Following the announcement of a bold ambition to double participation by 2028, AFL Tasmania has announced a $1.5 million commitment to Tasmanian community football facilities, launching the Tasmanian Community Football Facilities Fund (TCFFF).
AFL Tasmania’s ’28 by 28’ vision, announced in March, outlines a bold ambition of reaching 28,000 participants by the time the Tasmania Devils enter the AFL and AFLW competitions. This vision also outlines a plan for the access to or upgrade / development of 70 ovals across the state in the same period.
In exciting news for community football in Tasmania, the AFL National Facilities Panel have allocated an initial $1.5 million across three years in funding the development of the TCFFF.
This program will see $500,000 made available each year to assist local clubs and stakeholders to develop community football related infrastructure at Tasmanian venues to improve existing facilities, but to also unlock facility possibilities to best cater for increased participation.
Guided by the ’28 by 28’ Vision, along with the AFL Infrastructure Plan: Towards 2030 and the AFL’s Women & Girls Action Plan, the Fund will deliver a targeted, strategic approach to investment into quality football facilities at all levels across Tasmania that meet the growing needs of our participants now and in the future. Key areas of priority include:
- All gender changerooms for players, officials, and umpires.
- Increased provision of quality lighting on ovals.
- Surface and ground works to improve the carrying capacity of venues.
- Increasing the game’s footprint within Tasmanian schools.
The TCFFF Guidelines and application portal can be accessed via the AFLTAS website. Clubs and LGAs are encouraged to contact AFL Tasmania Venue & Government Partnerships Manager Anthony Osborn via afltas.facilities@afl.com.au for further information and to discuss potential applications.
Head of AFL Tasmania, Damian Gill, said, “The establishment of the Tasmanian Community Football Facilities Fund is a key pillar in our ’28 by 28’ Vision for Australian Rules Football to take a quantum leap in our state.
“The quality of Community Football infrastructure is crucial for our game’s continued growth, and to meet the growing needs of our participants now and in the future, we want to get access to and upgrade or develop 70 ovals across Tasmania by 2028.
“The Tasmanian Community Football Facilities Fund enables us to work closely with community clubs and all levels of Government to create welcoming and inclusive facilities at all levels of our game across the state.”