The Australian Sports Outreach Program is using sport as a vehicle for community development in the Pacific region.

The program plays a leading role in promoting sport development programs to improve the participation and physical activity levels of people in local communities in the Pacific nations of Kiribati, Samoa, Nauru, Vanuatu and Fiji.

A key aim of the Australian Sports Outreach Program is to help to build the capacity of these communities to deliver their own quality sports programs to improve the health and wellbeing of local people.

The Australian Government, through AusAID, has committed $5 million over five years (until July 2011) to the roll out of the Australian Sports Outreach Program across the Pacific region.

The Australian Sports Outreach Program is delivered by the Australian Sports Commission, whose work in this area has been recognised by the United Nations for its delivery of physical activity and sport benefits, and health and lifestyle changes.

The Nabanga sport program operates in Vanuatu and is named after the iconic Banyon tree — a symbol of community spirit and growth. The Banyon tree represents a traditional meeting place for community sport and discussion.

In rural communities of Vanuatu’s Penema and Tafea provinces, the Nabanga sport program aims to provide opportunities for local people to participate in quality sports activities, which contributes to decreasing kava use and fosters the development of youth and children.

With the support of the village chiefs, youths not only participate in sport teams but are responsible for the day-to-day coaching, administration and decision-making for the program.

Nabanga Sport National Coordinator, Alwyn Job, said sport development programs aims to benefit the health and welfare of the local community.

‘If the youth are busy playing sport, organising the draws and coaching the pikinini (children) then they are using their time in a positive way,’ Job said.

‘They are challenged and they also get to learn new skills like organising an event, being part of a committee and taking on leadership roles.’

Henry Tavoa, CEO of the Vanuatu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee speaks highly of the value and benefits of the Australian Sports Outreach Program.

‘The Nabanga sports program has the potential to improve the health, wellbeing and social cohesion of the broader community in Vanuatu.’

‘It will also help to train and develop more organisers, coaches and officials in the community to run their own sports activities and competitions.’

In Fiji, the Australian Sports Outreach Program supports the Fiji Sports Association for the Disabled, which coordinates the Pacific Sports Ability Program in 17 special education centres around the country, involving approximately 1060 children.

They also work with a number of sporting federations to run inclusive sports activities (including wheelchair tennis, table tennis, archery and lawn bowls) and manage the training, development and competition of Fiji’s international athletes with disabilities.

Sport Development Officer for the Fiji Sports Association for the Disabled, Saimoni Nainoca, said the Australian Sports Outreach Program is creating opportunities for local Fijians to get involved in sport and to get physically active, particularly those with a disability.

‘Before the Fiji Sports Association for the Disabled introduced the Pacific Sports Ability Program, teachers weren’t giving all the children a chance because they didn’t know what activities to do,’ said Nainoca.

‘Now I know, when 1.00pm comes each Friday, over 1,000 children with a disability around the country are playing sports.

‘When people see children with a disability playing sport, they know that they are capable of doing many different things.’