Tom French (Moore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to acknowledge the volunteers and community clubs that are the heartbeat of the electorate of Moore—the coaches, the managers, the treasurers and the committee members who keep our kids active, seniors connected and suburbs strong. Across Australia, the Australian Sports Foundation is making it easier for clubs access targeted help through its SmartyGrants portal. This is a single place to apply for grants that put equipment and uniforms in the hands of community clubs, quickly and with low admin. These are practical grants that lower cost for families where every dollar counts.

Right now, I want to highlight the Swysh Future Stars Grant, delivered through the Australian Sports Foundation. It provides up to $5,000 in sporting equipment for eligible volunteer-run clubs with members aged 20 or under. Equipment, not cash, is shipped to your club so you can get straight back to training. Applications, made through the ASF SmartyGrants portal, are now open, and close at 12 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time. I need to change that. If your club is thinking about applying, this is the week to do it. For local clubs in Joondalup, Kingsley, Duncraig, Hillarys, Kallaroo and Mullaloo, here is how to be competitive: first, check the eligibility and create or update your club profile on the ASF's SmartyGrants portal; second, be specific—the number of balls, safety gear, training bibs or nets you need, who benefits, girls teams, all-abilities programs, or juniors in growth suburbs; third, have your ABN incorporation details and two quotes ready so assessors can see value and readiness. My office can help confirm eligibility and finalise your application this week.

The sports foundation equipment in kind model is backed by partners, so clubs can stretch budgets further and reduce fees. When a club receives gear, participation rises, volunteers spend less time chasing funds, and the focus returns to coaching, safety and inclusion. That's the kind of smart, targeted help communities expect from governments and partners working together.

In Moore, these programs matter, because our clubs are not just places for sport. They are the hubs of community life. At the Carine Netball Club, women and girls develop confidence, fitness and friendships on the court. At Whitford Hockey Club, generations play together, from juniors picking up the stick for the first time to seasoned players representing WA—I'm looking at you, Len Collier! At the Joondalup Districts Cricket Club, boys and girls learn teamwork and persistence, and parents and volunteers turn a Saturday morning into something more than sport. At the Joondalup Bowling Club, our seniors stay active, connected and competitive, demonstrating that sport is truly lifelong. These are the clubs that would directly benefit from low-admin, practical grants, and the whole community benefits when they thrive.

But sport is only part of our volunteering story, through the Australian government's volunteer grants program, local not-for-profits can access small, practical grants for equipment training, screening checks, communication tools and, this year, insurance, recognising the real cost of volunteering. Expressions of interest are managed through your local federal MP's office, and my team in Joondalup stands ready to assist eligible groups. These programs work because they are simple, targeted and impact focused. They cut red tape, back volunteers and lower barriers so more kids can join a team, more neighbours can get support and more community groups can thrive. To every coach, treasurer, registrar and volunteer across Moore, thank you. If you lead a club or community group, please do two things this week: (1) jump onto the ASF SmartyGrants portal, confirm your details and, if eligible, submit your Future Stars application by Sunday night; and (2) contact my office about the Volunteers Grants program so we can line up your documentation and flag upcoming rounds.

This is what practical support looks like: targeted help, low admin burden and real benefits at the clubroom door. It's kids in new uniforms who feel they belong; it's volunteers focused on people, not paperwork; and it's community life, from Beldon to Craigie, from Currambine to Padbury and from Sorrento to Ocean Reef, getting stronger week by week. To any club who needs a hand with the SmartyGrants or the Volunteer Grants program: get in touch. I'm here to help.

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