Posted 11 April 2025
More opportunities in the North East for women and girls in sport thanks to Play Our Way. Women and girls in the North East will find it easier and more enjoyable to play sport and be active as a result of a $499,946 grant to Dorset Council.
After a highly competitive process Dorset Council has been selected to receive funding under the Facilities Stream of the Australian Government’s $200 million Play Our Way Program, which is designed to remove barriers, address discrimination and promote equality for women and girls to participate in sport and physical activity.
Dorset Council will use the money to upgrade three key netball facilities across the municipality with upgrades planned to existing courts at Derby and Bridport as well as to the existing two Scottsdale courts in conjunction with construction of a third court. This project was initiated following community and stakeholder feedback received during the development of the Dorset Sports Facility Plan and via the Community Budget Submissions process. “The importance of our membership with the Northern Tasmania Development Corporation (NTDC) and being able to be involved in regional initiatives like the Northern Sports Facility Plan Dorset Addendum 2024 are pivotal when it comes to being competitive at attracting grant funding for key projects”, commented General Manager John Marik.
The North East is home to the thriving North East Netball Association which is one of the largest sporting associations in the region and predominantly made up of female participants. “This project aims to enable more players, more access to the courts and reduce barriers to participation for our local women and girls through increased accessibility, increased standard of facility and improved safety”, commented Mayor Rhys Beattie.
Dorset Council is one of 290 organisations around the nation selected to receive Play Our Way funding for new or modified facilities, and sport participation programs and much needed equipment for women and girls across a range of sports.
Many of the projects receiving funding target women and girls who face additional barriers to participation in sport and physical activity. This includes women and girls who have a Disability, live in regional or remote areas of Australia, are First Nations people or from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities.
For more information about Play Our Way, visit: health.gov.au/our-work/play-our-way-program
For project details please head over to Major Projects.