News

Latest news from the department.

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Drone view of the Albany Entertainment Centre at dusk

Contract awarded for Albany Entertainment Centre works

Mar 26, 2024
The State Government has awarded the contract for important roof repairs at the iconic Albany Entertainment Centre, with Colab Construction to start work soon.
Aboriginal dot painting with text: Aboriginal History WA and Storylines are coming to the Great Southern and Wheatbelt

Aboriginal History WA and Storylines take off on regional road trip

Mar 11, 2024
Team members from Aboriginal History Western Australia (AHWA) and the State Library of Western Australia's Storylines will be hitting the road this March to jointly hold free family history sessions in the Great Southern and Wheatbelt.
We Bury the Dead writer/director Zak Hilditch behind the camera on set in Albany

We Bury The Dead commences production in the Great Southern

Feb 22, 2024
The Great Southern region is abuzz with activity this week as filming commences on survival-thriller feature film, We Bury The Dead, featuring international star Daisy Ridley and Australian stars Brenton Thwaites and Mark Coles Smith, across the next 6 weeks.
5 children are lined up in a public swimming pool.

Pool entry pilot program ending summer with a splash for kids

Feb 8, 2024
As cost-of-living pressure rises alongside the summer temperatures, the State Government is introducing a free pool entry pilot program across the Gascoyne, Midwest, Wheatbelt, and Great Southern regions for eligible children and young people.
Architects drawing of the proposed Albany Surf Life Saving Club

Albany Surf Life Saving Club redevelopment begins

Feb 5, 2024
The $3.35 million expansion and redevelopment of the Albany Surf Life Saving Club begins today.
A line of people on a beach looking out to the surf.

Wave of extra funding for Albany Surf Club revamp

Nov 27, 2023
A request to the State Government for half a million dollars towards the Albany Surf Life Saving Club redevelopment project is no longer a pipe dream, with the swell news from WA's Sport and Recreation Minister that the $500,000 will be provided.
Portrait photographs of Daisy Ridley and Zak Hilditch

Great Southern region setting for new film starring Daisy Ridley

Nov 1, 2023
Western Australia’s Great Southern region will provide a stunning backdrop for a survival-thriller film featuring international star Daisy Ridley (Star Wars sequel trilogy).
Leveraged Creative and Cultural Planning Grant Program. A facilitator talking to an audience with someone writing on post-it notes on a white board.

Funding enriches regional art and culture

May 23, 2023
Local governments across the state are receiving support to undertake cultural planning, thanks to the latest round of culture and arts funding from the State Government.
Flood lights on an oval

$12.3 million to boost WA’s community sport and recreation facilities

Feb 10, 2023
The State Government has announced more than $12.3 million will be provided towards upgrading community sport and recreation facilities and lighting throughout the State.
Two performers in a remote location. Text reads, Playing WA Grant Program.

Regional audiences to welcome 5 exciting performances

Feb 9, 2023
The Playing WA program will support 5 performing arts companies to tour their shows to communities in regional WA, sharing in $475,685 as part of the first funding round of 2022-2023.
WA Hiking Participation Grants: $187,810 for 10 projects. Image of hikers walking a bush trail.

Grants help hiking projects reach new heights

Feb 8, 2023
A walking project to help people heal while grieving, a nature-based adaptive hiking program for those who live with disability and a hike project to unite Ukranians are among 10 recipients getting a total of nearly $188,000 in State Government funding.
Audience participants on stage at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre

Regional funding creates new home-grown performances

Dec 6, 2022
The State Government’s Made in WA funding will support four successful recipients to bring their Western Australian projects to fruition.
An exterior of a theatre lit up early evening.

Boost of almost $740,000 for regional performing arts venues

Dec 5, 2022
Western Australia's regional performing arts sector is getting a boost thanks to the State Government's 'In the House' funding program, with 10 venues or organisations set to receive almost $740,000 between them.
Montage of actor profiles.

Ocean adventure Blueback premieres under the stars

Nov 18, 2022
Australian Director Robert Connolly (The Dry, Paper Planes) brings Tim Winton’s best-selling story BLUEBACK to the big screen for Perth Festival’s Lotterywest films.
An Aboriginal artist performing on stage with a colourful background of illustrated water lillies.

