The Andrews Labor Government is backing our rising sports stars with applications now open for travel grants to help them take their skills to the next level.

Member for Werribee Tim Pallas welcomed the opening of applications for the latest round of the Labor Government’s 2019/20 Athlete Pathway Travel Grants Program.

The program helps emerging and high-performance Victorian athletes, teams, coaches and officials to realise their sporting potential through grants that remove the barrier of travel and accommodation costs.

The program recognises that in a country as large as Australia, athletes often have to travel significant distances, often at significant cost, to pursue their sporting dreams.

There are two categories of grants:

• Organisations recognised by Sport and Recreation Victoria can apply for grants of up to $6000 for teams or up to $1500 for individuals to travel to compete as a state representative athlete.

• Victorian sport and recreation clubs can apply for grants of up to $2000 for teams and $750 for individuals to travel to competitions or training that contribute to an athlete’s development within their sporting pathway. There is also funding available to assist coaches and officials to travel to events to carry out official duties.

Since the grants were introduced by the Victorian Government, they have supported 1,321 teams and individual athletes to realise their sporting dreams.

The funding is part of the Victorian Government’s strong commitment to sport and active recreation, and to encouraging all Victorians to get out there and get active.

For further information on the program visit: www.sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding/our-grants/athlete-pathway-travel-grants-program