Funding has been announced for the latest round with 69 projects greenlit, with $10.3 million driving more participation in sport.

Sports including surfing, golf, badminton, table tennis, AFL Masters, rugby league, softball and orienteering will receive funding to expand their existing programs and welcome more people to sport.

Football Australia will receive funding to grow the game in Indigenous communities and expand its Miniroos and walking football programs. Motorsport Australia will also expand its Girls on Track program while Wheelchair Rugby League Australia will bring its NRL Wheelchair program to five states and territories.

Funding has also been allocated to pilot new projects such as Surf Live Saving Australia’s Breaking Barriers event to help people with disabilities participate in surf sports, and Basketball Australia’s Ability Hoops program for children with an intellectual impairment.

The Minister for Sport, The Hon Anika Wells MP, says all Australians will benefit from these programs.

“Indigenous communities, regional and remote areas and people with disability are at the heart of so many of these projects to help ensure sport is fun and accessible for anyone who wants to be involved,” Minister Wells said.

Gridiron Australia has seen interest in flag football soar after it was added as an Olympic sport for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

“We’ve been absolutely inundated from kids right through to adults wanting to play since the announcement,” Gridiron Australia CEO Wade Kelly said.

He hopes a new university tournament which will see teams compete across four states will encourage more Australians to play football while also serving as a pathway to the national and international university games.

“This funding is everything to us. It will allow us to run this event in Semester One next year and also helps us identify talent for LA 2028.”

DanceSport Australia National Vice President Martyn Kibel hopes to reach up to 3,000 new participants by offering free beginner Standard Ballroom, Latin American and New Vogue classes.

“We held a Come and Try day in Victoria a few years ago which attracted more than 500 people with 100 returning to attend more classes,” he said.

“We are also seeing increased demand for regular all-abilities and wheelchair dancing classes so this funding will be used to train more coaches with 20 coaches attending a similar workshop recently held in Perth.”