Sydney Olympic Football Club has welcomed a major funding boost after securing $1.5 million under the Australian Government’s Play Our Way program, with a further $300,000 in additional secured funding bringing the total project value to $1.8 million.
The investment will support the development of a new purpose-built women’s facility in NSW as part of the Club’s “Goal for Inclusion” project – an initiative designed to strengthen pathways, participation and high-quality infrastructure for women and girls across the club’s football programs.
A significant step forward for women’s football
Club President Chris Charalambous said the announcement represents a major milestone in Sydney Olympic’s long-term commitment to growing the women’s game.
“Sydney Olympic Football Club warmly welcomes this support from the Australian Government’s Play Our Way program. The $1.5 million investment, together with an additional $300,000 in secured funding, brings the total project value to $1.8 million – a significant step forward in strengthening opportunities for women and girls in our community,” he said.
He noted that the Club has spent the past year actively preparing the proposal through a structured and collaborative process.
“Over the past 12 months, we have worked diligently in partnership with Collappor8, whose expertise has been instrumental in developing a strong and future-focused proposal. This process has ensured the project aligns with our strategic priorities and the needs of our players,” he said.
Collappor8, a Sydney-based business consultancy with experience in strategic planning, operations and grant development, supported the Club through the technical requirements of the application – helping to shape a proposal that met the program’s standards and positioned the project for success.
Charalambous added that more information about the development will be shared publicly as the project moves into its next phase.
“We expect to share further details soon regarding the specifics of the ‘Goal for Inclusion’ women’s facility and the benefits it will deliver across our programs. This funding marks an important milestone for the Club and reinforces our long-term commitment to building sustainable, inclusive pathways for the next generation of female footballers,” he said.
Part of a national push for equity in community sport
The Play Our Way program, announced by the Australian Government to close long-standing gender gaps in community sport, aims to create safe, modern and inclusive spaces for women and girls. Funding streams support both infrastructure projects and participation initiatives, with a focus on long-term change.
Sydney Olympic FC’s grant sits at the upper end of the facilities stream, reflecting strong federal backing for the Club’s strategic direction and commitment to elevating the women’s game.
The Greek Herald will continue to follow the development of the “Goal for Inclusion” project as further updates are released.
