Phillip Island Breakers SC to benefit from funding for female-friendly facilities

The Phillip Island Breakers Soccer Club have been the beneficiaries of a funding grant from the Victorian Government’s World Game Facilities Fund, upgrading their pavilion at Newhaven Reserve to make it more female friendly.

The club have received around $400,000 in funding from the state government, a significant portion of the $3.8 million the Andrews Government has handed out to 11 community football infrastructure projects since May of this year.

Alongside this, the Bass Coast Shire Council have also financially contributed to the project and played a major role in convincing the government to hand over the funding grant to the club.

“We were selected because of the council’s work; we went to them (Bass Strait Shire Council) and they put the grant application in,” Phillip Island Breakers SC president, Andrea Dempsey, told Soccerscene.

“They were successful last year with another club in the council and they decided to apply for the female friendly facilities at our club because they were needed. It was a thing that we actually had identified well before, that we really needed.”

Under the details of the redevelopments, the club’s changing room space will be expanded considerably, according to Dempsey.

“It will be expanded in a way that will eventually leave the building with four main spaces,” she said.

“We’ll have two big dividable rooms, so we can have two female and two male changerooms with both of them having access to showers and toilets.”

The Phillip Island Breakers SC president is excited for the benefits that are set to coincide with the upgrades, with building set to begin later this year.

“The plan has already been drawn up; Building has to commence by the end of the year – so hopefully in the coming months a bit of work has been done,” she said.

“It’s just so good that we are getting female friendly facilities, we have got more and more girls coming to the club and that was the one thing that we were lacking.

“There wasn’t enough space or very minimal space for the women to change into.

“There was no privacy for the showers for example, it wasn’t female friendly at all. So, hopefully this will allow for more opportunities for women to join the club and feel welcome in an inclusive environment.”

The club itself was founded 27 years ago as an indoor soccer club before transitioning to an outdoor outfit playing its matches in the local Gippsland Soccer League, after moving from the Bayside Soccer League many years ago.

Team ages range from seniors to under 6’s, both boys and girls, with the club hosting over 170 playing members.

According to Dempsey, a push for further upgrades at the club will be pursued in due time to take the club to the next level.

“Yeah we’ll try to (to get more funding for upgrades), everyone always is, aren’t they?

“The next thing we are going to possibly look for is tin shelters on our pitch for those out in the wet weather in winter.

“At the moment we don’t have any protection for teams and those people on the sidelines, so that’s what we will try for next, but for now we are looking forward to the pavilion works.”

Since 2018, the World Game Facilities Fund has invested $13.2 million in 48 football infrastructure projects across Victoria, with an overall value of more than $41 million.

“Better sport and recreation facilities make it easier for Victorians to get active and lead healthy lifestyles,” said Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence.

“We’re providing clubs with support for really important projects that will make the world of difference for local communities.”

Football Victoria CEO, Kimon Taliadoros, said of the fund: “Football breaks down barriers and brings communities together – we’re delighted to see even more clubs being able to meet community demand through the latest round of the World Game Facilities Fund.”

The next round of applications for the World Game Facilities Fund will be open next month, for more information visit the link here.

Previous ArticleNext Article

FV Celebrates Major Facility Upgrades Across Regional Victoria Under RCSIF

Football Victoria (FV) is pleased to acknowledge the announcement of four successful projects funded through the Victorian Government’s Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund (RCSIF), which will deliver vital upgrades to key football facilities throughout regional Victoria.

The RCSIF is a $60 million initiative from the Allan Labor Government designed to improve community sports infrastructure with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility.

FV is proud to spotlight the following projects that have secured funding:

Thompson Reserve (Inverloch Stars SC)
This upgrade will feature the construction of female-friendly change rooms and enhanced lighting, encouraging greater participation among women and girls.

Dixon Field (Gisborne SC)
Essential lighting improvements will be implemented to expand training and match capacity, supporting the increasing demand for football in the Macedon Ranges.

Victoria Park (Daylesford & Hepburn United SC)
The project will include lighting enhancements to improve venue usability and support broader access for the local football community.

Romsey Recreation Reserve (Macedon Rangers SC)
Funding will go towards planning and design works for new lighting and redevelopment of the main playing surface, laying the groundwork for future infrastructure development.

FV’s Head of Government Relations & Strategy, Lachlan Cole, expressed his excitement about the funding and the positive impact it will bring to regional football communities:

 “These investments are a testament to the importance of football in regional communities.

“Upgraded facilities not only created better playing experiences but also promote social connection in the community and allow for more people to play the game they love.”

Football Victoria Celebrates Construction Start on Gippsland Sports & Entertainment Park Redevelopment

Football Victoria welcomes the start of construction on the Gippsland Sports & Entertainment Park redevelopment, a major boost for football in the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland, funded by the Victorian Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.

Construction getting underway with head contractor Building Engineering marks a major milestone in creating a modern, inclusive, and top-quality home for football in the region.

Lachlan Cole, FV’s Head of Government Relations & Strategy, said the upgraded Gippsland Sports & Entertainment Park is a flagship project that will provide local clubs and the wider Latrobe Valley football community with top-quality facilities and boost Gippsland’s ability to host regional tournaments and events.

“This is a crown jewel project for regional football in Victoria,” he said in a press release

“The upgraded Gippsland Sports & Entertainment Park will ensure that local clubs like Falcons 2000, Gippsland United FC and the wider Latrobe Valley football community have the facilities they deserve to grow and thrive, while strengthens Gippsland’s capacity to host regional tournaments and showcase events.”

The GSEP site holds a special place in Victoria’s football history, from the proud legacy of the former Morwell Falcons SC in the old NSL, to the lasting impact of the late Don Di Fabrizio OAM, a respected community figure who led the club as president from 1969 to 1994 and served as a Commissioner for the Australian Soccer Federation (ASF).

In honour of his legacy, the new grandstand pavilion will continue to carry Di Fabrizio’s name, acknowledging his significant contributions to the local football community.

The redevelopment will feature a new grandstand pavilion with accessible change rooms and facilities, upgraded pitches with improved lighting, a new change facility, and expanded parking. The project is also expected to boost the local economy through job creation and new opportunities for local businesses during and after the construction phase.

Cole also stated that Football Victoria is proud to partner with the government and the local football community on this upgrade, and thanked key ministers and agencies whose support has been vital in getting the project underway.

“Football Victoria is proud to partner with key government stakeholders and the local football community on this transformative upgrade,” he said.

“We thank Minister Shing, Minister Spence, and the Allan Labor Government for their continued investment in football and regional sport infrastructure.

“The vision and support of Sport and Recreation Victoria, Development Victoria, and Latrobe City Council has been instrumental in getting this project off the ground.”

The upgraded precinct will remain a central hub for the Latrobe Valley Soccer League, the Gippsland Referees Branch, and the next generation of regional football talent, supporting both community football and Football Victoria pathways and events.

Football Victoria looks forward to the project’s completion in late 2026 and the lasting impact this investment will have on Gippsland football for years to come.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend