Minister for Sport Mark Arbib and Minister for the Status of Women Kate Ellis this month announced the successful recipients of $400,000 in grants under the 2011 Sport Leadership Grants and Scholarships for Women.

Senator Arbib said the grants would help women boost their careers in sport.

'The Australian Government will support 66 projects through 22 grants to organisations, 29 individual grants and 15 new individual pathway scholarships, helping hundreds of women leaders from all levels of sport,' Senator Arbib said.

'The Government is committed to ensuring women rise to senior levels in all areas of sport including coaching, officiating, governance, media and communications and management.'

With the program now in its 10th year, the Australian Government has invested more than $3.7 million to help more than 16,000 women pursue accredited training and development activities.

Ms Ellis said Australian sport needed more women involved in senior positions and leadership roles.

'These grants provide a tangible way for women to obtain the skills and attributes required to succeed in sport leadership,' Ms Ellis said.

'Our Government is committed to boosting the profile of women in sport and giving them the skills and qualifications they need to play leadership roles both on and off the field.'

One scholarship recipient planning to make full use of the funding, support and mentoring provided is former Wallaroo and Australian Women’s Rugby 7s player Selena Tranter.

During the next three years she will complete level two and three coach accreditation courses, professional development seminars and a mentoring program with an elite national level coach.

Selena’s goal is to coach the Australian Women’s Rugby 7s team at the 2013 World Cup and at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

With the support of the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and with this comprehensive scholarship she is on track to become a valuable leader in her sport.

'I am very excited about receiving the scholarship and the opportunity to realise my goal of moving from elite player to coach,' Ms Tranter said.

'Along with the ongoing support of the ARU this scholarship will allow me to attend national training camps as well as domestic and international competitions as a "scholarship coach" and provide me with the invaluable experience of learning from elite coaches within the ARU and other sports.'

The Sports Leadership Grants and Scholarships for Women program is a joint initiative of the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Government Office for Women.

The Australian Government further supports women’s sport through Women in Sport Media Grants – helping increase and enhance media coverage of women in sport – and the Women in Sport Leadership Register that aims to improve the number of women on Australia’s sporting boards and help promote an inclusive culture for women in sport.