After being delayed from the original date of 9-16 October 2021, the Australian Masters Games has commenced in Perth running the 23 to the 30 April 2022. The games have over 30 different sports including athletics, softball, swimming, netball, sailing, basketball and many more. It is expected to attract over 3,000 participants and supporters to major venues across Perth such as the HBF Stadium, WA Athletics Stadium and Bendat Basketball Centre and is a wonderful boost to tourism.

If you are interested in looking at the sport schedule it can be found at this link

Applications are now open for sports coaches and officials of state sporting associations to participate in professional development programs. Programs that focus on enhancing diversity and inclusion are encouraged, such as mentoring or pathway development programs. Applications close Friday 1st April 2022 . More details can be found at the Coaching and Officiating Grants Program. 

The sport and recreation and aquatic and community recreation sub-sectors have changed significantly in the last decade leading to key changes to workforce demand and the operating environment. The training package products are no longer fit for purpose and need to be updated. As a result a Case for Change to these SIS Training Packages have been made:
SIS10115 Certificate I in Sport and Recreation
SIS20115 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation
SIS30115 Certificate III in Sport and Recreation
SIS31015 Certificate III in Aquatics and Community Recreation
SIS40115 Certificate IV in Sport and Recreation
SIS50115 Diploma of Sport and Recreation Management.
To present your input and/or support for this case it needs to be made by 9:00am AEDT on Monday, 01 November 2021. 
To access the case for change and contact details click here

The next 4 years will see a State Budget allocation of $167 million towards community sport and recreation. This investment in local community and sporting programs, together with major sports infrastructure projects, aims to enhance job creation, sporting participation and access to top quality venues within Western Australia.
 
Read the full media statement 

Sport is a key element of a cohesive and thriving national community. It is a tool for achieving outcomes in areas such as education, health, leadership development and fair play, and is unrivalled in its ability to link heart, mind and body, to connect individuals and to inspire communities.

Increasingly, all sporting organisations are being held accountable for their governance. Governance is not only relevant to large national sporting organisations; it is important for all organisations in the sector. It is for this reason that these Sport Governance Principles were co-designed through a whole-of-sector engagement.

These principles can be used throughout the Australian sport sector, from small local clubs to large national organisations, but the details and explanations tend to be most applicable to national sporting organisations and state/territory sporting organisations.  Read more and download the Sport Governance Principles

The State Government has announced one of the most significant investments in sport and community infrastructure in Western Australian history, with a $300 million package as part of the government's $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan.  The funding consists of:

• $130 million package to upgrade sport facilities, including grassroots clubs and high performance facilities
• $170 million to upgrade local community facilities across the State

The historic plan will benefit a range of projects throughout the State and create a pipeline of WA jobs, with local small businesses and contractors also set to benefit. 
Read more about this funding. For the full list of projects, visit http://inthistogether.wa.gov.au

The Minister for Sport and Recreation Mick Murray joined SportWest members at the Gold Netball Centre to receive the Strategic Priorities for WA Sport from SportWest Chairman Michael Beros on 15 July.

A series of priorities have been developed across three themes:
1.  Capability - Developing the people and the organisations who support the industry.
2. Access - Improving access to sport participation opportunities for the community.
3. Innovation - Growing a sport sector that embraces knowledge, collaboration, data and technology.

The document is the first of its kind in Western Australia, having been prepared by the industry for the industry.  Download the Strategic Priorities document.

The Western Australian Sports Federation (SportWest) has received a Healthway grant of $82,500 to develop a framework to guide and strengthen mental health prevention initiatives across community sport in Western Australia.

Healthway’s Director of Health Promotion Julia Knapton said, the grant would see SportWest coordinate the project in partnership with Healthway, the WA Association for Mental Health, the Mental Health Commission and Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

“The framework will support the local sports sector to effectively promote mental health and increase mental health literacy in the community,” Ms Knapton said.  Read more

While most winter sports in Western Australia are back in action this month, more than one in three participants have not yet returned to playing venues.
 
A survey by SportWest, the peak industry body for sport in Western Australia, has revealed that registrations across sports (junior and senior) are down by 29 per cent compared with the same time last year.

More than 65 per cent of State Sporting Associations that responded to the survey attributed the reduction in player numbers to the direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown of sport. Nearly 35 per cent of respondents said affordability was the main driver for lower registrations, suggesting the economic impact of COVID-19 on households was having a flow on effect on community sport.
 
SportWest Chief Executive Rob Thompson said while community sport was getting back on its feet, the impact of COVID-19 would be felt for some time.
 
"It has been fantastic to see Western Australians active and returning to organised sport thanks to the commitment of club members and volunteers.," Mr Thompson said.  "But many in the sports sector and club land are doing it tough. There has been limited to no revenue coming through the door for many months and one in three club members are yet to return to their sport of choice. 
 
"This is a challenge for our community. Sport plays a crucial role in the physical and mental well-being of our society and it is really important that everyone has the opportunity to join their local sports clubs. We urge all those participants who are yet to reregister with their local club to make contact now and return to enjoying their sport.," he said. "For those in the community who are doing it tough financially, there are a number of options available through your club or State Sporting Association to help get you back in action."