SPORT

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

TO encourage more local sports club and community organisations in supporting the increase of disability sport participation, the second round of Regional All Abilities Participation Grants were opened last month.

State government grant funding of up to $25,000 is available in three categories: equipment and travel, strengthening the inclusion workforce, and disability-led programs and initiatives.

It can also cover expenses for clubs creating their own all abilities sports programs and travel costs to attend competitions.

Like many, the Regional All Abilities Participation Grants is part of the Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund, which has also helped resource many other local projects such as facility and ground upgrades at Moe’s Ted Summerton Reserve.

GippSport Executive Officer, Dan Poynton revealed that there are many Latrobe Valley sports clubs that have already applied for grant funding to give those living with a disability an opportunity to stay active and enjoy themselves.

“GippSport ourselves, we were successful with two applications in the first round,” he told the Express.

“We have ordered 15 sport wheelchairs … so they will help us increase the availability of a whole range of different wheelchair programs for people that have different physical impairments.

“The other program that we’ll be delivering with our grant funding is a multi-sport program that initially will be delivered in Leongatha and then will be rolled out to other LGA’s across Gippsland.”

Several Latrobe Valley Soccer League clubs expressed interest in delivering all-abilities programs, with one coming from Traralgon Olympians that will be supported by GippSport with inclusive coaching training and shaping an inclusive environment.

The Regional All Abilities Participation Grants will also support Gippsland Cricket League’s No Boundaries Cricket, which was re-established after it ceased following the pandemic.

The program offers competitive and fun indoor social cricket with trained coaches on offer and no equipment needed for participants.

Twin City Archers in Morwell was also successful in the first round of applications, offering blind archery programs with tactile equipment and other programs for those with intellectual impairments.

GippSport looks forward to more sports clubs applying for funding to better improve sport participation and inclusion in the region.

“Certainly from a GippSport perspective, we are just really keen to see as many clubs apply for this grant as possible,” Poynton said.

“On average, about 20 per cent of the population identifies having some form of disability, so there’s a huge potential participation market out there for clubs.

“If there’s any other clubs that are interested in applying, I’d encourage them to get in touch with us.”

GippSport are on hand to provide disability awareness training and help volunteers create an inclusive environment, with inclusion coaches available through GippSport delivering the Sport For All Program.

That program is run through the Dylan Alcott Foundation. The former wheelchair tennis star visited Traralgon last month.

While engagement from locals with these all abilities programs has improved over recent years, like many things, the pandemic caused a great setback.

But GippSport are still there to provide support when clubs again want to dive into this space.

“Our colleagues can go sit with the club committee and over a period of time, work through the modules, help the club develop an action plan and then support the implementation of it,” Poynton explained.

“This grant can help potentially seed fund the activation of any of the ideas that the club can come up with.”

The Regional All Abilities Participation Grants close on November 19.

To apply and for more information, visit: http://sport.vic.gov.au/funding