Country Action Grant Scheme for 2006

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, encourages all sporting clubs and organisations throughout the Benalla Electorate to apply for funding through the 2006 Country Action Grant Scheme.

Dr Sykes said this Sport & Recreation Victoria round of funding is to be distributed in grants of up to $5000 and aims to increase the capacity of sport and active recreation organisations in regional and rural Victoria.

Country Action Grant Scheme Grants are available in 2006 under three categories which include.

Category 1 – Improving Organisations –

Initiatives to improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of organisations or to establish a new organisation.

Examples include:

• Preparation of a business plan.

• Development of policy and procedure manual(s).

• Development of a club or organisation website.

• Incorporation of a new or existing organisation.

Category 2 – Enhancing Skills –

Initiatives to improve the skills of club members through providing training for coaches and officials, administrative staff and management committee members (funding is not available for training courses to enhance the physical skills of participants).

Examples include:

• Participation in courses (coaching or umpiring accreditation, first aid etc).

• Workshops for club administrators and committee members in financial management, governance, or information technology.

Category 3 – Including Everyone –

Initiatives to increase community participation by providing accessible sport and active recreation opportunities. Priority will be given to projects involving people with disabilities, women, indigenous people, school-aged children, culturally and linguistically diverse people and older adults.

Examples include:

• Social morning sessions of a sport or active recreation activity for older adults or young mothers.

• Promotional materials such as Koori-specific club information fliers or information in other languages.

• Partnerships between local sports clubs and health centres to offer programs to people with disabilities.

Projects are to be undertaken during the 2006 calendar year. All grants must be spent between 1 January 2006 and the 31 December 2006.

Applications for the 2006 round of the Country Action Grant Scheme can be lodged on-line, via email or post with applications closing on Friday 14 October 2005.

For further detail call the grant information line at The Department of Victorian Communities (at the cost of a local call) 1300 366 356 or via their web site on www.dvc.vic.gov.au/grants or contact Peta Clark at Bill Sykes office ph 5762 2100.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989