending a session on:
📅 Wednesday, 5 February – 12 PM AEDT
📅 Monday, 10 February – 6 PM AEDT

For more details and to apply, visit Change Our Game or contact [email protected].

Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program

The Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program is providing funding to support Aboriginal Victorians in participating in community sport through assistance with travel, uniforms, and competition costs.

Funding Categories:
✅ Aboriginal Sporting Carnivals: Up to $2,500 for junior teams and $1,500 for senior teams to assist with travel and accommodation.
✅ Uniforms & Equipment: Up to $1,000 per team or $250 per individual for essential sports gear.
✅ Athlete Participation Support: Up to $750 for athletes and coaches to cover travel and accommodation for competitions and training.

📅 Key Dates:
📝 Applications open: Monday, 3 February 2025
⏳ Applications close: Tuesday, 4 March 2025

💡 Who Can Apply? Aboriginal individuals, teams, community groups, and sporting clubs can apply. Applicants not affiliated with a club or association may need an auspice to manage the grant funds.

For more details and to apply, visit Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program or contact [email protected].

Emergency Sporting Equipment Grant

The Emergency Sporting Equipment Grant program provides funding for community sport and active recreation organisations across Victoria.

Access to this funding helps grassroots organisations replace or repair essential sport or first aid equipment that has been lost or destroyed because of unpreventable incidents, including bushfire, flood, significant storms, theft, arson, or criminal damage.

Funding available:

  • Grants of up to $1,000 are available for incidents that occur from 1 June 2024 to 2 June 2025.

Closes: May 31 2025

Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund

The Victorian Government’s Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund (Round 2) is now open, inviting applications from rural and regional Local Government Authorities and Alpine Resorts Victoria for grants to enhance community sports infrastructure.

Key Details:

  • Closing Date: 5 pm, 17 March 2025

  • Funding Streams:

    • Indoor Stadiums and Aquatic Facilities

    • Community Facilities

    • Women and Girls Facilities

    • Planning

    • All Abilities Infrastructure

  • Additional Grant: Up to $50,000 available for All Abilities Participation initiatives to support people with disabilities at funded facilities.

Who Can Apply?
Only rural and regional Local Government Authorities and Alpine Resorts Victoria. Clubs, associations, and community groups can express interest or seek partnership through their Local Government Authority.

Closes: 5 pm, 17 March 2025

Regional All Abilities Participation Grants

Regional All Abilities Participation Grants assist organisations to increase participation opportunities and address barriers to participation for people with disability in regional Victoria.

What the Grants Support:

  • Purchasing modified equipment, assistive technology, or adaptive clothing

  • Reducing travel costs for participants with disability

  • Recruiting, mentoring, and retaining people with disability in paid or volunteer roles

  • Employing a specialised workforce to support people with disability

  • Delivering ongoing, flexible sport and recreation programs

  • Promoting awareness, acceptance, and community connection

Who Can Apply?
Not-for-profit organisations operating in Victoria, including:

  • Community sport and recreation clubs

  • State Sporting Associations and Recreation Bodies

  • Disability sporting organisations and service providers

  • Health service providers, Neighbourhood Houses, and registered charities

Funding Available:

  • Category 1: Equipment and Travel – Up to $25,000

  • Category 2: Inclusion Workforce – Up to $25,000

  • Category 3: Programs and Disability-led Initiatives – Up to $25,000

Closes: 10 February 2025.

If you have any questions or would like assistance applying for any of the above grants, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.

Follow the Valley Sport Facebook page to keep up to date with resources and tips that will be useful for you and your club during this unprecedented period. We encourage you to share our posts with your members. Please click here: facebook.com/ValleySport.GVSA

Valley Sport are always here to support your club and you can reach us via the platforms below:

Valley Sport Website: https://valleysport.net.au/

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