Regional Sport Victoria

15/06/2026

📊 What are the biggest challenges facing community sporting clubs across regional Victoria? What support is needed most? And how are clubs adapting to an increasingly complex operating environment?

The 2026 Regional Victorian Community Sport Census is helping answer these questions, with clubs and volunteers from across the state already contributing valuable insights.

So far, we've heard from 359 clubs and volunteers from across the state who have shared their experiences of running, supporting, and participating in community sport in regional Victoria.

With some clear themes beginning to emerge:

✔️ Growing pressure on volunteer time and capacity
✔️ Increasing operational and administrative demands on clubs
✔️ Strong demand for practical, locally relevant support

These insights will help identify emerging support needs, inform future club support services and programs, strengthen advocacy efforts, and contribute to the development of a State of Community Sport Report.

To ensure more clubs and volunteers have the opportunity to participate, we've extended the Census by one week.

⏳ The survey now closes Sunday 21 June.

If your club, committee, or volunteers haven't yet participated, there's still time to have your say and help shape the future of community sport across regional Victoria.

👉 Complete the survey: https://regionalsportvictoria.snapforms.com.au/form/2026-regional-victorian-community-sport-census

A huge thank you to our collaborating partners who have helped promote and support the Census so far GippSport Leisure Networks Play Sport Barwon Mallee Sports Assembly Inc. South West Sport Sports Central Sport North East Valley Sport Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly

Every additional response strengthens our understanding of community sport and helps ensure future support is informed by the experiences of clubs and volunteers across regional Victoria.

30/05/2026

🎙️Another great listen by South West Sport - check out the Clubroom Podcast on supporting regional junior sport and helping young athletes thrive. 👏👏

🔗 www.southwestsport.transistor.fm

South West Sport is thrilled to bring you episode three of our six-part junior sport series, we sit down once again with registered sports psychologist Joel Curtis from Endeavour Wellness to explore one of the biggest factors in a young athlete’s sporting journey — confidence.

Is confidence something kids are simply born with, or is it shaped by the environments around them? From coaches and parents to teammates, social media and performance expectations, we unpack the many factors that influence how young athletes see themselves both on and off the field.

Joel shares practical insights into how confidence is built, why resilience matters just as much as talent, and how adults involved in local sport can help create environments where kids feel supported to learn, grow and enjoy the game.

This is a valuable conversation for parents, coaches, volunteers and young athletes alike, focused on helping kids build healthy self-belief and positive lifelong connections to sport.

🎧Episode 3: Confidence isn’t talent

Available now. Link in our bio 🌟

28/05/2026

This National Reconciliation Week, we're inspired by the 2026 theme, All In - a reminder that reconciliation is strengthened through ongoing commitment, shared learning, and meaningful action.

"All In - makes clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that all of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change".

Across regional Victoria, our members are continuing to take important steps forward toward reconciliation through the development of Reconciliation Action Plans, helping to build more inclusive organisations, stronger relationships, and culturally safe sporting communities right across Victoria.

We’re proud to support a sector that is committed to listening, learning, and walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - because reconciliation is something we all have a role in.

27/05/2026

We’re proud to be sponsoring the Regional Initiative of the Year award 🙌 at this years Disability Sport and Recreation awards 🎉

Across regional Victoria, sport and active recreation continue to play an important role in strengthening communities, creating connection, improving wellbeing, and driving positive social outcomes.

This award is an opportunity to recognise the outstanding initiatives, partnerships, and place-based approaches making a meaningful difference for people with disability across regional and rural communities.

We look forward to celebrating the finalists and winners alongside the sector.

Find out more, and nominate here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gesvHu2G

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Victorian Disability Sport & Recreation Awards! 🎉

Each year, these awards shine a light on the extraordinary athletes, volunteers, coaches, community members and initiatives transforming the lives of Victorians with disability through sport and recreation.

Who inspires you? Who goes above and beyond? Who deserves to be celebrated?

Nominations close Tuesday, 30 June 2026.

Awards ceremony: Tuesday, 25 August 2026 at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Visit the link for more information and to submit your nomination: https://www.dsr.org.au/vdsr-awards

Need support with the nomination form?
📞 (03) 8652 9722
📧 [email protected]

21/05/2026

Shoutout to the team at GippSport who have been sharing some amazing volunteer stories this week as part of 🙌🏼

A great reminder of the impact volunteering can have in creating connection and community through sport across regional Victoria.

