Local sport and physical-activity providers can now apply for grants of $25,000 to $250,000 to develop and run programs that encourage inactive people in communities to get more exercise.
The Move It AUS – Participation Grant Program provides support to help organisations get Australians moving and to support the aspiration to make Australia the world’s most active and healthy nation.
‘We know how important sport and physical activity are to helping both children and adults lead a happy, healthy life,’ federal member for Page Kevin Hogan said. ‘The goal is to get more people of all ages in our community more active more often.’
The Move It AUS program is designed to encourage adults to do 30 minutes of heart-raising activity a day, with those under 18 aiming for 60 minutes a day.
Have a go
Hogan urged sporting groups and local governments to develop programs, particularly targeting groups at risk of inactivity or not currently participating in enough activity, such as seniors or people with a disability.
‘For example a local soccer club may want to set up walking soccer for seniors to help them find their 30 minutes,’ he said.
Grants of between $25,000 and $250,000 are available to fund local sport and physical activity organisations.
To be eligible to apply for the program applicants must have been operating for 12 months or longer as either a sporting organisations, non-government organisations or local government organisations.
The Move It AUS program will be managed by Sport Australia.
Applications are open until February 18. For more information or to apply go to www.sportaus.gov.au/participationgrants.
Grant money can be used for new equipment, wages, training needed to deliver the program, venue hire, and for transport to get people to the program venue.
