Clairvaux Football Club scores a goal with federal funding

Clairvaux Football Club (FC) has been successful in receiving funding from Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP through the Volunteer Grants program. The funding will be used to purchase new equipment for the club’s volunteers.

On Saturday Mr Vasta attended Clairvaux FC, at Clairvaux Mackillop College, to catch-up with members and find out how the new equipment will help the club.

“It’s been great to work with Clairvaux FC and deliver federal funding which will be used to purchase new fridges for their canteen,” Mr Vasta said.

“Canteens sales at sporting events are a vital source of income and allow the club to reinvest into their players and the community.”

Clairvaux FC Coach and Treasurer Robbie McLean said the funding allows the club to regain an important income stream.

“We are very thankful for the funding that Ross has secured for us, and it will make a massive difference to the club,” Mr McLean said.

“Without fridges to keep food and drinks cold and fresh, we lose the ability to raise money through canteen sales, which means we have less money to reinvest into the club,

“Purchasing new fridges will also mean we can have cold drinks ready for players after games.”

Mr Vasta is proud to support the Clairvaux FC, which last year had 400 players, and provide this Federal funding to benefit the Clairvaux FC sporting community.

Read More

Funding supports women leaders in sport

More women will reach their leadership potential with the Australian Government investing an additional $3.4 million over four years for the highly regarded Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) program.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said more than 25,000 women across the country had benefited from the initiative since it started in 2002.

“WLIS is helping improve outcomes for Australian women in areas including job creation, workforce participation and leadership,” Mr Vasta said.

The WLIS program is managed by Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), under a partnership with the Office for Women.

In February, Sport Australia opened grant applications for the WLIS Development Grants and Leadership Workshops, which will provide:

  • Individuals with a grant up to the value of $10,000 to support their professional development,
  • Organisations with a grant up to the value of $20,000 to provide professional development courses to employees, and
  • Opportunities for individuals to undertake online WLIS Leadership Workshops.

Mr Vasta said the WLIS grants would provide women in Australian sport with the opportunity to gain new skills, knowledge and qualifications to progress their leadership journey.

“This program is playing a key role in developing our next female leaders across the industry and ultimately what we want to see is a more balanced workforce that is more representative of our diverse sporting community,” Mr Vasta said.

Eligibility criteria and information on how to apply for the WLIS Development Grants and Leadership Workshops can be found here.

Applications close March 17.

The Program is funded under the Government’s Women’s Leadership and Development Program (WLDP).

Read More

Volunteer grant delivers cricket scorers a ‘cool’ upgrade

Cricket scorers at the Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club (WMDCC) will no longer be sitting in a sauna thanks to a $5000 Morrison Government Volunteer grant.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the club would upgrade the scorer’s room with new furniture, air conditioning and proper scoring devices to make volunteers much more comfortable.

“Cricket is a summer sport and during those hot Queensland days the volunteer cricket scorers often sit in a sweltering scorer’s room,” Mr Vasta said.

“Volunteers at WMDCC give many hours of their time to the club and in return for this commitment, the club wanted to make the time spent volunteering as comfortable as possible for them.

“Currently scorers use personal devices to score games in a hot room sitting on furniture in a state of disrepair, but thanks to a $5000 volunteer grant, that’s all about to change.”

Mr Vasta said while the work of volunteers was unpaid, their efforts did not go unrecognised.

“From fighting bushfires, delivering food to vulnerable Australians in isolation and helping out with the weekend sport, they are all local champions,” Mr Vasta said.

“Their contribution is vital to ensuring that we continue to support families, provide employment pathways for young people and strengthen community resilience.”

Nationally, volunteering has an estimated annual economic and social contribution of $290 billion.

Read More

Government invests $50.6 million to back our athletes

The Morrison Government is backing high performing athletes by investing $50.6 million over the next two years to ensure Australia remains a world-leading sporting nation.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said there had never been a more important time to ensure talented athletes and coaches were supported as they worked towards their ultimate goals.

“This funding will support our Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches across Bonner, many who use the Brisbane Aquatic Centre and Anna Meares Velodrome at Chandler, as they prepare for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and Paralympics,” Mr Vasta said.

“We also have the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games coming up our athletes need to prepare for.”

Minister for Youth and Sport Senator Richard Colbeck said the government was committed to helping Australia’s sporting sector impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics likely to be the first major international sporting event to take place following the COVID-19 pandemic, Australian athletes are set to inspire the next generation,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Sport Australia will distribute the high-performance grants to our national sporting organisations who will identify, train and develop their most promising athletes.

“The Government is aware many national sporting organisations have had to stand down staff and reduce their hours because of COVID-19.

“Without this investment to high performance funding, there is a significant risk our best coaches and high-performance support staff will face an uncertain future.”

Minister Colbeck said the measure would ensure core funding for athletes and coaches was maintained at record levels, and build on the Morrison Government’s recent investments to support athlete wellbeing and pathways for young aspiring Olympians and Paralympians.

