- Record number of students to compete in the 27th District High Schools Country Week
- Students will compete in almost 500 fixtured games in six sports across four days
- New $8 million Country Week Assistance Program provides financial support to help reduce attendance costs for regional families
- Delivering on a Cook Labor Government 2025 election commitment
District High Schools Country Week has officially kicked off today, with a record number of students from regional and remote Western Australia travelling to Perth to compete in nearly 500 games across six sports.
Now in its 27th year, the four-day District High Schools Country Week event has drawn an all-time high number of participants including 28 schools, 131 staff and 940 students - a big jump from 772 students last year.
This includes one school, Kalumburu Remote Community School from the Kimberley region, sending students to the event for the first time.
The major uplift in attendance can be attributed to the Cook Labor Government's $8 million Country Week Assistance Program, which was a 2025 election commitment to reduce travel and accommodation costs associated with the event for regional families.
The program provides financial support directly to schools based on the distance its students need to travel from Perth. This means:
- schools located 300 kilometres or less from Perth will see costs reduced by $250 per student; and
- schools located more than 300 kilometres from Perth will see costs reduced by $500 per student.
The annual event - run in conjunction with School Sport WA and sporting associations - invites regional students from government and non-government district high schools to participate in a range of sports, which this year include badminton, basketball, futsal, hockey, netball and basketball.
Games will be held at Warwick Stadium, Troy Pickard Hockey Centre, Kingsway Indoor Stadium and the Stirling Leisure Centre in Mirrabooka.
As stated by Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"District High SchoolsCountry Week is more than just a sporting event - it's an experience that creates lifelong memories for students in regional and remote Western Australia.
"This year, with record numbers attending, it's wonderful to see more young people able to share in the collaboration, resilience and friendships that come from competing in sports.
"It is fantastic to hear from school leaders and teachers about how our government's Country Week Assistance Program has made it possible for many more students to attend the event this year.
"This is about making sure that as many students as possible, no matter where they live, can take part in this celebration of sport and community."
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Sport has a unique way of bringing people together, and District High Schools Country Week is a perfect example of that.
"It's a week that students look forward to all year and it's wonderful to see participation at an all-time high.
"Thanks to the Cook Labor Government's support, more students than ever will be giving it their all and representing their schools with pride."
