The first instalment of the 2021 Motorsport Australia Club Development Fund has seen 13 affiliated clubs from four states receive financial grants. 
 
Established by Motorsport Australia to help grow membership and participation opportunities, the program has seen more than $100,000 distributed to our affiliated clubs since 2015. 
 
More than $13,000 was granted in this round, with each club using the funding to support various projects, training programs and/or the purchase of equipment. 
 
New South Wales was the largest benefactor with six clubs received funding, including the Christian Autosports Club Of Australia, Renault Car Club Of Australia and Formula Vee Association Of New South Wales. 


 
Western Australia and South Australia each had three major clubs approved for funding, while the Northern Territory’s North Australian Motor Sports Club rounded out the list of successful clubs. 
 
One of the clubs to receive funding was the South Australian Motor Racing Officials Association (SAMROA), which used the funds for an education lecture on Autism. 
 
Including the lecture as part of a general training day, the session’s aim is to improve the communication between its members and some of the club’s other members who are on the autism spectrum. 
 
SAMROA Assistant Secretary and member of the Training and Competition Committee, Janelle Orrock, was grateful the club received support to help secure the guest speaker from Autism SA for a subject that was vital. 


 
“We have some members in our club who are on the autism spectrum and we just felt that there needed to be some education for our other members as a lot of them don’t understand autism,” Orrock said. 
 
“There was a lack of understanding going on and for us the best way to move forward is to educate people because knowledge is power. We wanted to educate our members that people with autism are not scary; they are just a bit different. 
 
“The woman who addressed the club was brilliant and gave the attendees the tools on how to deal with people with autism, which we believe will help achieve greater inclusion throughout the whole club. 
 
“We have received a lot of positive feedback and people are starting to offer suggestions on how they can communicate better, which shows the lecture was a great success. 
 
“This isn’t the first time we have received funding and we’re very grateful to Motorsport Australia for giving us these opportunities. 
 
“The Club Development Fund enables clubs like us to complete projects they have been putting off because of financial reasons.” 
 
Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca was full of praise for the clubs that were successful in the first round of 2021 Club Development Fund.  
 
“A big congratulations to all 13 clubs and their successful applications,” Arocca said. 
 
“We look forward to seeing the clubs benefit from these grants that will assist with increasing participation. 
 
“Motorsport Australia is always keen to help out where we can and the Club Development Fund is one of a number of ways in which we support our clubs. 
 
“I encourage any clubs with small projects in the pipeline or those needing to purchase equipment to consider applying for assistance.” 
 
Click here for more information on how to apply for Motorsport Australia’s Club Development Fund. 
 
The second and final round of the 2021 Club Development Fund campaign began last month and will continue to accept applications until 11:59pm on 31 October.