Posted on 11 September, 2007

The Kilsyth and Mountain District Basketball Association will soon launch a coach recruitment drive thanks to a Victorian Government grant, the Acting Minister for Community Development, James Merlino announced today.

Making the announcement at the Kilsyth Sports Centre, Mr Merlino said Australia’s biggest basketball association would receive $2500 to kick-start a campaign to attract and train more people to volunteer as basketball coaches.

“The Kilsyth and Mountain District Basketball Association is one of 18 community groups to share in more than $60,000 from the Brumby Government’s latest round of Victorian Volunteer Small Grants to help community groups recruit and train volunteers,” Mr Merlino said. 

He said the lives of people in communities across Victoria were touched each day by the efforts of volunteers who give their time to help out a fellow neighbour.

“One million adults – a third of the Victorian adult population – provide around $10 billion worth of unpaid services each year,” Mr Merlino said.

“From coaching kids’ basketball teams to teaching older people to use the internet or running a local support group, volunteers play an invaluable role in building stronger communities.

“And not only does the community benefit; research shows that people who volunteer reap rewards such as improved health and wellbeing, and better employment opportunities.”

Benjamin Turner, Basketball Development Manager, from the Kilsyth and Mountain District Basketball Association, said the grant would help increase the awareness of the important role coaches play in the community. He said volunteer coaches provide support, leadership and direction to thousands of children each week.

“Kilsyth & Mountain District Basketball Association is a community which relies heavily on volunteer involvement. Coaching is a rewarding way of being involved as a volunteer,” Mr Turner said.

“As a coach myself, I understand how rewarding coaching can be, and this grant will allow us to increase the number of people wishing to volunteer.”

The Victorian Volunteer Small Grants program is part of a $21 million package to support volunteering and community enterprises and the Brumby Government will invest a further $6 million over the next four years to help people get involved and increase support for volunteers.

For more information about volunteering opportunities at the Kilsyth and Mountain District Basketball Association, contact Ben Turner, telephone 9728 1033. For more information about Victorian Volunteer Small Grants, visit www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/grants