The Allan Labor Government is supporting more pathways and opportunities for regional Victorians with disability to carve out careers in sport and active recreation.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence today announced eligible sport and recreation organisations are now able to apply for the new Level the Field program.
The initiative aims to increase support for more people with disability to join the sport and recreation workforce in paid and volunteer roles. It is being delivered in partnership between the Labor Government and not-for-profit organisation Leisure Networks.
Grant opportunities will be offered under two streams. The Levelling Up stream provides up to $250,000 for projects that focus on employment pathways and opportunities for people with disability, from engaging in volunteer roles to entering paid employment in sport and active recreation.
The Long Game stream offers up to $350,000 for projects that focus on system and organisational change.
Partnerships are encouraged to help people with disability take on roles such as coaches, officials, team managers, administrators and committee members across all levels and areas of sport and recreation.
The focus is on innovative workforce projects that are co-designed, led and run by and for people with disability living in rural and regional Victoria - with a clear plan to continue beyond the conclusion of the program at the end of 2027.
State Sporting Associations, regional sports assemblies, regional local government authorities, state sport and active recreation bodies, health and disability organisations, sport and active recreation leagues or associations and organisations that support participation in sport and active recreation in regional Victoria are eligible to apply.
Level the Field is made possible by the Labor Government's All Abilities Workforce and Sector Support Program and is part of the $40 million All Abilities Sport Fund, removing barriers for people with disability to get involved in sport and active recreation in regional Victoria.
Increasing and promoting participation opportunities so more Victorians can take part in sport and active recreation is a key objective of Active Victoria 2022-2026 - a strategic framework for sport and active recreation in Victoria.
For more information and to apply visit www.levelthefield.org.au.
As stated by Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence
"We're proud to partner with Leisure Networks to create more opportunities for people with disability to get involved in the sport and recreation workforce across regional Victoria."
"The grants encourage organisations to work together to break down barriers and get more people with disability involved in the sport workforce in regional Victoria."
"I encourage eligible organisations looking to kick start new job and volunteer opportunities for Victorians with disability in the sport and active recreation sector to apply and help us Level the Field."
As stated by Leisure Networks CEO David Meade
"Leisure Networks is thrilled to partner with Sport and Recreation Victoria to deliver Level the Field - a grant program that will empower the sport and recreation sector to design and deliver innovative solutions that increase volunteer and employment opportunities for people with disability."
"This program is providing sporting organisations across Regional Victoria with the opportunity to create more inclusive, accessible and disability confident workplaces that foster connectedness, contribution and purpose sport and recreation."
