L-R: Cathy Henderson (WorkSafe CEO), Maree Edwards (Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly and MP for Bendigo West), Jayden Cowlling (Kangaroo Flat FNC A-Grade Netball Coach), Steve Dimopoulos (Minister for Sport, WorkSafe and the TAC), Mark Shannon (Castlemaine FNC Interim President).
AFL Victoria, in partnership with WorkSafe Victoria congratulates the 13 country football clubs who have been announced as recipients of the 2026 WorkSafe Club Safety Fund.
The funding boost comes as WorkSafe renewed its long-standing partnership with AFL Victoria, after celebrating 25 seasons earlier this year.
The five-year agreement will continue to strengthen workplace safety awareness across rural and regional Victoria by leveraging the reach and trusted local connections of country football and netball clubs.
WorkSafe has continually supported country football netball clubs to promote workplace safety and advice to rural and regional communities. As part of this message, WorkSafe reminds communities that local football clubs are community hubs for many country towns, and remaining safe at work and at community events is crucial.
Through initiatives such as the Country Club Game series, Footy’s Favourite Farmer competition, and Club Safety Fund grants, AFL Victoria's partnership with WorkSafe celebrates local communities and helps share important safety messages with workers, families and businesses across the state.
For the 2026 WorkSafe Club Safety Fund, all Victorian-based country football clubs were eligible to apply for financial assistance to make safety improvements to their facilities and to assist with occupational health and safety initiatives for players, umpires, coaches, volunteers and spectators.
Clubs were required to provide evidence of the need for a grant to improve the safety of their facilities and demonstrate that an Occupational Health and Safety or Risk Management Program is being implemented.
Safety improvements included in this year’s successful grants include installing non-slip mats over concrete flooring in changerooms, structural and electrical upgrades to timekeeper’s boxes, replacing goal post padding and behind-goal safety nets.
AFL Victoria congratulates the following clubs on their successful 2026 WorkSafe Club Safety Fund grant applications:
- Branxholme Wallacedale Football Netball ClubCarngham Linton Football Netball Club
- Castlemaine Football Netball Club
- Goorambat Football Netball Club
- Heyfield Football Netball Club
- Kilcunda Bass Football Netball Club
- Lucknow Football Netball Club
- Moyhu Football Netball Club
- Nyah Nyah West United Football Netball Club
- Traralgon Police Boys Junior Football Club
- Warragul Football Netball Club
- Western Eagles Football Netball Club
- Beechworth Football Netball Club
Head of AFL Victoria, Greg Madigan congratulated all recipients on their proactive approach to improving safety.
“Our country football clubs are the heartbeat of many regional communities and it is crucial that we continue to support clubs to improve not only the safety but enjoyment of the loyal members, volunteers and players,” Madigan said.
“Thank you to WorkSafe for its continual support of country footy, with funding initiatives like the Club Safety Fund helping our clubs to grow and thrive.”
WorkSafe Chief Executive Officer Cathy Henderson said WorkSafe was proud to support country clubs committed to improving safety.
“For more than two decades, WorkSafe has proudly supported country football and netball, connecting and sharing critical safety messaging with workers, volunteers and communities right across regional Victoria,” she said.
“Working safe is a team sport, and the same mindset that helps teams perform at their best can help create safer workplaces, safer sporting clubs and safer community spaces.”