Mr Grant believes that it is crucial to get more young women and girls involved in sporting activities from an early age, and wants to increase the percentage of active girls.

“Around half of all Australian boys are active through a sports club during their childhood compared with just 33 per cent of girls, and the participation rate for girls drops sharply after girls turn 12,” Mr Grant said.

“I encourage all local clubs and sporting organisations to use this opportunity to boost their female programs and events, because we want to see girls not only take to the field, but stay on the field.”

The grant comes from the introduction of the NSW Government’s Local Sport Grant Program, with thousand of sporting clubs from Lue to Rylstone to Mudgee eligible for the funding.

The injection of money into the sporting clubs will be aimed at allowing facility upgrades, or investment into projects that will increase participation across the board.

Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres is also a strong advocate for the funding move, and said that the program comes as part of a $10 million sports grants package that the NSW Government are implementing.

“Women’s sport is the fastest growing area of many codes and we are now seeing more big name sponsors and media networks recognising the public’s appetite for prime time viewing,  but more needs to be done, including cultivating participation at a grass roots level,” Mr Ayres said

“From the bush to the city, sport is the lifeblood that unites communities. This is not just about female programs though, I encourage all sporting groups to apply for grants that will help people of all ages and abilities get involved in their local club or become more active.”

Grants are available from now until October 6, and can be applied for online at sportandrecreation.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants.