AT WESTS ILLAWARRA, WE ARE COMMUNITY STRONG!

Wests Illawarra recently launched Community Strong, an important initiative showcasing the long-term and unwavering support it provides to Illawarra-based charities, community groups, sporting clubs and the local community.

The connections between individuals, clubs, and businesses are what makes a community strong and it’s this notion which encourages Wests Illawarra to give back to the community each and every day.

We believe that the strength of a community is measured by how we support one another. Through our commitment to social responsibility, we provide financial support through the ClubGRANTS scheme to exceptional charitable organisations and local sporting teams.

In terms of the local economy, Wests Illawarra has created careers for hundreds of exceptional employees who live locally. 98% of our 121 team members live in the Illawarra, and we’ve invested over $202,000 in training and development in the last financial year alone to ensure they have careers, not just jobs, with us.

We chose to purchase products and services from hundreds of local businesses. In fact, 41% of our 436 suppliers are from the Illawarra region.

Wests is also proud to have built a thriving community of loyal Members. We're honoured to be their home away from home - a place where they' feel safe and have made countless memories with family and friends.

We are more than just a club. We are Community Strong.

"We would have a lot of young people or people living with a disability who don't have funding and they wouldn't be able to engage in the amazing activities we provide."

Sarah Nodwell, Flagstaff Group Manager

What our community partners say...

DID YOU KNOW...

The total contribution Wests Illawarra made to the charities it supports last financial year via ClubGRANTS was $253,680.

Wests Illawarra’s community partners include Lifeline South Coast, The Disability Trust, The Flagstaff Group, Youth Off The Streets, and Vinnies Van.

The total contribution Wests Illawarra made to local sporting organisations last financial year via ClubGRANTS was $441,698.

Some of the local sporting organisations Wests Illawarra supports include Wests Devils Rugby League Football Club, Wests Illawarra Netball Club, Wests Illawarra Hockey Club and Wests Illawarra Cricket Club.

ClubGRANTS

WHAT IS ClubGRANTS ?

ClubGRANTS is one of Australia’s largest grant programs, providing more than $100 million in cash each year to a variety of worthy causes across NSW.

Charities, sporting organisations and not-for-profit community groups are among tens-of-thousands of worthy causes funded through the program each year.

Wests Illawarra is able to provide financial support to local charities and sporting organisations through ClubGRANTS.

CLUBGRANTS REVIEW

In July 2023, NSW Premier Chris Minns announced the review of the ClubGRANTS scheme. It is being conducted by Liquor & Gaming NSW, in consultation with NSW Treasury and The Cabinet Office.

The Review will consider if ClubGRANTS is still relevant, or whether it should be repealed.

On 29 January 2024, the NSW Government released a discussion paper and began community consultation into the effectiveness of ClubGRANTS to ensure the grants program is providing a social benefit to the people of NSW.

Feedback from stakeholders including the local community is being sought between 23 December 2023 and 18 March 2024. A link to the Discussion Paper is in the Important Links section.

It may see smaller, less well-known charity and community organisations receive no consideration for funding. Sporting clubs may disappear completely. At worst, the review may lead to a repeal of ClubGRANTS which means no funding at all.

WHAT IS WESTS POSITION?

Wests Illawarra joins ClubsNSW and other clubs in the state in opposing the proposed changes to ClubGRANTS.

This position is taken to protect the charity partners, community and sporting groups, and other beneficiaries of local funding from a local club that knows the community and the financial support needed at the grassroots level.

Repealing ClubGRANTS would be detrimental for communities across NSW, including our community here in the Illawarra.