The Community Sports Mentoring & Coaching Ltd has been awarded $789,500 by Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP through the Federal Government’s Safer Communities Program. This funding will help provide early intervention and rehabilitation programs for up to 200 youth at high risk of criminal and anti-social behaviour.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP recently visited Hibiscus Sports Complex in Upper Mount Gravatt to deliver the news to former Brisbane Bullets Basketball coach Brian Kerle, who will be overseeing the project. Mr Vasta said his government remains committed to providing support to local communities who provide solutions to address crime in youth, noting that each area has different demographics and different needs when addressing early prevention and rehabilitation.

“The Federal Government is committed to keeping local communities safe and the Safer Communities Program is just one of many tools we are using to ensure our communities are safe and secure,” Mr Vasta said.

“This rehabilitation and early intervention program established by Brian and his team, will provide skills, knowledge and real connections to help youths create a better life for themselves,

“When youths get caught in the cycle of crime, a high percentage of the time it is environmental factors that lead them down this path, that is why not for profits like Community Sports Mentoring and Coaching are so important as they provide the supports, guidance and mentoring these youth need to help break that cycle.”

Brian Kerle said this funding will go towards changing the lives of up to 200 youths at high risk of crime and anti-social behaviour, providing with opportunities and supports to help them break the cycle of a life of crime.

“This $789, 5000 from the Federal Government will go directly into providing opportunities for at risk-youths and helping them change their lives for the better, and we are so thankful for Ross’s support with this project,” Mr Kerle said.

“The youths we will be helping through this funding come from partner networks including corrective services, local police, cultural and community organisations and charities,

“The programs we will be implementing include positive mentoring, literacy and numeracy programs, cultural connections, sports and recreation, job readiness and employment, as well as training for certification,

“I strongly believe that when you are helping youths at high-risk of crime and anti-social behaviour, you have to provide supports for a multi-pronged approach as there are often multiple factors contributing to this behaviour, and this funding enables us to do exactly that.”

The Safer Communities Fund targets organisations which demonstrated experience in providing early intervention actives to youth at high risk to prevent them from engaging in criminal activity or anti-social behaviour. The objectives of the Safer Communities Program is:

• to provide community safety for all Australians through funding local crime prevention actives that address anti-social behaviour by youth at high risk of offending
• help marginalised youth aged 12-24 at high risk to develop life skills, including through educational and vocational skills to prevent them from becoming entrenched in the criminal justice system and to promote inclusion and build community resilience.

For more information on the Safe Communities Fund, click here: https://www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/award-funding-under-the-safer-communities-fund

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP has worked with the Wishart State School P&C to deliver Federal funding for the Wishart Sharks Swim Club to purchase new heat pumps for their pool. This funding was made available through the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program.

Recently, Mr Vasta attended the Wishart Sharks Swim Club end of season breakup party to see how the funding will benefit club members and the students at Wishart State School.

“It has been great working with Wishart State School P&C to support the Wishart Sharks Swim Club and Wishart State School students,” Mr Vasta said.

“The funding will be used to purchase new heat pumps for the pool, which will greatly benefit the students and swim club members, especially the littlest of swimming enthusiasts to keep active and learn how to swim all year round.”

Mr Vasta has a strong relationship with Wishart State School and has delivered for the school on numerous occasions. This includes $350,000 of Federal funding for an all-abilities senior playground for students in years 4 to 6.

The extension of the Coalition’s popular Sporting Schools program will see more children across Bonner participate in free sport activities.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the Sporting Schools program is the Government’s largest individual investment to help Australian kids stay physically active.

The $79.6 million extension to the end of 2024 was announced as part of the Government’s $155 million 2022-23 Federal Budget package for sport.

In 2021, more than 500,000 students participated in the program each term, with more than 2 million students taking part in Sporting Schools across the year.

“Since 2015, more than $400 million has been invested into the Sporting Schools program and this two-year extension will take the program through until at least the end of 2024,” Mr Vasta said.

“This is a decade-long commitment from the Government to ensure children in our local communities across the electorate get the opportunity to be involved in sport, free of charge.

“Sport provides a range of physical, mental and social benefits to Australians and we are committed to ensuring children can live active and healthy lives.

“The program also provides opportunities for students to connect with their local sporting clubs and continue playing sport for years to come.”

The program, which is delivered in partnership with 37 national sporting organisations, helps schools deliver a range of high-quality, inclusive, and diverse sporting activities to primary school students along with Years 7 and 8 students.

Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said the extension of the Sporting Schools program will inspire the next generation of kids to play a variety of different sports they may not otherwise consider.

“Sport Australia’s national AusPlay survey shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant decrease in children’s participation in organised sport,” Minister Colbeck said.

“This renewed investment will help us bring more schools and sports together to get Aussie children active and build skills in a sport they enjoy.”

To learn more about Sporting Schools, click here.