Additionally, as part of the previously announced $70 million Supporting Sport and Physical Activity election commitment, Minister Colbeck said more than $3.9 million would be brought forward to invest in five projects to improve infrastructure at high performance facilities across Australia.

It forms a part of the $11.5 million to support infrastructure upgrades at high-performance facilities.

“One of these recipients will be the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, which will receive $800,000 to improve training equipment available for aerial skiing and snowboarding,” Minister Colbeck said.

Other recipients include Swimming Australia which receives $725,000 to equip at least one pool in each state with the latest technology, including cameras and instrumented turning plates and Paddle Australia which will benefit from an allocation of $1.25 million to improve its high-performance facilities.

Minister Colbeck said the investments support the Australian Government’s Sport 2030 objective of backing our best athletes, coaches and sporting bodies to develop a high-performance culture.

Read More

Return to Sport Toolkit launched

Sports Australia has developed a Return to Sport Toolkit to provide community sporting clubs and associations with a clear path to competition as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the suite of practical resources, provided by Sport Australia, focused on giving grassroots organisations a road map for the safe return to sport at all levels.

“The Toolkit encourages clubs and associations at every level to document their own COVID-19 Safety Plan and appoint a COVID Safety Co-ordinator to implement and oversee it,” Mr Vasta said.

“As part of the toolkit, checklists provide practical and progressive steps such as relevant government and national sporting organisation approvals, facility management, training behaviours, hygiene protocols and appropriate communication with members.”

Minister for Youth and Sport Richard Colbeck said the Return to Sport Toolkit was a comprehensive checklist that complemented the National Principles for the Resumption of Sport and Recreation Activities, endorsed by the National Cabinet on May 1.

“Sporting clubs and organisations across Australia will play an enormous part in getting the nation back on track as we recover from the impact of COVID-19,” Minister Colbeck said.

“The Sport Australia toolkit provides the resources and guidance local clubs need to ensure a streamlined process, with the safe return of competition relying on a responsible rollout where everybody follows advice and takes precautions.”

The National Principles along with the Australian Institute of Sport’s framework will be used to guide the staged return of activity as efforts to stop the spread of the virus continue.

The States and Territories will be responsible for sport and recreation resumption decisions, both at the professional and community level and will determine progression through the phases, taking account of local epidemiology, risk mitigation strategies and public health capability.

Sport Australia’s Return to Sport Toolkit can be found here.

The AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment can be found here.

Read More

New Dojo training facility officially opened

The Australian Academy of Martial Arts (AAMA) officially opened their new training facility doors to showcase the new and improved dojo.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said he was so pleased to be able to support this much deserved upgrade with $185,000 Morrison Government grant to enhance the club’s training facility.

“Through the Community Development grant we were able to contribute $185,000 to the enhancement of AMMA and help them continue the 47 year legacy they’ve established in the community,” Mr Vasta said.

AAMA President Lyndon Kurth said the welcome upgrade ensured their sporting club would continue its impactful future on young people in the region.

“This new Dojo will ensure the sustainable future of our volunteer operated club whilst also offering affordable karate tuition fees for families,” Mr Kurth said.

“Our classes are more than self-defense but rather about enhancing the mind, body and spirit through excellence in karate.

“It’s also a great inclusive sport for women and children.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Australian Government’s investment in community infrastructure would provide long term benefits to the Mt Gravatt region.

“This investment will contribute to people feeling more socially connected and building self-esteem, particularly among vulnerable youth and provide positive health benefits,” Mr McCormack said.

Read More

Proud to support Bonner’s Local Sporting Champions

Local Sporting Champions continues to support more aspiring young sportspeople than ever before, with Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta encouraging families to apply for the next round of the popular grants program by 30 September 2019.

The Morrison Government’s Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance to aspiring young athletes, coaches and officials between the ages of 12-18 attending eligible state, national or international sporting championships.

Mr Vasta said Local Sporting Champions, managed by Sport Australia, was an important initiative for talented young sportspeople and their families.

“Local Sporting Champions provides an opportunity for aspiring young athletes from the Bonner Electorate to take part in high level competition,” Mr Vasta said.

“This program helps support families meet the costs associated with attending sporting competitions such as competition entry fees, travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment.

Local Sporting Champions continues to grow, with the Morrison Government announcing a funding boost in 2018-19 of $11.8million over four years. Funding starts at $500 per grant, with additional provisions for longer distance travel.

Minister for Youth and Sport Richard Colbeck said assisting families to engage in high level sporting competition would help meet the Morrison Government’s Sport 2030 plan to help more Australians be more active more often.

“Local Sporting Champions has already delivered more than $30 million in grants to more than 52,000 young Australians,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Sport and physical activity is a valuable part of any child’s development, so this program is a great investment in the health of our nation.”

Applications for the Local Sporting Champions program are open throughout the entire year, with four assessment periods. To be considered for the next assessment period, applications must be in by 30 September, 2019.

For more information on Local Sporting Champions grants, including the eligibility criteria and to apply, visit www.sportaus.gov.au/lsc

Read More