AFL and NSW grant programs secure $5 million for community football and violence‑prevention initiatives

The Australian Football League and Telstra have announced a four‑year extension of the Telstra Footy Grants program, now running until 2031. The scheme provides a $2 million annual pool, allowing eligible regional and metropolitan clubs to apply for up to $20,000 each. In its first two years the program delivered $4 million to more than 1,000 clubs; the extension adds another $8 million, bringing total investment to $16 million.

In New South Wales, the state government is allocating more than $3 million to the Game on for Change grant programme. Twenty sporting organisations, including professional clubs and community groups, will receive grants ranging from $15,000 to $450,000 to develop sport‑based initiatives that address domestic, family and sexual violence. The funding is part of the $38 million Pathways to Prevention strategy (2024‑2028) and includes a $449,000 allocation to the Australian Rugby League Commission for its Game on for Respect programme.