Huge funding boost to deliver exciting new regional Aboriginal arts and cultural projects

Jul 21, 2022
4 projects, ranging from an on-country camp in Wilkinkarra to create large scale visual artworks to a touring yellow bus that will demonstrate the Yindjibarndi people's enduring connection to country, have received a major funding boost from the State Government.
A man and a woman holding framed certificates

Albany Sharks club president wins prestigious volunteer award

May 17, 2022
The Great Southern region has kicked off National Volunteer Week by celebrating two of its finest volunteers for their outstanding commitment to the sporting community.
Graphic with text: CenefestOZ Albany Film Festival 28 April to 1 May 2022

Albany audiences take their seats for expanded CinefestOZ

Apr 28, 2022
CinefestOZ Albany will take place from 28 April to 1 May 2022, allowing Great Southern film lovers to experience and celebrate the very best in Australian film.
Internal exhibition space at the Cannery Arts Centre in Esperance

Regional galleries welcome upgrades to support touring visual arts

Mar 15, 2022
11 regional art galleries from Beverley to Port Hedland have been awarded $346,000 through the second round of the State Government's Public Regional Galleries Improvement Fund.
Two female dancers performing in traditional clothing

$700,000 to improve social inclusion and access to arts and culture in regional communities

Feb 17, 2022
Nine regional arts and cultural organisations have been funded by the Community Participation and Inclusion Program, which is part of the State Government's $20 million four-year Regional Arts and Cultural Investment Program (RACIP).
Smoking ceremony

Eight regional festivals to bring together communities across the State

Feb 16, 2022
The Regional and Remote Festivals Fund offers up to $50,000 for the presentation of arts and cultural activities at regional festivals.
Bibbulmun Track with guide sign, Beedelup National Park, Western Australia

Lotterywest grant funds new tech for Bibbulmun Track

Nov 10, 2021
Hikers and volunteers who use the Bibbulmun Track will soon benefit from new online resources to help make their journey easier.
A group of people with the ocean behind them

A look back at the WA Trails and Recreation Forum 2021

Nov 4, 2021
A record number of people gathered in Albany for the WA Trails and Recreation Forum 2021.
A group of people walking together along a path

Adventurous minds convene to plan the future of WA’s trails

Oct 14, 2021
Western Australia's biggest-ever trails forum is being held in Albany today to discuss how the state can harness the economic potential of some of our fastest growing pastimes — hiking, trail running and mountain biking.
Volunteer trail carers helping to upgrade a trail

Help care for trails

Oct 11, 2021
Do you enjoy walking or cycling on the trails of the Great Southern? Are you interested in meeting new people and spending time outdoors for a good cause?
WA Trails and Recreation Forum

Trailing down to Albany for annual forum

Oct 11, 2021
Another reason to celebrate Outdoors October is the WA Trails and Recreation Forum 2021.
Three people in a canoe

Heaps of fun at Camp Quaranup

Oct 11, 2021
The much-loved Camp Quaranup Community Open Day happens on Saturday 16 October.
An artist in his studio

Four regional artists receive sought-after fellowships

Jul 5, 2021
Each receive $50,000 over two years from the Regional Artist Fellowship program.
The Stidwell Family from left to right Sienna Hepworth (Mike Stidwell’s Grandaughter) Denise Legge (winner) Jill Stidwell and Siobhan Hepworth (Mike Stidwells Daughter) .

Pony Club volunteer recognised with prestigious award

May 18, 2021
Pony Club Western Australia Great Southern Zone stalwart Denise Legge has won the prestigious Mike Stidwell Medal, for her longstanding commitment to sports volunteering in Western Australia's Great Southern region.
A person swimming at a local swimming pool

Funding boost for historic Mount Barker swim facilities

Jan 15, 2021
The historic Mount Barker Memorial Swimming Pool is set to receive a major refurbishment made possible by an investment of more than $374,000 by the State Government.
Women in Leadership workshop with Dr Lianne Cretney-Barnes

Recent workshops supporting women in leadership

Dec 14, 2020
The department is continuing to champion gender diversity in the sport and recreation industry, and recently held workshops in Perth and the Great Southern region.
rafting-up

Targeted funding program to benefit Tambellup and Albany projects

Sep 1, 2020
A new after-school program for Aboriginal youth in the Great Southern town of Tambellup will receive funding for a co-ordinator thanks to a State Government funding program.
A group of netballers

State Government provides $535,000 to improve Great Southern sporting facilities

Feb 24, 2020
Two communities in the Great Southern are to receive a total of $534,995 to help them build better sport and recreation facilities for their local communities.
Premier Mark McGowan, Speaker Peter Watson MLA Member for Albany and Mayor City of Albany Dennis Wellington opening the Centennial Park Sporting Precinct in Albany

Albany’s revitalised Centennial Park Sporting Precinct complete

Aug 22, 2019
Premier Mark McGowan today opened the new eastern pavilion at Albany's Centennial Park Sporting Precinct — completing the State Government's $7 million election commitment to revitalise the grassroots sporting hub.
Page reviewed 23 August 2023
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