YOUNG hockey players in Ipswich will soon have access to new equipment after Swifts Hockey Club secured a grant aimed at reducing the cost of participation in grassroots sport.
The club has received a $4919 Future Stars Grant for sporting equipment, funded by the Australian Sports Foundation and video messaging platform Swysh, as part of a $100,000 program supporting junior sport across Australia.
The funding will provide the Ipswich-based club with new hockey sticks and balls, allowing new players to receive a free stick pack when they join the club.
Swifts Hockey Club is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026 and now fields beginners, juniors, seniors and masters teams.
The club’s junior program has grown strongly in recent years, with several players earning selection in representative teams.
Club vice-president Kirsty Lenaghan said the grant would provide practical support for families and help the club continue expanding its junior ranks.
“Swifts was involved in the successful Ipswich Hockey Open Day held recently and signed up a number of new players,” she said.
“We have always ensured our fees are some of the lowest and also offer discounts for families and coaches.
“But being able to provide free stick packs like this just makes it that little bit easier for families to afford to register their kids.”
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann congratulated the club on securing the funding and said it would help strengthen Ipswich’s reputation in the sport.
“Ipswich is a hockey powerhouse and this $4919 Future Stars Grant for Swifts Hockey Club will help us keep it that way,” Mr Neumann said.
He encouraged local clubs to apply for another round of funding through the Australian Sports Foundation’s Active Kids Grants program, which has reopened for 2026 with applications closing on March 27.
