Federal Government's 2005 Sports

Leadership Grants for Women program, according to Barwon MP Ian Slack-Smith.

"This grant is a joint initiative of the Australian Government Office for Women and the Australian Sports Commission," Mr Slack-Smith said.

He said it was aimed at providing women with an opportunity to undertake sports leadership training with special emphasis on projects for Indigenous women in rural and remote communities.

The programme offers grants in five key categories, including:

o High performance (coaching and officiating)

o Indigenous women in rural and remote communities

o Women in disability sport

o Women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

o Women in general sport leadership positions, including coaching, officiating, club development and management.

Mr Slack-Smith urged all interested

organisations and individuals to obtain an application form and apply for the grant before January 28.