Quick Facts

Fawkner Netball Club is a volunteer-run community club in Melbourne’s north, supporting more than 200 junior players. Based in a diverse community, the club brings together young people from at least 17 culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, with a clear focus on keeping netball accessible for local families.

Like many community clubs, they’re balancing rising costs with a commitment to participation. Keeping fees affordable while still offering a quality experience for players is a constant challenge.

Through the Australian Sports Foundation’s Children’s Sport Participation Fund, Fawkner received a grant that supplied them with new training and match equipment, easing some of that pressure and strengthening the overall experience for its junior players.

Turning Equipment into Opportunity

Knowing exactly what would make the biggest difference, the club pulled together a list of equipment, including agility poles, hurdles, weighted netballs, kettlebells and match-day essentials, which was then supplied through HART Sport as part of the grant.

For Fawkner, this wasn’t about adding extras. It was about filling clear gaps in how they train and support their players. Junior athletes had been asking for more focus on fitness, but until now, training sessions had been restricted by the limited equipment and instead were largely centred on warm-ups and skill development.

With the right equipment now available, coaches can introduce structured fitness into training, giving players more variety, more challenge and a more complete training experience. It’s a shift that not only supports performance but also helps players feel more confident and capable on court.

Fawkner Netball Club President, Grace O’Brien, said:

"As players improve their fitness, speed and agility, they feel healthier and more competitive. You can see this carry through to their enjoyment of the game and their mental wellbeing."

Reducing Barriers and Building for the Future

Fawkner operates in a community where cost can be a real barrier to participation. With many families experiencing financial pressure, the club works hard to keep fees as low as possible so more young people can get involved and stay involved.

With the equipment provided through the ASF’s Children’s Sport Participation Fund, the club can improve its program without increasing costs for families. It’s a practical way to reduce pressure while continuing to offer a strong and engaging experience for players.

"Without support like this, we'd have to make tough decisions about what we can offer or otherwise need to pass costs onto families. This allows us to continue improving the club without putting extra pressure on our community."

The impact goes beyond the equipment itself. It strengthens the club's ability to deliver a more consistent, engaging program and supports long-term participation.

With better resources in place, Fawkner can continue to build an enviornment where players feel supported, challenged and connected to the club, something that plays a key role in keeping young people involved in sort.

"We're really grateful to the ASF and the donors who made this possible. It's had an immediate impact on our players and what we can offer as a club, and it's something we simply wouldn't have been able to do on our own.

Help More Kids Get in the Game

Clubs like Fawkner Netball Club are seeing firsthand how rising costs are making it harder for families to stay involved in sport. Across Australia, more than 1.5 million kids are already missing out.

The Children’s Sport Participation Fund helps remove these barriers by covering costs like equipment and registration so more kids have the chance to play.

Donate to the Children's Sport Participation Fund today and help more kids say yes to sport.