Help for sports clubs

We have information to help sports clubs in Ballarat.

Image of sporting equipment

Change our Game Video Series

The City of Ballarat’s new video series is part of our commitment to gender equality in sport and recreation. We want to support clubs to increase women’s and girls’ participation and make sport and recreation safe, equal and inclusive.

Learn how your club can:

  • Get more members
  • Increase participation of women, girls and gender diverse people
  • Create safe and inclusive sport and prevent gender-based violence
  • Create gender equitable club facilities and culture
  • Advance gender equality in sport

Watch the series

Support and Resources

Women’s Health Grampians (WHG)

Women's Health Grampians supports sporting clubs to challenge sexism, discrimination and violence against women.

  • Joining Communities of Respect & Equality (CoRE) enables members to access training and guidance of a CoRE Consultant to take action, including Bystander Training, Movement-Based Bystander Training and Sport-Specific resources
  • Signing up for Act@Play takes your club through an intensive six-month cultural change program to promote gender equality. It’s designed specifically for sporting clubs to help promote inclusivity and create safe, respectful, fair and welcoming clubhouses.

Contact Women's Health Grampians:

Sports Central

Sports Central is your partner to achieve gender equality across all areas of your club and association. We provide tailored programs and services through a range of government subsidised programs and expert professional services.

As the Regional Sports Assembly for the Central Highlands region, their local team is here to help your club or association in achieving its’ goals to;

  • Deliver new women and girls participation programs and teams
  • Develop and grow your coaches and leaders
  • Support and advise your committees and volunteers, and
  • Promote your stories of success

Contact Sports Central:

Fair Access to Sport and Recreation

At present, many Victorian women and girls don’t have access to the best courts or grounds, have facilities of lesser standard, or are relegated to less convenient competition and training times. These barriers make it difficult for many to participate or reach their best.

The Fair Access Policy Roadmap, released by the Office for Women in Sport in partnership with Sport and Recreation Victoria and VicHealth, aims to develop a state-wide foundation to improve the access to, and use of, community sports infrastructure for women and girls.

In response, City of Ballarat has developed a Fair Access Policy along with actions that will be incorporated in the Active Ballarat Strategy. The Fair Access Policy was adopted by Council in July 2024, after community consultation between February and April 2024.

Sport club development

In partnership with Sports Central, the Regional Sports Assembly for the Central Highlands, we run a range of programs to help our Ballarat sport and active recreation communities. 

Sports Central deliver programs and services throughout the region across:

  • development and support
  • welcoming and inclusive sport
  • participation
  • healthy and safe communities

Clubs wanting advice or help should check out the Sport Central website.

Grant opportunities

There are a wide range of grant and funding opportunities available for our sport and active recreation community. Funding can provide valuable help to support the operations and projects. The challenge can be funding the right grants and preparing winning applications.

Grant Finder

The City of Ballarat's Grant Finder, powered by Grant Guru, can help with finding grants that may help your sporting group.

Our Grant Finder can help Ballarat sport and active recreation clubs, community groups, and businesses easily find and apply for grants.

Grant Finder lists 98 percent of available grants with a search so users can filter grants. Grant Guru has advice and tips for finding and applying for grants. You can also register for email alerts so you know when grants are listed or change.

Start looking for grants on Grant Finder now.

City of Ballarat Community Impact Grant program

The City of Ballarat’s Community Impact Grant Program supports community groups and organisations to run projects, programs, events and other activities, or to buy needed equipment. 

For more information on Community Impact Grants, or other City of Ballarat grant programs, visit our grants webpage.

More grant opportunities

Other funding information can also be found at the links below:

Ground bookings

There are many sporting and recreation areas in Ballarat you can use and visit. If you are a sports club, gym owner or personal trainer, you can hire some of these areas for your needs. 

Book a sports ground.