Families win big with Get in the Game

Queensland children and their families will soon have more chances to get fit and have fun with round three of the Queensland Government’s Get in the Game initiative opening next week.

The initiative is ploughing $48 million into grassroots sport in Queensland over three years and today Premier Campbell Newman joined children for a sports session at Stafford State School to launch the latest round of funding.

“Sport brings the community together, keeps our kids healthy and is great fun for families,” Mr Newman said.

“Get in the Game has been hugely successful in helping clubs improve facilities and helping mums and dads meet the costs of registration and equipment for their kids.

“That’s why we have tripled the funding for this initiative since its launch in 2012.

“In Stafford alone we have approved $21,000 of funding to redeem club registrations and I urge clubs here and across the State to put their hand up for more resources.”

Under the last round of funding, Wilston-Grange Junior Australian Football Club received more than $14,000 to provide training and accreditation to club volunteers in first aid, sports medicine and level one coaching.

The club’s president, Brett Gillett, said: “The grants have been greatly beneficial ­– they have allowed us to promote and reward volunteerism which is vital to ensuring the success of community-based clubs and junior sport.”

Three Get in the Game rounds are being launched next month. Round 3 of Get Playing, to improve facilities, opens on July 1. Round 3 of Get Going, to help clubs grow, also opens on July 1. Round 4 of Get Started, to cut the cost of sport for children, opens on July 15.

Recreation and Sport Minister Steve Dickson said so far 54,000 Get Started vouchers had been issued to families, almost $7 million had been distributed to clubs for equipment and training under Get Going and more than $14 million had been spent on infrastructure under the Get Playing program.

“Get in the Game has been massively successful in helping clubs grow and kids to get fit and there’s even more support for sport to come in 2014,” he said.    

For more information on Get in the Game visit www.nprsr.qld.gov.au.

[ENDS] 26 June 2014

Contact: Michelle Buckworth 0418 433 647