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Submission by Squash ACT on 27 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.
Squash ACT is the peak body for coordinating squash in the ACT and Queanbeyan area. There are currently 6 affiliated squash clubs, and the following competitions fall under the umbrella of Squash ACT:
- Examine Government programs to increase participation rates in sport and physical activity, including analysis of existing programs.
There is a need for a more coordinated approach to Government support for support - 'lesser' sports such as squash receive minimal. if any support.
- 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.
Special programs need greater resources, in money, time and personnel. The only way that can happen in sports such as squash is with government or other sponsorship. We have tried for grants for juniorand women in sport, with mixed success.
- 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.
The Government needs to support minor sports more - competeting for limited grant monies is time consuming and depressing when not successful.
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.
Squash could be an ideal school sport. Squash courts could be incorporated into schools with minimum cost, space requiremnts and upkeep. As mentioned, squash does not rely on weather or other climatic conditions.
- Recommend the most effective support and recognition for the coaches, officials, umpires, administrators and volunteers who keep our community clubs alive.
Certificates and the such are great, but volunteers would most of all like to see money or resources put into their sport. That would be a recognition that their efforts are worthwhile more than any personal reward.
- 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.
National and Stae organisations need to be encoraged to how closer cooperation with the Commonwealth Govt by funding for conferences etc - they should not have to pay out monies that could be used in their own sport.
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
A coordinated approach is needed, not just every sport for itself, competing for sponsorship and funds.
Page last updated: 27 March, 2009