Generous Victorians donate the most to support sport in Australia

Victorians have ignored the cost of living crisis to dig deep and donate more to budding athletes than any other state in Australia.

Young female footballers from the Ormond Junior Football Club Under 14 AFL 9s competition. Picture: Mark Stewart

Generous Victorians have donated more money to help Australians from grassroots sports through to the elite take the sporting field than anyone else in the nation.

A new report to be released by the Australian Sports Foundation on Monday reveals Victoria has reclaimed top spot as the state raising most funds for sport, with AFL the top code for donations.

Despite a cost of living crisis, the “Giving for Sport” report reveals Australians donated a record $98.8m last financial year — 24 per cent or $9.5m more than the 12 months prior.

The unprecedented funds raised philanthropically were used for development of new sporting infrastructure such as female change rooms, coaching and development, equipment and subsidising participation costs.

Aussies made $11.5m in tax deductible donations to bolster female sport, up from $8.7m the previous year, and Victoria provided $4.8m of that tally.

Nationally, $38.2m was donated to community sport, $1.1m to help Olympic and Paralympic athletes chase their drams at the Paris Games and $8.2m on campaigns benefiting children and youth.

Victoria has reclaimed top spot as the state raising the most funds for sport, with AFL the top code for donations. Picture: Mark Stewart

Australian Sports Foundation chief executive Sue Hunt told the Herald Sun the almost $100m raised would support “grassroots sport all the way to the other end’’.

“It’s having an impact not only on facilities and athletes but also on participation rates in general, mental health in the community … it’s helping with health,’’ she said.

“It’s pretty amazing, the spread of where the dollars go.’’

Nationally, $33.7m was raised for improvements to infrastructure and facilities for grassroots clubs — an $8.5m increase.— including $8.1m in Victoria.

Replacing NSW as the most generous state for donations, Victorians pledged $37.1m — 36 per cent of the national total.

More than $4.7m was donated by Victorians on coaching and development, 13 per cent of the Australian total.

A lot of the donations will support women’s sport. Picture: Mark Stewart

And Victorians tipped in $2.1m to support with competition and training costs (six per cent of the national total).

Ms Hunt said there was a particular push to boost women’s sport.

“These record donations reflect increased participation and they are in response to a need for changerooms, upgraded infrastructure, special ways to make sure girls continue to play particularly what were originally seen as make dominated sports,’’ she said.

“And when you think 21 per cent of it was infrastructure projects to support female changerooms, for example, that’s really amazing.’’

Ormond Junior Football Club has 53 girls on its books in under 10, 11, and 13 competitions and hopes to next season field a senior women’s team for the first time.

But like many clubs around the state, it is grappling with facilities and infrastructure challenges, including an unreliable scoreboard.

President Joanne Turner said the donations were crucial in getting girls onto the field but also recruiting and retaining them in the sport.

“It’s vital because we survive on whatever money we can bring into the club, and we rely on people donating or coming to events,’’ she said.

Ms Hunt said donations big and small had helped build sporting infrastructure and participation.

“Community action is where the power is and all of these figures reflect that,’’ she said.

“Yes there is a cost of living crisis but the thing about philanthropy is that you give for something that you are passionate about.’’