THE Macedon Ranges Shire Council (MRSC) received a State Government grant of $350,000 to create more inclusive jobs, volunteering and leadership opportunities for people with disability across the region’s sports and recreation sector.
The project will work with five to six local sporting clubs to identify and remove barriers within their governance, recruitment and volunteer systems.
A Lived Experience Advisory Group will ensure people with disability are directly involved in shaping the project and its resources.
MRSC Mayor Councillor Cassy Borthwick said sporting clubs play an important role in building connected and welcoming communities.
“Sporting clubs are at the heart of our communities and among the most important institutions in the Macedon Ranges. They bring people together, develop future leaders and strengthen the social connections that help our towns thrive,” Cr Borthwick said.
“This funding will help clubs identify and remove barriers that can unintentionally prevent people with disability from volunteering, coaching, serving on committees or taking on leadership roles.”
The funding has been awarded through the Victorian Government’s Level the Field program for the MRSC’s Inclusive Clubs, Stronger Communities project.
Participating clubs will undertake inclusion and governance reviews, receive specialised training and develop Inclusive Leadership Action Plans. Accessible recruitment and onboarding resources will also be created to help clubs welcome people with disability into roles such as committee members, coaches, officials and administrators.
“When people are excluded from opportunities to contribute, our whole community misses out,” Cr Borthwick said.
“Inclusion is not a cost, it is an investment in stronger clubs, stronger communities and better outcomes for everyone.”
The project aims to create or support between eight and 12 leadership and committee placements for people with disability. It will also produce an Inclusive Sport Governance Toolkit, which will be made available to sporting clubs throughout the Macedon Ranges and relevant regional networks.
Level the Field is delivered by Leisure Networks in partnership with Sport and Recreation Victoria.
The project will run until December 2027, with clubs to be identified and selected in the coming months.
