Indigenous funding to help boost rising stars
TOOWOOMBA’S Briana Suey is a rising star in Queensland junior hockey and a new government initiative is set to assist a large number of her fellow indigenous athletes follow in her footsteps.
The South West Indigenous Network announced from September 1 this year a new program has been launched for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders residing in South West and South East Queensland.
SWIN Pathways Program will replace the Small Grants Program the organisation coordinated in the Darling Downs and South West Region since 2009.
The funding helps families meet costs like accommodation and uniforms. — Briana Suey
SWIN, after consulting with regional staff members from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, developed a new brand in providing subsidised funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to participate in regional representative sporting teams attending regional or state championships.
Commonwealth funding has been granted to the South West Indigenous Network over the next three years under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy.
The program will be delivered through the Safety and Wellbeing stream.
SWIN chairman Peter Jackson said he was excited sport was recognised by the Federal Government around Closing the Gap between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians.
Funding of up to $1000 will be available for Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islanders residing in the Balonne, Maranoa, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie and Bulloo local government areas.
Toowoomba, Western Downs, Goondiwindi, Southern Downs, Lockyer Valley, Gold Coast, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Moreton Bay Local Government area participants are eligible for up to $750 per year.
The funding is eligible only to indigenous participants making representative sporting teams such as attending Qld School Sport Championships or carnivals endorsed by their state or national sporting events.
Fifteen-year-old Suey, a Queensland hockey rep, benefited from the funding she says is important to her sporting development.
“The funding helps families meet costs like accommodation and uniforms,” she said.
“It’s really important to someone like me to help reach goals I mightn’t have had the chance at without the assistance.”