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Submission by Mandy Quayle, Taronga Western Plains Zoo on 19 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.
The AASC program is a great way to increase participation rates in sport. The cycling program that is conducted as part of the AASC program at Taronga Western Plains Zoo gives kids a first hand taste of cycling and allows them to not only see whether they like it but to also learn more about the sport whilst in the program.
- 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.
The AASC cycling program at the Zoo has provided schools with a high population of indigenious and disadvantaged students with the opportuntiy to ride their bike around a unique location at the zoo something that they would not have had access to without the AASC program. I have seen first hand the benefit this program makes to these young children who always go away talking about their experience and what they had just participated in.
- 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.
Whilst the program has been running at the Zoo I have noticed each time the children have a healthy afternoon tea and ride around the Zoo. I have noticed also that the kids are being encouraged to cycle outside of the AASC program.
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.
The cycling program at the zoo is assisting with promoting the local cycling club in the Dubbo. A number of staff at the zoo are heavily involved in the Dubbo Cycling Club and have heard a number of the AASC coaches promote this club to kids.
- Recommend the most effective support and recognition for the coaches, officials, umpires, administrators and volunteers who keep our community clubs alive.
No response
- 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: 19 March, 2009