The Tasmanian State Government this morning announced the new ‘Leveling the Playing Field’ grants program, designed to improve access to sporting facilities for females.
This program has a strong focus on AFL and cricket after a facility audit undertaken by AFL Tasmania and Cricket Australia identified more than 80% of all community football and cricket facilities in Tasmania were not considered to be female friendly.
Minister for Sports and Recreation, Jacquie Petrusma MP, launched the program this morning at the Pontville Recreation Grounds alongside Brighton council mayor Tony Foster and Liberal candidate for Prosser Jane Howlett.
Claremont junior players Bella Flack and Ella Willmott with senior women’s players Ella Edwards and Ruth Stewart, Minster for Sport and Recreation Jacquie Petrusma, Liberal candidate for Prosser Jane Howlett and Hobart Hurricanes player Sasha Moloney.
The program is set to provide funding for functional and inclusive change rooms and facilities for women and girls to boost female sports participation.
$10 million will be made available and distributed evenly across two rounds in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Priority will be given to facilities used for football (AFL) and cricket across Tasmania due to the significant increase in female participation for both sports. Priority will also be given to projects where facility owners commit to matching dollar-for-dollar funding and a funding contribution is provided by the relevant sporting code.
Only local councils and sporting organisations are eligible to apply for funding under this Grants Program. Sporting organisations must submit their application through their relevant State Sporting Organisation. Applicants can apply for funding between $15,000 and $1 million per project, and can submit applications for as many programs as they wish.
The program will be administered in two stages, which will include an expression of interest followed by a full application for selected projects.
The Expression of Interest Form and Guidelines for the Grants Program will be available on the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPAC)’s website from 27 April 2018. Expressions of interest must be received by 12 noon on 21 June 2018.
For further information, please contact the Sport and Recreation Branch in DPAC’s Communities, Sport and Recreation by telephone on 1800 252 476 or by email at sportrec@dpac.tas.gov.au