As part of his 2024 campaign for Lord Mayor, Arron Wood is reaffirming his commitment to community sport with a new initiative designed to get kids back into the game. In a move to counter the rising costs of community sports and the declining participation rates post-pandemic, Wood announced a $2.2 million Sports Voucher Program. This initiative will provide $200 sports vouchers to families across the City of Melbourne, helping to cover registration or participation fees for children under 18.
“Community sport is the backbone of our neighbourhoods, fostering a sense of belonging, teamwork and physical fitness,” Wood said. “Unfortunately, the combination of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis means that many families are struggling to afford the costs associated with keeping their kids in sports. This voucher program is about helping to remove those barriers and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to participate.”
Under the program, families can apply for a voucher for each child under the age of 18 in their household. The vouchers are intended to ease the financial burden on parents and ensure that cost is not a barrier to participation in community sport. Wood’s voucher program would be in addition to the $200 voucher program being offered by the Victorian State Government later this year.
This initiative builds on Wood's longstanding record of supporting community sport. As Deputy Lord Mayor, he championed significant investments in local sporting facilities, including $1.5 million in upgrades to four ovals to make them more inclusive, comfortable and safe. His efforts in 2019 saw improvements to sporting pavilions, change rooms, lighting and social spaces, benefiting hundreds of community teams, including the rapidly growing number of women and girls' teams.
“Community sport is vital for the physical and mental well-being of our kids and it’s essential that we continue to invest in it,” Wood continued. “This voucher program is just one way I plan to make Melbourne a city where everyone, regardless of their financial situation, can enjoy the benefits of sport and an active lifestyle.”
To support the anticipated additional enrolments, Wood also announced that if he is elected in October, sporting clubs will be able to apply for grants of up to $100,000 for facility upgrades, to make sure that they have the necessary amenities to accommodate increased demand.
“The City of Melbourne has over 80 sporting clubs operating on 45 fields of play. These grants will help with the smaller things that make a big difference for players – like court renovations, clubhouse improvements and ensuring that clubs and facilities meet the accessibility needs of its players. Team Wood will work to make Melbourne a healthier, more inclusive city by supporting community sports and ensuring every child has the chance to get involved.
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