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August 18, 2023
The Malinauskas Labor Government is dedicating $28 million to uplift and support women and girls’ sporting facilities in South Australia. The move intends to ensure that the Matildas’ – Australia’s women’s national football team – historic run in the FIFA Women’s World Cup (FIFAWWC) becomes a milestone in the history of women’s sport in the state.
Only one in four children in South Australia aged 12 and under and only 14% of those aged 13-17 are meeting national activity guidelines. Additionally, only 30% of women and girls aged 15 and above participated in sport at least once a week. The most popular sport-related activity for girls aged 0-14 was swimming with football/soccer coming in 4th place.
To leverage the current high popularity of women’s football, the Labor Government intends to invest in the growth of women’s and girls’ sport to leave a strong legacy in the state following the FIFAWWC which will concludes on Sunday. It will deliver an $18 million grant program over the next three years dedicated to sporting facilities for women and girls and improvements to grow participation. The remaining $10 million will be committed to football specifically.
Football South Australia (SA) will match the grant amount through a range of funding sources including local football clubs, Football Australia and both local and federal governments. It anticipates a 33% growth in girls and women participation over the next three years on the back of the Women’s World Cup and the Matilda’s efforts.
“[T]hese women, the best athletes in the world, are inspirational. Seeing them celebrated for being strong and powerful is transforming the way women and the roles they can play are seen,” said Katrine Hildyard MP, Member for Reynell. “We are serious about backing women in sport and creating a lasting legacy. Doing so means responding to their growing desire to take to the pitch and investing in the facilities they deserve.”
Interest in football has spiked significantly since the FIFAWWC. Clubs such as the Adelaide Comets report a surge of interest in the sport, with parents eagerly seeking teams for their children. With this major funding, South Australia not only celebrates the Matildas’ achievements in the tournament but also promises its youth numerous opportunities to get active.
“Together with our government partners and armed with compelling national facility audit insights, we can make smarter, more impactful investments in community football, ensuring a brighter, more inclusive community for every aspiring footballer,” said James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia. “As we grow, so does the pressing need to bridge our facilities gap – a challenge highlighted by our trajectory, which, if not addressed, will compromise the health of our community, and limit positive life experiences for women and girls.”
The state’s commitment to women and girls’ participation can be traced back to 2015 when the Government’s ‘Female Facilities Program’ supported 41 projects costing over $42 million. This additional funding builds on the $1 million of legacy funding already committed by the Government, which intends to further women’s and girls’ participation in sport and women’s leadership as well as educate young athletes about domestic violence prevention. More information about the new grant program, which will be overseen by the Office of Recreation and Sport will be released later this year.
Source: Football South Australia
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