Northern NSW Football will receive a $423,850 boost from the Australian government as part of the Play Our Way program.
The $200 million Play Our Way program is designed to remove barriers for women and girls participating in sport and physical activity.
More than 660 applications for funding were received in the Participation and Equipment stream with only 120 successful recipients. Funding has been offered nationwide for initiatives with a focus on women and girls who face additional barriers to participation. This includes First Nations women and girls, women and girls with disability or who are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
NNSWF will use the funding over the next three years to support a range of significant initiatives with the aim to provide women and girls with educational and development opportunities to diversify and strengthen voices in football.
These initiatives include the Women in Football Leadership Program, a Coach Education Presenter Development Program, First Nations football programs, Cerebral Palsy football programs and scholarships for coaches and match officials.
“Play Our Way is all about creating greater opportunities for women and girls to have an equal chance to get the fun, satisfaction and health benefits sport offers,” Minister for Sport Anika Wells said.
“The huge response to this grant opportunity, and the range of great project ideas, show that Australian communities want to be more supportive of women and girls.”
Member for Shortland Pat Conroy congratulated Northern NSW Football for its successful grant application.
“I am confident [Northern NSW Football’s] Women in Football Scholarship and Participation Program will have a very positive impact for women and girls in our community,” Conroy said.
“Northern NSW Football supports thousands of players, coaches, officials and volunteers in NSW and they’re a very worthy recipient of this grant.”
NNSWF General Manager Women and Girls, Participation Allana Neeve was delighted with the announcement.
“NNSWF is thrilled to receive this funding as part of the Australian government’s Play Our Way program,” Neeve said.
“This grant will assist us in continuing to strengthen and grow our existing women and girls programs as well as develop new programs to service participants across northern NSW. The funding will provide opportunities for NNSWF to increase inclusion programs to First Nations, CALD and disability participants.
“We would like to thank the Australian government for this opportunity to further grow women and girls participation in our region.”
More information on the Play Our Way Grant can be found HERE.