Ros SPENCE (Yuroke) (14:48:37) — (14 902) My constituency question is to the Minister for Sport. How have residents benefited from the Andrews Labor government’s investment in supporting grassroots sports in the Yuroke electorate? Whether it is providing life‑saving defibrillators or assisting athletes with the cost of travel, uniforms and equipment, sports clubs in the Yuroke electorate have benefited significantly from having a government that cares about helping them grow and succeed. With such a large number of grants awarded, I would appreciate any details the minister can provide on the extent of this local investment over this term of government.

Response:

I refer to your constituency question regarding investment in supporting grassroots sports in the Yuroke electorate, raised in the Legislative Assembly on 5 September 2018.

Over the last three and a half years, through the Sporting Club Grants Program, government has provided over $3.5 million directly to more than 2,700 grassroots clubs to break down the financial barriers to participation. These grants provide clubs with up to $1,000 for uniforms and equipment, up to $2,000 for skill development of coaches, officials and volunteers and up to $5,000 to improve operational effectiveness.

Further, a separate category exists within the program to address financial barriers to participation specifically for Aboriginal Victorians. Under this category, grants of up to $750 for travel, up to $1,000 for uniforms and equipment and up to $2,000 for skill development are available.

I am pleased to advise we have previously provided $26,910 from the Sporting Club Grants Program to clubs in your electorate. Hume Hockey Club Inc, for equipment, and Craigieburn Basketball Association Inc, for first aid courses, are just two examples of the passionate and hardworking clubs from your electorate that have benefited from direct investment by the government since the Sporting Club Grants Program commenced.

In addition to this funding already provided, Roxburgh Park Magpies FC Inc, Mickleham Darts Club Inc, Melbourne Titans Basketball Association, Hume Bombers Football Club Inc, Craigieburn Football Club and City of Hume Boxing Club were all successful in the first round of the 2018-19 Sporting Club Grants Program and will share in over $10,000 worth of grants. The Department of Health and Human Services will be in contact with these clubs shortly to facilitate payments to each.

As you may be aware, our Defibrillators for Sporting Clubs and Facilities Program provides Victorian sporting clubs with the opportunity to acquire an automated external defibrillator. Through the program, 1,000 life-saving packages complete with defibrillator, quality training and essential maintenance are available. I am pleased to advise that over the past three and a half years, four clubs from your electorate have made successful applications to receive defibrillators including City of Hume Boxing Club, Craigieburn Basketball Association, Oaklands Pony Club and Roxburgh Park United Soccer Club.

Individuals from your electorate have also benefited from the Athlete Pathway Travel Grants Program in recent years. This program supports community sport and recreation athletes, coaches, officials and teams with travel costs associated with participating in training or competition. One such example was an under-14 athlete from Greenvale who received $2,000 towards travel costs associated with competing in the 2017 Australian Grasscourt Championships.

The Hon John Eren MP

Minister for Sport