Victorian community cricket to benefit from $35m national investment

This major investment is aimed at improving the facilities and cricketing experience for players, coaches and volunteers across the country.

The news comes as Cricket Victoria is set to host its Community Cricket Forum at the CitiPower Centre this weekend, welcoming more than 100 representatives from across community cricket.

Cricket Victoria CEO Andrew Ingleton said today’s funding announcement put community cricket in the spotlight.

“Victorian cricket continues to grow and we need to ensure we’re well-placed to invest in that growth by providing the facilities, support and services to maximise cricket opportunities for all Victorians,” Ingleton said.

“With Victorian cricket delivered by such a large volunteer base, we’re determined to ensure Victorian cricket is as well-funded and well-planned as possible to set up a bright future for all our participants.”

Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager of Community Cricket, Belinda Clark AO said the investment is an important commitment and supports our vision to create the best participation experiences with a focus on growing junior cricket.

“With the continued roll out of new and exciting game formats for juniors, the launch of the new Woolworths Cricket Blast Program and record numbers of girls signing up to play cricket, it’s a very exciting time for our game. We look forward to working with the cricket community across the country to bring this vision to life.”

Six key areas have been identified for the $35 million funding injection:

1. Facilities: An additional $12.75 million into the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund. We will be able to triple the number of community-based facility projects that we fund along with the support of the Australian Government, State and Territory governments, local councils, schools and clubs.

2. Additional resources: 58 new community-facing roles in States and Territories next year to address demand in growth areas and provide more support to the hardworking volunteers who run great clubs and competitions for their communities

3. Clubs financially rewarded: A new financial model for Woolworths Cricket Blast that will directly benefit clubs financially and reward them to run the program. A significant percentage of every participant’s registration fee will go back to clubs to support their efforts to provide fun and exciting cricket experiences for young Australians

4. Grow ‘all girls’ competitions and teams: As part of the wider Growing Cricket For Girls Fund initiative, with the support of the Commonwealth Bank, continued investment of $800,000 per year directly to clubs and associations to initiate and grow ‘all girls’ competitions and teams

5. Community coaching: $500,000 per year to provide FREE community coaching courses reflecting the importance of the role that coaches play in developing great experiences for players. After a successful pilot last season that resulted in double the number of coaches undertaking a community coaching course, this program will be continued in 2018-19; and

6. Technology: A re-direction of investment in technology to reduce the administrative burden on club and association volunteers and provide new and efficient ways of working.