About
Local football clubs are at the heart of local communities. They play a critically important role in not only providing participation opportunities but deliver a range of benefits across social, health, community and economic outcomes.
Community football is the cornerstone of our game and underpins all aspects of our national sport. The AFL understands the challenges faced by football communities across Australia, especially with a change in demographics and community expectations, so it’s vital we continue to invest into strategically important initiatives that help strengthen, sustain and grow community football into the future.
On 17 September 2019, AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan announced the AFL’s Victorian Country Football funding initiative as part of the AFL’s strategic investment into community football.
Eligibility
Interested applicants should click here to review the SCIF guidelines in detail to determine their project’s eligibility.
Funding Available
Up to $25,000 dollars is available to community clubs across three key strategic areas.
- Grow and assist volunteer capacity to drive initiatives such as;
- Undertaking short courses in areas such as electronic bookkeeping, governance, barista, RSA, food handling, etc.
- Improving club financial practices such as upgrading from manual cash handling to electronic POS processes or introducing accounting software such as xero equipment.
- That can evidently be shown to reduce and ease the workload on volunteers such as line-markers, boot-scrapers or subsiding new electronic scoreboard costs (up to $25k), etc.
- Required to modify ovals for junior / AFLX games such as mini goal posts, cones to define temporary boundaries, additional goal umpire flags, etc.
- Which improves the safety of the environment (such as netting behind goal, where balls can otherwise escape on to a busy road – up to $25k), etc.
- Grow and diversify participation through initiatives such as;
- Start-up costs associated with the establishment of new or amalgamated clubs or new female teams for items such as new jumpers, incorporation, accreditation of trainers – up to $3.5k, etc
- Initiatives that encourage increased participation of multicultural, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, all abilities, or disadvantaged participants such as;
- Subsidies for training and playing uniform and boots, registration and membership, up to $750 per player, etc.
- Assistance is setting up prayer rooms or religious spaces.
- Undertaking club cultural awareness training.
- Improve environments and experiences through initiatives such as;
- Initiatives, resources and or assets that promote and enhance child safety standards.
- Short-term financial support to distressed clubs ie where a natural disaster may have impacted on the club’s ability to operate.
How To Apply
For more information, guidelines and to apply please click here.
Applications will be assessed monthly with applicants to be advised no later than the 8th day of the month following the month they lodge.
If you have any questions or would like assistance with your application, please contact (03) 5831 8456 or clubsupport@valleysport.net.au