2012 Annual Report - Softball Australia

Community Participation
Community Participation
Softball Australia is committed to expanding Softball programs in targeted urban, rural and remote areas across
Australia.
Indigenous Softball Program
Softball Australia and our Member States have a long
and proud history of promoting and delivering Softball
to Indigenous Communities. Our Indigenous Softball
Program produces positive health and social outcomes
by providing female and male Indigenous Australians of
all ages and abilities with opportunities to participate
in Softball – as players, coaches, umpires,
administrators and volunteers. With Softball generally
recognised as the preferred sport of Indigenous
women, and becoming increasingly popular amongst
Indigenous men, we are committed to expanding
Softball programs in targeted urban, rural and remote
areas across Australia.
The purpose of the program is to increase participation
of Indigenous Australians from targeted urban, rural
and remote areas in all facets and levels of Softball by:
• embedding Softball as the sport of choice for
Indigenous women
• positioning Softball as an attractive option for
Indigenous men
• supporting government health and wider policy
objectives
• working with Indigenous communities to help them
become self-sufficient, so they can continue to
develop and deliver their own events and programs.
A bat, painted by Angelina Doolan and a ball, painted
by Kira Briscoe, students from the Worawa Aboriginal
College, Healesville, Victoria, were presented by
Softball Australia Director, Helen Langenberg, to
Andrew Leigh Federal Member for Fraser and Phil
Borgeaud, Deputy Director, Strategy and Relations,
Australian Institute of Sport.
2011/12 ISP facts
• 7,870 participants involved in Indigenous Softball
Program activities
• 150 Softball Program activities delivered
• 150 participants involved in managing Softball
programs and competitions
• 160 participants completed coaching/officiating
accredited training
• 100 participants with a disability involved in
Indigenous Softball Program activities
Softball Australia officially launched the Indigenous
Softball Program Strategy in Canberra on 23 March
2012. Dignitaries were treated to an exhibition match
involving players from the WhISPers Softball Club and
Indigenous players from NSW. Ngunnawal Indigenous
elder, Agnes Shea, delivered a welcome to country
speech, acknowledging the players who participated in
the Exhibition match, and Softball Australia’s
Indigenous role models, Stacey Porter, Vanessa Stokes
and Jeff Goolagong.
SOFTBALL AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2012 Page | 54