How Badminton Victoria helps grassroots badminton.
Across Victoria. Around every court.
Helping more people find a place to play, learn and belong.
By Western Badminton ·
Grassroots badminton in Victoria begins with people: a child trying a first serve, a volunteer setting up nets, a player returning after years away, or a local club making room for someone new. Those everyday moments give the sport its community.
Badminton Victoria helps connect that local energy with programmes, learning opportunities and a wider network of clubs. Its 2026–2028 Strategic Plan places participation and collaboration alongside player development and promotion of the sport.
Here is how that support can reach the places where most of us first fall in love with badminton—and why it matters to a community club like Western Badminton.
A first rally needs an open door.
Making it easier to discover the game and find somewhere to play.
A welcoming introduction can turn curiosity into a regular activity. Badminton Victoria’s Club Finder helps people locate clubs, while its events calendar brings together opportunities including come-and-try activities, community tournaments and learning sessions.
Schools are another starting point. Badminton Victoria offers BWF Shuttle Time courses for people who want to introduce badminton to students. For example, a Warragul course held on 21 March 2026 combined online learning with practical training as part of its regional programme.
For families, the useful next step is a simple one: ask which local session welcomes beginners, what equipment is provided and how to book. A clear answer makes the first visit less daunting.
Support the people who keep it going.
Community sport depends on more than available courts.
Clubs need people who can introduce a skill, organise a session and encourage players to return. Education gives those people somewhere to start. Badminton Victoria’s provider guidance points to Shuttle Time and Badminton Australia Foundation coaching education, connecting introductory delivery with club-level coaching.
Its regional participation work also includes volunteer development. That matters because the people giving their time are often the link between a programme on paper and a session that actually happens.
Our view at WBi is that a strong local club grows when more people feel able to contribute. A parent learning to help, a player exploring coaching or a volunteer taking on a new role can each strengthen the community around the court.
Anyone interested in a course should check the current calendar and confirm prerequisites, accreditation requirements and fees with the organiser.
A welcome should lead to belonging.
Giving clubs practical ways to include more of their community.
Badminton Victoria’s Inclusive and Charter Clubs programme provides resources and an accreditation framework for clubs working on inclusion. It covers people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, women and girls, and LGBTQIA+ people.
This turns a broad intention—“everyone is welcome”—into work clubs can plan and develop. For players, the difference is personal: being able to ask about access, find a suitable session and feel comfortable joining in.
There are also examples of delivery on court. Badminton Victoria’s Play & Lead story from Badminton Geelong, published in December 2025, describes a programme for participants with disability, led by para-athlete and coach Michael Simpkins and supported by Sport and Recreation Victoria.
For WBi, these examples are a reminder to keep listening. A friendly introduction is valuable; understanding what helps someone return is just as valuable.
The game belongs across the state.
Supporting local participation beyond metropolitan Melbourne.
Badminton Victoria’s Regional Badminton Revitalisation programme, funded by Sport and Recreation Victoria, focuses on participation, inclusion and long-term sustainability across seven Victorian regions.
Its published approach includes community events, volunteer development and youth engagement, with a focus on women and girls, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and young people. Local partners include clubs and associations in places such as Warragul, Shepparton, Bendigo and Horsham.
Community needs differ from place to place. Supporting local organisations gives the sport a way to respond to those differences and helps people build a badminton community closer to home.
A connection we saw at WBi.
A memorable moment at our Flagship Doubles Tournament 2026.
On 10 October 2026, WBi welcomed Clint Proctor, CEO of Badminton Victoria, as chief guest to open our Flagship Doubles Tournament. His time with Team WBi, sponsors and players brought the wider badminton community into a local club occasion.
We shared those moments in our thank-you story for Clint. For us, the visit was a meaningful acknowledgement of the people behind community badminton: players, families, volunteers and supporters.
Grassroots growth is built through many contributions. Local clubs create regular opportunities to play; a state-wide organisation can connect those efforts with education, participation programmes and other clubs. We value that connection and the shared ambition to help more Victorians enjoy the game.
Explore Badminton Victoria’s work
Official programme information checked on 17 October 2026. WBi’s reflections draw on our own tournament experience.