Primary schools across the country have less than two weeks to benefit from the first funding round of the Abbott Government’s $100 million Sporting Schools programme.
Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, urged all local primary schools who haven’t already registered for this programme to do so and importantly, apply for funding to join the thousands of schools across the country benefitting from the Abbott Government’s plan to get more children active and healthy.
Mr Coulton said if you haven’t registered and applied for funding, now is the time with the first round of funding to close on Friday, 26 June 2015.
“This is one of the Abbott Government’s cornerstone preventative health programmes aimed to improve our children’s health through getting more kids involved in physical activity,” Mr Coulton said.
“Being involved in this new programme will expand sporting opportunities for children before, during and after school hours at local primary schools.
“Sporting Schools is designed to deliver sports in line with local schools’ needs and ultimately to get the children of the Parkes electorate active, engaged and having fun through sport, more often.”
Sporting Schools is about developing children’s love of sport during these early years because we know:
- approximately three quarters of Australian children spend their spare time watching television;
- only one third of children are managing the recommended hour of physical activity a day; and
- only half are involved in sport.
“With this in mind, the Abbott Government is committed to providing children across Australia with opportunities to build healthier habits early in life,” Mr Coulton said.
“It’s about nurturing children’s love of sport during these early years to encourage a lifelong sporting commitment while also developing their skills in leadership, teamwork, social inclusion and community spirit.”
This year’s round of programme delivery grants will enable primary schools across the region to enhance the delivery of sports-based activities during Term 3 and 4 this year.
More information on Sporting Schools can be found at https://www.sportingschools.gov.au/.
View the Sporting Schools Funding now open video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMwoDuP0JOI.
Applications for funding close 26 June, 2015.
