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Community Sport Sector Short-term Survival Package
The $40 million Community Sport Sector Short-term Survival Package provides grants to support the operational viability of community sport and active recreation organisations impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This initiative is part of the Victorian Government’s new Experience Economy Survival Package providing urgent support to help a range of key attractions, organisations and associations ride out the economic impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and help them reboot, rebound and recover.
What grants are available?
The Community Sport Sector Short-term Survival Package includes $40 million for community sport organisations in four categories:
grants of up to $350,000 available for large state sporting associations;
grants of up to $200,000 available to smaller state sporting associations; regional sports assemblies and academies and other state sport and recreational bodies;
grants of up to $15,000 are available for associations and leagues; and
grants of $1,000 are available for individual clubs.
For specific details on the program, including the objectives of the fund, the number of applications that can be submitted under each stream, the grant amounts available and eligibility of applications please refer to the guidelines.
Football Australia has celebrated the latest round of the Growing Football Fund Community Grants, with 118 clubs and associations awarded up to $5000 to support women’s football programs. 
In conjunction with the Commonwealth Bank, the latest grants from Football Australia built upon the first round of the program from March 2024 that saw 121 clubs and associations rewarded with grants.
The grants aim to strengthen women’s football through number of initiatives:
Assisting the development of female coaches by subsiding coach training programs
Assisting the hosting of ‘come and try’ days and participation programs
Assisting health and training workshops for women and girls
Assisting the allocation of professional female fitting uniforms
Through the program, Football Australia also illustrated its desire to bolster rural women’s sport by providing 38% of the grants to organisations from regional areas.
Football Australia General Manager of Women’s Football, Carlee Millikin, explained the impact the grants would have on community women’s football.
“We are thrilled to see the clubs and associations that have been awarded the grants demonstrating a strong commitment to long-term investment in women and girls’ football within their communities that goes beyond the financial,” she said in a press release.
“It means the Growing Football Fund can play its role to help supercharge their ambitions that result in positive outcomes for female participants. The wide breadth of projects is exciting, as it shows a deepening understanding of what is required to develop inclusive and safe environments.
“In partnership with CommBank, we have already seen great results from the round one clubs delivery of initiatives and look forward to witnessing how the latest cohort creates a lasting impact through their programs.”
CommBank’s General Manager of Brand, Sponsorship and Content, Di Everett, expressed their pride to sponsor the grants.
“We are so proud of what this fund has achieved so far, and congratulate the recipients of the Round Two grants,” she said via press release.
“We are passionate about making community sport more accessible for all. These grants have enabled clubs across the country to assist coaches through training opportunities and support local families through an expansion of programs to drive participation for young women.”
The clubs awarded with grants from Round Two of the program are listed below via member federation:
Capital Football
BellaMonaro Women’s Football Club
Belsouth Football Club
Canberra Juventus Football Club
Canberra White Eagles Football Club
Tigers FC
Tuggeranong United Football Club
Football NSW
AC United Football Club
All Saints West Oatley Soccer Club
Ashfield Pirates FC
Austral Soccer Club
Balgownie Junior Football Club
Box Hill Rangers AFC
Collaroy Cromer Strikers Football Club
Colo Soccer Football Club
Enfield Rovers Football Club
Fairfield Bulls Football Club Inc.
Figtree Football Club
Football Canterbury Association
Forest Rangers Football Club
Future Leaders Australia Football Club Incorporated
Gordon Football Club
Gosford City Football Club
Leichhardt Saints Football Club
Leppington Lions Soccer Club
Lindfield Football Club
Millthorpe Junior Soccer Club Inc
Narooma Football Club
Narromine Soccer Club
North Epping Rangers Sports Club
North Turramurra
North West Sydney Football Association
Pennant Hills Football Club
Pitt Town Football Club
Ropes Crossing Strikers Football Club
Russell Lea Women’s Soccer Club
Sydney Uni Soccer Football Club
Wagga United Football Club
Warradale FC
West Griffith Soccer Club
Northern NSW Football
Charlestown Azzurri FC
Coffs City United Football Club
Cooks Hill United Football Club
Corindi Red Rock Sports Association (Football Club)
Great Lakes United Football Club
Inverell Football Club
Moore Creek Football Club Inc
Norths United Football Club Incorporated
Old Bar Barbarians Football Club
Shores United Soccer Club
Football VIC
Barwon Heads Soccer Club
Bayside Argonauts Football Club
Berwick City Soccer Club
Boroondara Eagles Football Club Inc
Craigieburn city Fc
Croydon City Soccer Club Inc.
