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Submission by Chris Ambler on 04 March 2009.
2. Better place sport and physical activity as a key component of the Government's preventative health approach
- Examine Government frameworks to ensure an on-going focus on grassroots and community sport and physical activity.
No response
- Examine Government programs to increase participation rates in sport and physical activity, including analysis of existing programs.
At this level I think it is important for Govt to financially assist local councils or sporting bodies to provide their facilities. For example a large slice of the registration costs for soccer in my town go to the local council to prepare and maintain the soccer fields. The fields are also shared with Cricket which means that both the cricket and soccer seasons are six months. If the fields were not shared then cricket and soccer could run for 8 to 9 months of the year however the local council would nered substantially more income to be able to provide this for it's community.
- Identify and recommend opportunities to break down barriers to participation at junior, adult and senior ages with a view to making it simpler and easier for Australians to participate in the sport or physical activity of their choice, including for women, the disabled and Indigenous people.
With greater financial assistance to local sporting bodies and councils the costs of registration to play sport would be significantly reduced. Here in Dubbo it costs approx $150 to play soccer for an under 12 junior. A family of 3 kids playing soccer are forced to pay out $450. With boots, shin pads etc this becomes an expensive sport to play. If the kids also want to do another sport say tennis or Rugby then the costs are starting to rise significantly.
- Recommend strategies to increase the effectiveness of the promotion of sport by the Federal Government to better communicate positive health and activity messages to the broader community.
No response
3. Strengthen pathways from junior sport to grassroots community sport right through to elite and professional sport.
- Examine the capacity of the system to ensure optimal and efficient delivery of the athlete and coach pathway for any given sport.
No response
- Recommend the most effective support and recognition for the coaches, officials, umpires, administrators and volunteers who keep our community clubs alive.
The key for this is the financial support to small clubs so that they can purchase the necessary equipment to give volunteers coaches the opportunity to develop and run successful interesting and fun training sessions. Many Coaches end up donating not only their time but also their own money to purchase balls and other equipment.
- Examine how relationships between the Commonwealth Government and National Sporting Organisations, State Sporting Organisations and Australia’s peak representative bodies at key multi-sports competitions may be strengthened to deliver better performance outcomes.
No response
5. Identify opportunities to increase and diversify the funding base for sport through corporate sponsorship, media and any recommended reforms, such as enhancing the effectiveness of the Australian Sports Foundation
No response
Page last updated: 04 March, 2009