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More than $6 million in grants to State sporting associations (SSAs) in Western Australia have been announced by the State's Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron.
The amount represents a $1 million increase to grants allocated last year with Minister Waldron saying that changes designed to cut red tape now meant the process is more "sport friendly."
"Instead of a yearly turnaround, the grants are now largely provided on a three-year basis and several different programs have been included into the one grant agreement."
Football West Chief Executive Peter Hugg welcomed the more simplified approach stating "anything that simplifies applying for and acquitting grants is a major step forward given the many challenges that sports bodies currently face.
"The Minister is to be commended for this initiative as it will enable us to plan more effectively and, with the knowledge that funding is committed for the next three years, we can spend the money the best way we see fit, in line with our strategic plan and the objectives and outcomes agreed with the department."
The grants are the key part of the WA Department of Sport and Recreation's Organisational Sustainability Program (OSP). The OSP is aimed at ensuring SSAs are provided with the resources to manage their sports throughout the State.
Minister Waldron added "with more than 5,000 sports clubs in Western Australia, it is essential our sporting associations play a leading role in governing sport at the grass roots level.
"Government's role is to help give the SSAs the tools to be able to do this valuable work.
"While we have more than doubled the amount of money for community facilities ($9million to $20million) it is essential to support the human infrastructure that makes sport work.
"As society becomes more complicated it is important that our sporting organisations and the people who work for them are trained and resourced to help us achieve the great community benefits that sport provides."

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