By Charlene Macaulay
An innovative program has linked Victoria University students to sports clubs to help the clubs secure sponsorship from local businesses.
In its five years of operation, VU’s sport sponsorship program has helped 150 sports clubs across the state secure more than $100,000 in sponsorships while giving sport and recreation management students industry experience.
The program requires the students to collaborate with a community club and develop proposals to obtain cash, gifts, or in-kind support from local businesses.
Over the five years, beneficiaries have included the Western Crusaders Gridiron Club, Yarraville Footscray Bowling Club, Footscray Baseball Club, Futsal Geelong and the Maribyrnong Swimming Club.
VU sport and exercise science associate professor Clare Hanlon said benefits were threefold: students gained industry experience, local clubs prospered through sponsorship, and sponsors promoted their business through logos on team shirts,
ground fence signage, publicity in club newsletters or by cross-promoting with other key sponsors.
“About 85 per cent of the clubs activate the proposals our students develop and, on average, each club receives about $4500 in sponsorship,” Associate Professor Hanlon said. “Students gain confidence in their ability to work with managers in sports clubs and this experience increases their employability skills.”
Yarraville Footscray Bowling Club manager Dhenai Veale said the program had been a godsend to the small, non-profit club.
“It gives us the chance to sustain and improve our grounds for the community,” he said.