Take a look at Nala’s story in the post below 👇

21/05/2026

🎙️ A fantastic listen this National Volunteer Week!

If you haven’t tuned into Valley Sports podcast ‘From the Mountains to the Murray’ yet - give their latest episode a listen.

🎙️ New Episode - Celebrating the Volunteers Behind Community Sport

This week on From the Mountains to the Murray, we’re shining a spotlight on the heartbeat of community sport - our incredible volunteers 💙

In this special National Volunteer Week episode, we sit down with local club volunteers to hear their stories, explore why they give their time so generously, and unpack what really happens behind the scenes at community sport clubs.

From canteen shifts and committee meetings to coaching, fundraising and everything in between - this episode celebrates the people who keep clubs running week in, week out.

A huge thank you to the volunteers from Longwood Redlegs Football Netball Club, Shepparton Swimming Club, Alexandra Golf Club, and Alexandra Rebels for joining us on the podcast and sharing their experiences.

Whether you’re already involved at your local club or have thought about lending a hand, this conversation is a reminder of the impact volunteers make and why so many would encourage others to give it a go.

Listen now:
🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0aqZAlopUb8iOgEyXSAl96?si=LkpEFk6OToemI11SUVEb1A
🎧 https://share.transistor.fm/s/e757a5aa



Volunteering Australia

19/05/2026

🙌 This National Volunteer Week, we want to hear from you!

National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the volunteers who keep community sport running across regional Victoria - and it’s also an opportunity to listen.

If you volunteer in community sport, whether as a coach, committee member, team manager, official, or behind the scenes helping your club operate, we want to hear about your club’s experience.

Through the 2026 Regional Victorian Community Sport Census, we’re seeking to better understand the evolving needs of community sporting clubs - including the demands on volunteers’ time, the factors impacting volunteer attraction and retention, and what is needed to help create sustainable, supported, and thriving clubs into the future.

These insights will help strengthen how the sector supports volunteers, builds club capacity, and responds to the changing realities facing grassroots community sport across regional Victoria.

This National Volunteer Week help ensure the voices of community sport volunteers are heard by completing the survey 👉
https://regionalsportvictoria.snapforms.com.au/form/2026-regional-victorian-community-sport-census

Thanks to our partnering Regional Sports Assemblies for helping us get the word out 👉 GippSport | Leisure Networks | Mallee Sports Assembly Inc. | South West Sport | Sports Central | Sport North East | Valley Sport | Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly

18/05/2026

Yesterday, we acknowledged and celebrated IDAHOBIT Day 🌈

However, earlier this month in the lead up to IDAHOBIT Day we brought together staff from across the Regional Sport Assembly network for a specialist development session delivered by Proud 2 Play which focused on upskilling our regional workforce on the foundations of LGBTQIA+ inclusion in sport.

It was a timely reminder of the important role sport can play in creating environments where people feel safe, respected, and included.

Across the session, participants explored the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people in sport, reflected on the barriers that still exist, and discussed practical ways we can support more welcoming and inclusive sporting environments across regional Victoria.

The workshop created space for meaningful conversation, reflection, and shared learning - highlighting not only the challenges that remain within sport, but also the opportunity we have to positively influence club culture and community experiences.

One of the strongest takeaways was that inclusion is not built through one-off awareness moments alone. It comes from ongoing, authentic effort - listening, learning, removing barriers, and creating environments where people genuinely feel like they belong.

Thank you to everyone across the network who contributed so openly and thoughtfully throughout the session.

GippSport | Leisure Networks | Mallee Sports Assembly Inc. | South West Sport | Sports Central | Sport North East | Valley Sport | Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly

18/05/2026

Win $1,000 for your club, thanks to VicHealth and Set The Standard.

Coaches, volunteers, game day officials, club leaders and community sport supporters – this one’s for you.

Sign up to the Set The Standard newsletter for your chance to win 1 of 3 x $1,000 vouchers for your club*.

Clubs can use the vouchers for things like new equipment, uniforms, facility improvements, education sessions or community events*.

Plus, you’ll get practical tips to help create safer, more welcoming environments in sport.

Sign up now: https://vichealth.au/sts

*Terms and conditions apply.

Help us get the word out! GippSport | Leisure Networks | Mallee Sports Assembly Inc. | South West Sport | Sports Central | Sports Focus | Sport North East | Valley Sport | Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly

08/05/2026

A fantastic initiative Sport North East! ⚽️👏