Netball clubs affiliated with the WorkSafe Country Netball League are invited to apply for the 2022 WorkSafe Club Safety Fund.
2021 grant recipient Traralgon Tyers United Football Netball Club shared how funding has improved safety at their club.
Securing funding for new or upgraded netball facilities can be challenging, especially for volunteers at country clubs often competing for limited resources.
The WorkSafe Club Safety Fund was established to help overcome these barriers, providing financial assistance to netball clubs affiliated with the WorkSafe Country Netball League across Victoria. Grants up to $1,500 are available for safety initiatives such as purchasing protective equipment, building safety structures, or undergoing maintenance to remove occupational health and safety hazards.
Funding for the WorkSafe Club Safety Fund is now open for 2022, with applications closing Friday June 10.
Traralgon Tyers United Football Netball Club playing in the North Gippsland Football and Netball League was one of the 2021 grant recipients. Committee member and grants officer Michael Taplin was motivated to apply to hopefully fix ongoing court issues at the club’s home, Tyers Recreation Reserve.
“I applied for the funding after the netballers stated that one of our netball posts was on a lean and was not improving after several attempts to repair it,” Taplin said. “The existing posts were in terrible condition.”
Taplin said the process of applying for the grant was seamless. “The application process was very easy! I have dealt with grant funding for the past three years for the club and this process was one of the easiest. A simple request for information and an easy-to-follow process.”
The funding Traralgon Tyers United Football Netball Club received was put towards two new goal posts with nets and padding for safety. “The new posts have improved player safety as the old goal posts were unstable,” Taplin said. “It was an easy process, and it has improved the vibe within the netball community seeing upgrades to equipment that has been deteriorating over recent years.”
Receiving significant government funding for a larger redevelopment of Tyers Recreation Reserve’s netball courts has also been a goal of Traralgon Tyers United Football Netball Club for some time. “These processes are very competitive.” With several leagues across Gippsland, it means there are dozens of netball clubs competing for the same funds. Upgrades to facilities are generally tough to get and it can be a long road.”
The persistence, dedication, and passion of the club’s committee members has paid off, with an extensive overhaul of Tyers Recreation Reserve’s netball courts finally on the cards for 2022/2023. This project will see the construction of a new premier game day court, as well as two additional netball/tennis courts.
Taplin hopes the grant and eventual new facilities will aid the club to bounce back following the impacts of COVID-19. “We are a small club that relies on the larger surrounding towns for players and supporters. Our point of difference is that we are quite young compared to many clubs in our league, which means we are still forming our identity and history. We encourage people to help us form this history and be part of the future success.”
Those involved in Traralgon Tyers United benefit from a “sustainable, successful club, where success is measured not in trophies but in the growth, inclusion and enjoyment of its members and the local community.”
Applications are now open for the 2022 WorkSafe Club Safety Fund for all netball clubs affiliated with Netball Victoria playing in the WorkSafe Country Netball League. Find out more and apply.
