WorkSafe Club Safety Fund
The WorkSafe Club Safety Fund has been established to provide financial assistance to football and netball clubs to make improvements to the safety of their grounds or provide added safety for both players, volunteers, and spectators.
The objective of the WorkSafe Club Safety Fund is to provide financial support at a local level to assist with occupational health and safety initiatives at a club level.
Country football clubs located within Victoria that are affiliated with AFL Victoria Country
- The WorkSafe Club Safety Fund provides funding of up to $5000 per application.
- Clubs are required to contribute between 10% to 50% of the total quoted amount of the safety initiative.
- This contribution can be a combination of club, sponsor or council contributions.
- Funds will be dispersed upon approval by WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country.
Please note: Special consideration may be made (at the discretion of WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country) to projects requiring additional financial support. Please make this known via the online application form.
All clubs applying, must provide evidence that a grant is needed to improve the safety of their grounds and surrounding buildings.
Country Football Clubs must show that they have the appropriate WorkSafe signage around the club and that there is an Occupational Health and Safety, or Risk Management Program being implemented.
Clubs must provide supplier quotes demonstrating cost for safety improvements.
To obtain a quote for goal posts, or goal post padding, please contact Sian Wooldridge via email on sian@pila.com.au or phone on 1300 007 452.
Funding is available for safety initiatives including, but not limited to:
- Equipment to be purchased by the Club that has the purpose of protecting the individual participants while actively engaged in the sport. (i.e., goal post padding, first aid kids, defibrillators, slip resistant flooring)
- Permanent or portable structures that provide shelter and or safety. (i.e., behind goal netting, shelter shed, shade sails, fireplace guards, fencing for walkways)
- Minor facility maintenance which presents an occupational health and safety hazard.
2025 applications will open soon.
- Applications must be submitted via Smarty Grants.
- Copies of all relevant documentation must be attached when submitting your application.
- Approved projects must be completed within the current funding period.
- WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country staff may be contacted for advice when preparing project outline.
Clubs successful in receiving funding are required to:
- Use the funds for the specified activity.
- Show that either council or club is providing between 10% to 50% of the quoted amount.
- Notify WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country if the project has been cancelled and return all grants paid within 14 days if required.
- Be responsible for ensuring adequate insurance cover for any equipment purchased.
- Complete an online acquittal form via Smarty Grants which must include an invoice addressed to AFL which covers your funded amount, before and after photographs and acknowledgement summary of the funded project once completed.
- Complete any evaluation required by WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country.
Clubs will be required to document and capture the funded project though a variety of formats including:
- Photographs (before and after shots)
- Film of the new equipment in use
- Written feedback by relevant stakeholders
- Telephone call with an AFL Victoria representative to discuss usage of the equipment.
- Commitment by club to promote Club Safety Fund via club communication channels.
- Acknowledgement Summary – A statement confirming how the allocated funds have successfully been used for their desired purpose.
- How the funds have been spent
- The purpose of the new project
- Completion date
- How the project will benefit the club and community.
Please note – Any club who applies to the Club Safety Fund thereby consents for WorkSafe and AFL Victoria to use any provided content for marketing purposes.
- Funding grants are subject to GST.
- The Association/Club will need to supply WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country with a valid tax invoice (receipt) with ABN for the approved funding amount including GST (if registered for GST), within 28 days of receipt of the grant. If not registered for GST please supply WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country with a valid tax invoice (receipt) with ABN with no GST within 28 days of receipt of the grant.
- If your Association/Club does not have an ABN WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country would be obliged to withhold 46.5% of the funded amount.
- Grants will be paid within 30 days of receipt of a valid tax invoice.
Please contact your AFL Victoria Regional Commission for support.
If you have any questions or queries around the process, feel free to contact Jessie Doull from AFL Victoria.
WorkSafe Country Club Games
Since 2002, WorkSafe has continuously supported Country Victorian football. The WorkSafe Country Club Program helps remind everyone that by staying safe at work you can enjoy the game you love.
The program celebrates and recognises the important role country footy and netball clubs play in our community, and highlight the unsung volunteers who selflessly donate many hours of their own time.
WorkSafe supports the clubs by providing a week of activations and experiences, culminating in a traditional WorkSafe Country Club match day celebration.
WORKSAFE COUNTRY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Volunteers are the backbone of our game and are the true heroes of country footy.
All WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Clubs are invited to nominate an outstanding volunteer as part of the 2024 WorkSafe Volunteer of the Year Award.
The volunteer may have contributed to the completion of a major or significant project throughout their time or they may be someone who has contributed in a number of roles over a long period.