Squash Australia receives Play Well participation grant from ASC

Squash Australia will deliver one of 69 projects funded by Play Well participation grants, the Australian Sports Commission announced today.
The program will deliver over $10m in funding aimed at getting more Australians active and enjoying the benefits of sport and physical activity.

Squash Australia was successful in receiving a grant towards delivering Phase 2 of its National Squash Participation Program, Squash Stars. 

The project aims to transition young players from participating in the Sporting Schools program through to a lifelong participation in the sport.

Shaun McEachin, Squash Australia’s National Lead for Sport Development said it is crucial that the initial engagement young players have with the sport through Squash Stars is able to translate into opportunities to further their involvement in the game.

“This project represents a substantial expansion from prior projects, notably addressing the gap between Sporting Schools and squash centres,” he said. “Building on the learnings from the development and launch of Squash Stars in Sporting Schools, we now really want to connect those students with squash centres. 

“There is a substantial number of players who have never seen squash as a post-school sporting option and this funding will help us address that.

“We will be working hard to ensure the Play Well participation grant can lead to higher participation, increased membership and foster a passion for the sport amongst a new generation.”

Squash Australia CEO Robert Donaghue thanked the Australian Sports Commission for investing in the future of community sport.

"This funding is vital to progress our National Participation Program to the next phase, and the squash community is grateful to the Australian Sports Commission for its support," said Robert Donaghue, Squash Australia CEO. "The Squash Stars program run through Sporting Schools is a fantastic way to introduce new players to the sport, and this funding will help us take new young players on a journey from participation at school into squash centres, onto courts and playing the sport more regularly.

"With the sport’s inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympic program, the time to grow the game of squash is now and this Play Well Participation Grant will allow us to do just that."

The Minister for Sport, The Hon Anika Wells MP, says all Australians will benefit from these programs.

“Indigenous communities, regional and remote areas and people with disability are at the heart of so many of these projects to help ensure sport is fun and accessible for anyone who wants to be involved,” Minister Wells said.

ASC CEO Kieren Perkins OAM said the program will now reach even more Australians after receiving an additional $17.3 million in the 2024-25 Federal Budget to extend the program for a further two years.

“Thanks to the Australian Government, this vital program has already helped more than 500,000 participants and can continue to make it easier for even more Australians to get active.

“Creating great sporting environments is central to the nation’s first Sport Participation Strategy and these projects will help us in our goal to transform sport participation ahead of and beyond Brisbane 2032 so that everyone feels welcome.”

The Strategy calls on Australians to Play Well and create safe, welcoming and fun sporting environments where people of all ages, backgrounds, genders and abilities can come together to access the benefits of sport.