Lotterywest has announced the most impressive end of financial year figures in its history, with a record-breaking return of more than $205million to the Western Australian community.
It’s the first time that the annual community return has ever topped $200million.
Government Enterprises Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich said Western Australia’s public health system was the biggest winner from Lotterywest’s successful year, receiving $95million, while WA sporting groups and arts organisations will both receive $12million.
As the only Australian lottery with a direct grants program, Lotterywest has helped thousands of local not-for-profit organisations and community groups, with grant funding over the past 12 months.
Grants ranged from small amounts for toys to local toy libraries, to a $3.5million grant for new premises for the Ear Science Institute Australia, which researches and treats hearing disorders; the total amount given in direct grants totalled nearly $87million.
Ms Ravlich said the record community return was a fitting celebration for Lotterywest in its 75th anniversary year.
“Some organisations that were recipients of the then Lotteries Commission grant money in 1933, such as St John Ambulance and St Vincent de Paul, are still receiving Lotterywest support today,” she said.
“The aim for Lotterywest is to generate funds to make WA a better place to live in, and that’s something that we’re proud to say hasn’t changed in 75 years.”
The Minister said the millions of dollars of grant money available to the WA community was a result of strong support of Lotterywest products by the State’s Lotto players; sales for the year were $654million, up more than nine per cent on last year’s figure.
The latest figures mean the total raised for the WA community over Lotterywest’s 75 years is a remarkable $2.8billion.
During that time, sales of lottery games have totalled $9.6billion and Western Australians have won $5.6billion in prizes.
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