Grants power new wave of First Nations athletes
Published: 17 September 2025Even more of Victoria’s First Nations athletes are set for a great start to this summer season with our Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program kicking in for equipment, travel costs, uniforms, and to participate in sport carnivals.
Nineteen successful applications have secured grants from the latest round of the Program.
Sharing in more than $67,000, recipients include the Moe based Gippsland Wrens Sporting Club. The club’s under 10’s girls and boys basketball sides will benefit from new uniforms and equipment thanks to around $1,600.
Team manager of the Gippsland Wrens Sporting Club Cody Hood said, ‘Thanks to this support our junior basketball teams can compete in local tournaments across the Latrobe Valley in Gippsland. It enables them to participate with pride and feel connected as a community.’
The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation also scored almost $500 toward uniforms and boxing equipment for 2 of its up and coming Warrior’s Boxing program talents. The program has a strong focus on Aboriginal youth mental health and wellbeing and is based in Healesville.
Mildura’s Mallee Tigers Football Netball Club will be using $15,000 towards travel costs for 7 of their junior teams to participate in the 2025 VACSAL Statewide Junior Football and Netball Carnival in Shepparton.
The program aims to connect cultures and inspire a new generation of Aboriginal sporting heroes to follow in the footsteps of legends like athlete Cathy Freeman, Australian cricketer Scott Boland and more.
It’s part of the Government’s strong support for the Victorian Aboriginal community, alongside the new Victorian Aboriginal Sporting Partnership which is creating more opportunities in the community sport sector for Aboriginal athletes.
Since 2020, the Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program has provided more than 480 grants to community sport clubs and individuals in Victoria’s Indigenous communities.
For more information about the program and the latest successful recipients visit Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program.