New grants Level the Field for sport careers
Published: 22 July 2026From coaching to sports administration, a new Victorian Government initiative is supporting the sector to deliver more opportunities for people with disability to work and volunteer in regional communities.
29 game changing initiatives are set to share in more than $7.16 million through the Level the Field grant program.
Successful recipients include YMCA, receiving $339,000 towards accessibility audits, co-design workshops, training, and pathways to make it easier for people with disability to work or volunteer at Y Discovery Camps regional sites.
Football Victoria will use $350,000 to support more people with disability into the regional football workforce through paid roles, work pathways, and system changes across Greater Ballarat and the Latrobe Valley.
Scope has received more than $225,000 to develop a new Community Inclusion Workforce Model, creating paid and volunteer pathways into sport roles for people with disability in Bendigo, Warragul, and Geelong.
Level the Field is delivered by Leisure Networks in partnership with the Victorian Government to help sports and community organisations strengthen and expand job opportunities for people with disability in regional Victoria.
Leisure Networks CEO David Meade said, ‘The projects being funded through Level the Field are some of the most exciting examples of inclusion in action that we’ve seen across the sport and recreation sector.’
‘From innovative volunteer pathways to meaningful employment opportunities, these initiatives are breaking down barriers and creating real opportunities for people with disability to contribute, connect and thrive.’
‘It’s inspiring to see organisations across regional Victoria stepping forward with such creativity and commitment to building more inclusive workplaces and communities,’ he said.
Level the Field is backed by the All Abilities Workforce and Sector Support Program that’s also supporting Disability Sport and Recreation (DSR) to establish a Learning and Development Hub.
The Hub will provide accessible training, tools and resources designed to support both workforce participation and sector capability – DSR are currently registering EOI’s ahead of its launch later this year. For more information visit Disability Sport and Recreation.
These initiatives are part of the $40 million All Abilities Sport Fund that is removing barriers for people with disability to get involved in sport and active recreation in regional Victoria.
For more information about the program and successful recipients visit Level the Field.