The Department of Education has welcomed a $27.3 million package to support the community sport sector “get back on its feet”.
Announced by Acting Minister for Sport, Geoff Lee, the Community Sport Recovery Package includes financial support and assistance for sport and recreation organisations across NSW.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on everyone’s lives, including the sport and recreation sector,” Mr Lee said.
“NSW has 5.4 million adults and over 900,000 children participating in sport and recreation, 415,000 volunteers and 30,000 employees,” he said.
“The pandemic has clearly placed a major strain on community sport and recreation organisations.”
Mr Lees said the recovery package was not just about helping sports survive but thrive.
“Assistance includes financial support for all levels of community sport and will ensure organisations survive the crisis as well as helping millions of NSW residents resume activities they love in a safe environment,” he said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the recovery package would also stimulate the local economy.
Mr Perrottet said up to $1,000 grants would be provided to almost 12,500 local sporting clubs and associations across the State to assist clubs when sport resumed on 1 July.
“Funding is provided to State Sporting Organisations (SSOs) and State Sporting Organisations for people with disabilities (SSODs), to ensure local sporting competitions can be run across the State over the next 12 months,” Mr Perrottet said
He said Regional Academies of Sport would also receive funding to maintain elite pathways for aspiring athletes across NSW.