Darebin Women’s Sports Club
Daylesford & Hepburn United Soccer Club
Deakin Ducks Fc
Drysdale Soccer Club
Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club
Footscray United Rangers Football Club
Gippsland United Football Club
Glen Eira FC Football VIC
Keilor Park Soccer Club
Leongatha Knights Football Club
Middle Park Football Club
Officer City Football Club Incorporated
PEGS Soccer Club Football VIC
Phillip Island Breakers Soccer Club
Spring Hills FC
Swan Hill Soccer League
Traralgon Olympians Soccer Club
Truganina Lions Soccer Club
Football QLD
Annerley Recreation Club
Bluebirds United Football Club Inc
Brighton District Soccer Club Inc
Burdekin Football Club Inc
Centary Stormers FC
Dayboro and Districrs Football Club
Gold Coast Knights Football Club
Holland Park Hawks Football Club
Logan Village Falcons All Sports
Mackay Wanderers Football Club
Moreton City Excelsior FC
Rebels Football Club
Redlands United Football Club
The Gap Football Club
Townsville Warriors Football Club Inc
Woombye Snakes Football Club Inc
Football SA
Adelaide Ateltico
Adelaide Jaguars Football Club Incorporated
Campbelltown City Soccer and Social Club
Flinders United Women’s Football Club
Mount Barker United Soccer Club
Sacred Heart Old Collegians Soccer Club
South Adelaide Panthers FC
Sturt Lions Football Club Incorporated
The Pulteney Old Scholars Soccer Club Incorporated
Brisbane Roar has announced a significant partnership with Hellyer Metals, a prominent mining company, as the club’s new Major Sponsor. The two-year agreement commences in the 2024/25 season.
As part of the sponsorship, the company has secured naming rights to the game day technical area signage for both the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s and Ninja A-League Women’s matches.
Hellyer Metals, recognised for its commitment to responsible growth and operational excellence in the global mining industry, is also dedicated to fostering the development of women’s football.
Hellyer Metals is a base metals mining operation based on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia who are committed to playing a leading role in the global mining industry.
Their tailings reprocessing process produces high-quality lead and zinc concentrates, along with valuable gold and silver credits, powered by renewable hydro power.
Both parties are dedicated to success through innovative practices and responsible business strategies with the goal to become and remain industry leaders for years to come.
Hellyer Metals are entering the football market a year after first entering the Australian sports market with their Hawthorn Hawks partnership in 2023.
Brisbane Roar CEO & Chairman, Kaz Patafta spoke about his excitement for the future of this partnership.
“We’re pleased to have Hellyer Metals on board for this 2024/25 season, supporting our club as a Major Sponsor and getting behind the growth of women’s football. We’re looking forward to seeing this partnership grow over the coming seasons,” Patafta said in a press release.
Hellyer Metals CEO, Graham Cox echoed the same sentiment.
“The Hellyer Metals team are delighted to have partnered with Brisbane Roar for two seasons. We are passionate about seeing women’s football continue to develop and look forward to being a long-running partner of the club,” Cox said in a press release.
This partnership marks a strong collaboration between Hellyer Metals and Brisbane Roar, aligning the company’s commitment to excellence and community support with the club’s passion for football development.
The sponsorship not only enhances the club’s resources but also provides Hellyer Metals with a platform to amplify their brand while supporting the growth of women’s football—a win-win for both parties.
Brisbane Roar under CEO & Chairman Kaz Patafta continue to be one of the busiest A-League’s clubs in the business side of operations, growing their already large corporate portfolio to ensure a sustainable financial future for Queensland’s only professional football club.