Supporting Victorian Athletes To Go Further

The Andrews Labor Government is backing our home-grown athletes with travel grants to help them compete at the top level.

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence today announced 109 grants worth more than $250,000 to assist athletes, teams, coaches and officials to accelerate their careers and take the next big step on the national stage.

The Labor Government’s Athlete Pathway Travel Grants Program helps athletes, teams, coaches and officials with travel and accommodation costs associated with competing at regional, state and national levels.

Grants of up to $6,000 are available for recognised state sporting associations, regional academies of sport and state sport bodies. Victorian sports clubs can apply for grants of up to $2,000.

This round’s recipients include Baseball Victoria, which will use its $6,000 grant to help the Victorian Aces travel and compete at the 2023 Australian Women’s Baseball Championship in South Australia next April.

Echuca Basketball Association will receive $2,000 to help up-and-coming players with travel costs to attend development programs and pathway tournaments in preparation for state championships.

Daisy Sudholz from Eureka Athletics Club in Mount Clear – this year’s national under 17s 1500m and 3000m champion – was awarded $750 funding to head to the state championships in February. Daisy will also develop her skills through Athletics Victoria’s Target Talent Program.

The Athlete Pathway Travel Grants Program has awarded more than 1,500 grants totalling more than $2.9 million to help teams and athletes reach their goals since 2015.

The program helps support the next generation of Victorian athletes to develop from community to national level.

For further information about the program visit sport.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence

“We are helping our athletes and future champions by removing the barriers associated with travel and accommodation costs so they can focus on realising their sporting dreams.”

“Travelling around Australia to compete at the highest level is a great achievement and this is about helping our rising athletes focus on competition and take the next big step.”

Quote attributable to Eureka Athletics Club Member and Grant Recipient Daisy Sudholz

“I am very grateful for the travel grant funding as this will help me with the considerable costs that my family has coming from a country area. It will help to give me every opportunity to compete at a high level.”