Written by Katie Smith from Reporter’s Academy (a media production company run by young people).
Sporting organisations around Australia are currently facing a number of challenges, from falling participation numbers in some grassroots sport, to the wide use of performing enhancing drugs at an elite and community sport level. Add to that the declining numbers of volunteers and there is a big job ahead of sporting organisations to remain relevant and be socially inclusive.
2012 has been a big but successful year for Sports Without Borders. We have continued facilitating important programs in the community and deepened our engagement and consultation with communities across Victoria. Our focus has remained the same – innovation, engagement and leadership.
We’d like to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you to everyone who has supported Sports Without Borders over 2012. Pease enjoy these highlights from the year.
Linkages and partnerships are the lifeblood of any sporting organisation in Australia, at all levels of the organisation and sport, and administrators need advice on how to link, market and get grants to support their work. The 2012 Sports Without Borders Our Community National Sports Conference aimed to address this need and support sporting organisation by providing insights, case studies, opportunities and connections through great speakers and hands-on workshops.
On 27 June 2011, SWB and Our Community staged the inaugural National Community Sports Conference at Moonee Valley Function Centre. The event attracted 380 delegates from around Australia who work in, play or administer sport and/or are involved in the community, as well participants from local and state and federal government agencies. The conference focused on different target communities in Australia, including people from CALD and Indigenous backgrounds, All Abilities and women.
I warmly invite you to attend the second annual “Sports Without Borders” Our Community National Conference, to be held in Melbourne on Friday 15 June 2012.
On Monday 23rd August 2011, the AFL Peace team, a combined AFL team of Israeli’s and Palestinians were the guests of Deloitte Consulting, Bourke St, Melbourne.
The first Sports Without Borders National Sports Conference on 27 June, 2011, truly crossed all borders and left those in attendance undoubtedly more inspired and informed about community sport and the need to address issues around inclusion.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be a post-conference press release available tomorrow as well as extra information from the panelists. Speeches from panelists will be made available through Our Comunity. More information available in tomorrow's press release.
A letter from Mtutuzeli Hlomela. South Africa AFL captain to Jeff Kennett talking about the importance of International Football in light of Kennett's comment that international AFL football is a waste of time. The AFL International Cup is being played in August in Melbourne.
On Wednesday eighth of December, in partnership with Moonee Valley City Council Sports Without Borders presented a Youth Action day at Debney Park Secondary College. Youth Action is a technology driven sports program designed to promote and assist healthy development of Australian kids.
Sports Without Borders and AFL facilitate 100 tickets to Essendon v West Coast for visiting university students.
As a part of Sports Without Borders dedication to social cohesion and global friendships, SWB was happy to assist Australian University Sport by welcoming the World University Squash Championship participants from 11 countries and inviting them to attend a game of Australian football.
Essendon partnered with North Melbourne FC and Sports Without Borders for the first time to host the third Unity Cup with the Australian Federal Police at Windy Hill last Sunday.
Houli’s parents migrated from Lebanon to Melbourne’s western suburbs 30 years ago and Houli’s parents were initially unimpressed with his desire to play Australian football. His persistence and graduation through the AFL game development pathways was so consistent that his parents were won over to the game once they saw their son’s role model potential for the Lebanese and wider Islamic community. His parents were also impressed with the inclusive model put in place at Essendon under Kevin Sheedy in which their son’s religious commitments were respected and worked into the club culture.
