NSW sporting organisations are being invited to apply for a share of $500,000 in funding to support initiatives aimed at boosting participation by women and girls, both on and off the field, under the Minns Labor Government’s Play Her Way Innovation Program.
Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said the program was designed to address participation gaps and encourage new approaches across the sector.
“The Play Her Way Innovation Program is an initiative of the Minns Government to ensure sporting organisations address the low rates of participation among adolescent girls and working with the sector to develop new and innovative opportunities for teenage girls to play sport their way,” he said.
“These grants will assist to create future pathways for female participation in sport and better equip the sports sector to respond to emerging trends and challenges for women’s sport into the future.”
The program sits within the broader Play Her Way women’s sport strategy, a four-year plan aimed at increasing and sustaining participation among women and girls across NSW.
Funding will be available to recognised NSW State Sporting Organisations and State Sporting Organisations for People with Disability. Eligible projects include those that strengthen career pathways, foster inclusive and diverse sporting cultures, and increase participation.
Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said the initiative also aimed to expand opportunities beyond playing roles.
“The Minns Government is working to increase women and girls’ participation in sport – on and off field, in leadership and coaching roles,” she said.
“The Play Her Way Innovation Program is part of the wider effort to empower sporting organisations to come up with new ideas to provide safe, inclusive and supportive environments for women and girls to participate and develop personally and professionally.”
Organisations can partner with sporting academies or groups working with women, girls and under-represented communities to deliver initiatives.
The program is structured across four streams: Career Activations, which promote awareness of roles and careers in sport; Career Offerings, which develop or enhance pathways for young women; Participation, which focuses on reducing barriers and creating inclusive sporting experiences; and Capability, aimed at building organisational capacity and fostering gender-inclusive environments.
Grants ranging from $3,000 to $45,000 are available, with organisations able to apply for multiple grants up to a total cap of $50,000.
Applications close on Thursday, 30 April. Further information is available at: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/play-her-way-innovation-program.
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