Regional Sport Victoria

Fantastic to attend the Disability Sport and Recreation Awards earlier this week - an inspiring room full of people and stories celebrating inclusion in sport. 🙌

We were particularly proud to sponsor a new award category this year, Regional Initiative of the Year, shining a spotlight on the incredible work clubs, volunteers and organisations are leading across regional Victoria to promote and build inclusion in sport. 💙

Congratulations to all of the finalists and winners, and to the DSR team for putting on such a fabulous event. 👏

It’s inspiring to see the impact being created across the sector and the people driving positive change in sport

How healthy is community sport across regional Victoria?

The answer is encouraging, but it's also increasingly complex.

📊 390 clubs and sporting organisations shared their experiences, challenges and aspirations for the future in our 2026 Regional Victorian Community Sport Census. What emerged is a picture of a sector that remains resilient, community-focused, and one that continues to deliver significant social value.

But community sport in regional Victoria is also navigating a period of significant change.

📈 While many clubs and sports are experiencing strong participation growth and increasing community demand, this story is not universal. Some clubs and codes are facing declining numbers, consolidations, and mergers as they respond to changing demographics and community expectations.

⚠️ At the same time, growth is bringing new challenges. Clubs told us that volunteers are carrying increasing responsibility, governance requirements continue to evolve, facilities are struggling to keep pace with demand, and financial sustainability remains a balancing act for many community sporting clubs.

💬 The message from clubs is clear: there is every reason to be optimistic about the future of regional sport, but optimism must be matched with the investment, capacity, and support needed for clubs to thrive.

Over the next six weeks, we'll take a deeper dive into this year's Census findings, exploring the trends shaping community sport across regional Victoria, and connecting clubs to practical support from our collaborating partners.

👉 Swipe through to explore the 2026 findings.

A big thank you to our 2026 collaborating partners, GippSport Leisure Networks Play Sport Barwon Mallee Sports Assembly Inc. South West Sport Sports Central Sport North East Valley Sport and Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly

Interested in bringing a fully subsidised anti-racism workshop to your club?

Delivered by Reflect Forward these one-hour sessions are designed to give your club leaders the confidence and skills to challenge racism, lead with respect, and make every member feel welcome.

Your club leaders will walk away with simple, actionable ways to create safer spaces for players, coaches, officials, and the wider
community.

If your club is affiliated with AFL Victoria, Basketball Victoria, Cricket Victoria, Football Victoria, Netball Victoria, NRL Victoria, or Tennis Victoria – and based in regional Victoria - reach out to your local Regional Sports Assembly, to learn more about how you can book a fully subsidised anti-racism workshop for your club.

Hurry sessions are limited!

VicHealth


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

We’re proud to be sponsoring the Regional Initiative of the Year at the 2026 Disability Sport and Recreation Awards! 🙌

It’s fantastic to see such a strong group of finalists recognised for the work they’re doing to create more inclusive, accessible and connected communities through sport and active recreation across regional Victoria.

👏 Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists - we’re looking forward to celebrating with you on 25 August at Marvel Stadium!

We’re excited to be teaming up with VicHealth to Set The Standard!

Together with our regional implementation partners GippSport | Mallee Sports Assembly Inc. | Leisure Networks | South West Sport | Sports Central | Sports Focus | Sport North East | Valley Sport| Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly we’ll be supporting the roll out of the campaign right across regional Victoria.

Over the coming months we’ll be sharing resources, practical tools, and connecting clubs to anti-racism training – to ensure clubs from across regional Victoria can play their part in Setting the Standard.

Set The Standard isn't about having all the answers. It's about giving coaches and club leaders the confidence, knowledge and practical tools to lead with respect, speak up when it matters, and create club cultures where everyone feels they belong.

Together, let's Set The Standard.

Regional Sport Victoria is proud to announce that we are one of 29 game changing initiatives that will share in more than $7.16 million through the Level The Field VIC 2025-2027 Grant Program.

The Grant Program is delivered by Leisure Networks in partnership with the Victorian Government to help sports and community organisations strengthen and expand job opportunities for people with disability in regional Victoria.

Level the Field aims to increase support for more people with disability to join the sport and recreation workforce in paid and volunteer roles.

📊 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.

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.