- More than $2.6 million helps athletes in Western Australia’s regions through the Regional Athlete Support Program
- Four regional sports academies funded for three years and three regional talent development centres receive one year project funding
- Support enables athletes and coaches to remain in hometowns instead of travelling to Perth for development
Regional athletes are kicking goals with the latest round of funding to support their ongoing development close to home – $2.6 million in total being provided by the State Government.
The Regional Athlete Support Program (RASP) assists in delivering a high-quality daily training environment for talented, regionally based athletes and coaches who are part of a sport’s talent development pathway.
Part of the RASP is the Regional Talent Development Network Grants Program. It invests in regional sport academies, the coordination of talent development centres and delivering regional specific sport programs across Western Australia.
Funding provides specialist services to support athletes and coach development. It also allows these athletes and coaches to receive specific support while remaining at home, rather than having to travel to Perth.
The latest funding round for the Regional Talent Development Network Grants Program has funded three talent development centres and two regional sporting projects and includes ongoing funding to the four regional sporting academies.
Organisations sharing in $186,990 of one year funding in 2023/24 are:
- WA Basketball Federation – $37,500;
- Swimming WA – $50,000;
- Esperance District Recreation Association – $18,750;
- Goldfields Sports Development Foundation – $35,740; and
- Broome Sports Association – $45,000.
Projects in this funding round include upskilling and further accreditation for high performance regional coaches, skill enhancement and sessions to support the social, emotional and physical development of local athletes, such as nutrition, recovery and mindset.
Organisations receiving three-year funding worth $2.61 million to 2025/26 are:
- South West Academy of Sport – $750,000;
- Peel Sport and Recreation Network – $570,000;
- Mid West Academy of Sport – $720,000; and
- Great Southern Sports Talent Association – $570,000.
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
“It’s important for regional athletes to be able to train close to home and have access to quality training for their physical and mental bodies.
“The four sporting academies around the regions play a vital role in nurturing and developing our next generation of State, national and international athletes.
“This funding gives them the support – whether it’s for training, development or in areas like nutrition and mindset – in order to perform at their best and advance along their chosen sporting pathways.
“This funding helps support the dreams of regional athletes in reaching their goals whilst still residing in their hometowns.”
