Image - St Bernard's Junior Football Club. Photo by Riley Lockett.
Last year, Telstra and AFL announced they will back local footy with Telstra Footy Country Grants which will provide $8 million funding over four years to clubs across Australia.
From upgrading an electronic scoreboard to upskilling volunteers, supporting cultural awareness to establishing new female teams, there are a number of initiatives that the grants can fund.
Local footy is the foundation of the game we love and is the beating heart of our community. Our financial support for local regional and metro clubs provides tangible benefits to help strengthen, sustain and grow grassroots footy.
With the core purpose to aid volunteers, diversify and broaden participation and improve experiences clubs offer, funds from Telstra Footy Country Grants will go to many crucial areas where clubs are in need.
Image - Volunteers at Blackburn Football club. Photo by Paul Hermes.
Telstra Footy Country Grants are aimed to have a positive impact on community engagement, player development, and club growth. Already, we have given out over 400 grants to clubs to help fuel the love of the game in our communities.
St Bernard’s is keen to kick down barriers and encourage more female participants to play the game we all love. Empowering more girls to play footy promotes equality on and off the field, showing the world that talent has no boundaries.
St Bernard’s Junior Football Club will use the Telstra Footy Country Grant to help fund their new junior girls’ program, including acquiring guernseys and training requirements for the team. The grant will also alleviate the stress of having to find money to pay for new uniforms, meaning more girls can play.
It’s more like a community than a club with a long serving yet ageing volunteer cohort, who is dedicated to serving Blackburn. With the Telstra Footy Country Grant, they can now upskill a new generation of volunteers by offering subsidised training courses.
We all know that goal post padding can be expensive, but it’s necessary for player safety during quick and intense play near the goals. In Brisbane, Aspley will put their Telstra Footy Country Grant towards new goal post padding to improve player safety.
There’s nothing quite like a cold, refreshing drink while cheering on the Wesburn Bulldogs girls and boys. Wesburn plans to use their Telstra Footy Country Grant to order a new fridge so their canteen can continue to serve up drinks the fans, players and volunteers have enjoyed for over 75 years.
Image - Blackburn Football Club. Photo by Paul Hermes.
You’re in luck, we still have another round of funding to go in 2024. Put your best boot forward today.
