Western Australia has been successful in the bid to retain Hockey Australia's High-Performance Program here in Perth. The facility at Curtin University will undergo a major upgrade to enhance the hockey, gym and support facilities and head office. The Hockyroos and Kookaburras teams which have been located in Perth for the last 38 years will now be able to remain based in Perth. 

State government funding scheme 'In the House' is set to invest $740,000 in 10 venues or organisations across regional Western Australia. Since 2020 the program has provided $2.3 million in support for WA venues to enable expanded annual programming and community engagement activities with an aim to increasing employment and tourism opportunities.
The following regional venues were successful in the 'In the House' round for activity starting from January 2023:

• Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre - $80,000;
• Arts Narrogin Incorporated - $80,000;
• Margaret River HEART - $78,079;
• Albany Entertainment Centre - $80,000;
• Beverley Station Arts Inc - $39,745;
• Queens Park Theatre - $80,000;
• Goldfields Arts Centre - $79,829;
• Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council - $80,000;
• Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre - $80,000; and
• Broome Civic Centre - $60,000.

'In the House' is part of the Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP), which aspires to build an  innovative and robust economy by supporting performing arts and entertainment centres in WA's regions.
To find out more about the funding program visit the DLGSC website: https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/in-the-house

Read Minister Templeman's full media statement

State government grants of up to $38,000 per trainee have been awarded to Community Resource Centres (CRC) and small regional local government authorities across WA to provide traineeship opportunities in small communities. The new positions will add to the 225 trainee placements created throughout the regions since the Regional Traineeship Program launched in 2018. 

This year's funding will support traineeships across fields including information technology, library and information services, tourism, and events.

​Read Minister MacTiernan's full media statement

Nine programs across regional Western Australia have been provided with a grant for 2022-2023 to assist athlete, coach and official development. Recipients include Peel Sport and Recreation Network, Mid West Academy of Sport, WA Basketball Federation and Swimming WA. 

Consumer Protection have created a short video on fitness and gym membership cancellation rights. This was instigated because of a number of complaints against operators refusing to accept membership cancellations and/or using pressure tactics to discourage clients from ending an agreement. As well as some operators not ending third-party, direct payments after a membership cancellation. 

Contemporary music peak body WAM have released their 2022 industry survey, designed to follow up on WAMCon 2022 and their 2021 industry Needs Assessment. The survey is open to all and should take less than 15 minutes to complete.

Take the WAM 2022 Industry Survey

The Australian and Western Australian Governments have signed a 12-month Skills Agreement to address the current skills shortage. The Agreement will inject $112 million into the Western Australian skills and training sector. This will provide approximately 18,800 Fee Free TAFE and vocational education and training (VET) places in 2023. 
The course list, based on last year's enrolments, is estimated to see 2,400 places in technology and digital and 1,400 places in hospitality and tourism, 300 places in sovereign capability including manufacturing, and around 2,800 in other sectors including foundational skills.
The funding supports the new FREE IN '23 initiative, which is designed to reskill and upskill people for work in national and Western Australian priority sectors and covers:

• Course fees for 58 full TAFE qualifications; and
• Course fees and resource fees for 56 skills sets.

Read Premier Mark McGowan's media statement

Affectionately known as 'The Aussies', the 2023 Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships will be held in Perth from the 25th March to the 2nd April 2023. More than 300 national teams will compete at Scarborough and Trigg beach. It is predicted to be one of WA's biggest mass participation events for 2023. 

A new chapter for the El Questro Resort in Western Australia has been flagged by owners G’day Group this week, with more accommodation and new cultural experiences to be created in partnership with Traditional Owners.

The announcement was made in partnership with the Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation (WAC) and the Western Australian Government, with a deal struck between the parties for G’day Group to lease back part of the 165,000 hectare parcel of El Questro land, which was this week handed back to the Wanjina Wungurr Wilinggin people by the WA Government 120 years after the area was originally established as a cattle station.

To continue operating a tourism business, G’day Group said they would purchase carbon credits from WAC so it could operate the property with net zero emissions, as well as implement more employment options for local Indigenous youth.

​The site in the Kimberley was purchased by G’day Group from Delaware North in Feb last year, operating two accommodation experiences, the Homestead resort and the Station, which includes a campground and bungalows.

Kidsport was set up to allow children aged between 5 and 18 years of age, who are named on a valid Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card to access a $150 KidSport voucher. This voucher can be used at a KidSport approved club to support the costs of sport participation.