Sport Leadership Grants provide opportunities for successful candidates to learn and develop leadership skills through sport, under a grants scheme being promoted by the Australian Government through the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the Office of the Status of Women.

ASC chief executive officer Mark Peters said that demand was particularly high and that the arts and sport minister Senator Rod Kemp, and the family and community services minister Senator Kay Patterson had agreed to extend the date to ensure that as many people as possible had an opportunity to apply.

"The Sport Leadership Grants program provides women with opportunities to undertake accredited sport leadership training in areas including coaching, officiating, club development and management,' Mr Peters said

"Our sports system relies heavily on trained volunteers and this is especially the case in rural and remote Australia. The feedback we have received indicated that many more women needed some extra time to prepare applications for the grants program and we're delighted to be able to accommodate that."

The Sport Leadership Grants for Women in Rural and Remote Communities program is funded by the Office of the Status of Women and managed in association with the ASC.

Funding up to $5000 plus GST is available to successful individual applicants and up to $10,000 for successful organisations.

Grants are available in four key areas: indigenous momen, women in disability sport; women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; and women in general sports leadership positions. Desirable projects for the grants include sport industry qualifications or national accreditation; conducting and attending sport specific leadership and management courses. and projects that provide innovative leadership development opportunities.

More information is available from www.activeaustralia.org/women/gra nts.

or telephone 02 6214 1103 or email: leadershipgrants@ausportgov.au.