Australian children from across the country are trying their hand at an innovative squash program called OzSquash.

The modified game developed by Squash Australia in conjunction with the Australian Sports Commission’s (ASC), Active After-school Communities (AASC) program is designed to get children active and introduce them to the game of squash. 

Through the AASC program, over 3,200 schools and after school care centres have the opportunity to introduce their students to OzSquash.

The ten week program engages children aged 5-12 in a range of game sense activities and links children, schools and parents with local squash clubs.

Squash Australia’s National Development Manager, Trevor Smith said the aim of the program is twofold: to increase participation in squash and transition kids into sporting clubs.

’One of the many problems facing squash centres and clubs around Australia is attracting kids to the sport of squash and making their parents aware of our great game,’ he said.

’Prior to this, squash centres and clubs have had limited resources to promote the game to the broader Australian community,’ Smith said.

Squash Australia received a Participation Demonstration Project grant from the ASC to develop and roll out additional stages of the program, further extending its reach.

This collaborative approach is a great illustration of the way the ASC is working together with sports to increase participation.

In the 2012-13 federal budget, the Australian Government has allocated a total of $39.2 million towards the AASC program, encouraging children to develop a lifelong love of sport.

This demonstrates the Australian Government’s commitment to making sport accessible and using sport to improve the heath and well-being of Australian children.

More information is available about the AASC program at www.ausport.gov.au and OzSquash at www.squash.org.au.