The Active After-school Communities (AASC) 5 Star Community Coach Awards highlight best practice and recognise outstanding achievement in coaching within the AASC program. Congratulations to the national winner, Katrina Hausia, and all other state winners.

National Award Winner

ACT/NSW - Katrina Hausia

National Award Nominees (State Winners)

NT  - Sandra Cooper
Qld - Matthew Walker
SA  - Sam Broughton
Tas - Liza Darrow
Vic  - Darrell Marr
WA - Helen Cope

National Award Winner

ACT/NSW - Katrina Hausia

When it comes to delivering vibrant and innovative AASC sessions — up to eight times a week and to 78 AASC sites each term — Dubbo’s Katrina Hausia knows no boundaries; she’s even been known to dress as a clown.

Katrina focuses on maximising variety and minimising barriers so that children are motivated to be active regardless of their circumstances. She has designed a number of seven-week programs that she shares with other community coaches in the region. These have included an Olympic sport program, to coincide with the Beijing Games, and an aquatics and on-land water program for hot summer months.

Katrina purchases, improvises or makes her own equipment, and has been proactive in forming unique partnerships with community organisations that have helped initiate programs such as cycling at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, aquatics at the Dubbo Aquatic and Leisure Centre and golf at the Dubbo Golf Club. Such programs have particularly benefited the children of Dubbo West Public School who have not had access to these opportunities previously.

Afternoon tea is also a big focus of Katrina’s sessions. Each term culminates with a cooking class in which children decide on, plan and prepare a healthy afternoon tea.

Katrina also dedicates an hour of her time to delivering AASC programs via satellite to children as far afield as Bourke and Broken Hill. Dressed as a clown, Katrina has introduced circus and other activities, such as iKi Magic, dance, martial arts and Olympic sport programs. Katrina has never let the challenges of delivering by satellite get in the way of the fun of her sessions and an increasing number of children are logging on.

AASC regional coordinator Tracey Quayle has described Katrina as a real asset to the AASC program in the western NSW region. ‘Katrina is an absolute pleasure to work with’,’ Tracey said. ‘Katrina’s dedication and drive not only benefit the schools and kids but also the Dubbo community and beyond.’

‘Katrina’s passion for sport and providing opportunities for all kids pushes her to consistently set high delivery standards.’  

National Award Nominees (State winners)

NT - Sandra Cooper

Much of the AASC program’s success at Araluen Christian College in Alice Springs is attributed to Sandra Cooper who shines as a positive role model for AASC kids. A teacher at the school, Sandra not only coordinates and delivers the AASC program, but also mentors four Year 8 students who help with the program.

Sandra is committed to providing as much variety in activities as possible. In the program’s first term she worked with local external deliverers of golf, circus skills and baseball, and this year has also tried her hand at delivering a number of activities internally, including table tennis, cricket, Ultimate Frisbee and water games.

The popularity of Sandra’s program has translated into high participation rates, and she goes to great lengths to make sure she embodies the playing for life philosophy by often joining in herself to make the games more fun.

Sandra is very aware of how children respond to her activities and she makes sure they are well-planned, fun, fast moving and a challenge. Sandra also has a great ability to be able to ‘change it up’ when necessary, to make sure every child is included and the sessions are successful.

Central Australia AASC regional coordinator Danielle Steinhardt said Sandra has been the ‘backbone’ of the program.
‘Sandra has put a lot of time and effort into establishing the program at Araluen Christian College in 2009. Nothing is ever a problem for Sandra if it means improving the program and providing great opportunities for the kids,’ Danielle said.

Sandra has also encouraged participants to back AASC communication campaigns. The school made a total of 21 799 passes during the Turning to Sport for Good Health campaign and achieved a gold certificate. Sandra has also worked to extend the enthusiasm for the AASC program beyond the college grounds by facilitating children’s involvement in special initiatives, including a circus performance for the parents at the end of term and a gala day at the Alice Springs Golf Club. 

Qld - Matthew Walker

When children walk into one of Matt Walker’s gymnastics sessions at AASC sites in south Brisbane, they often see an enormous range of equipment seldom found outside a gymnastics hall. Few of these children would realise the amount of work that Matt puts in before they arrive. 

At the start of his programs, Matt visits each site to meet with supervisors and scope out appropriate areas at the venues. Then, for all of his sessions, Matt arrives 45 minutes early to set up the equipment, which ranges from two sets of parallel bars, more than 20 mats and hoops, a set of rings and a mini trampoline, to ‘footprints’ that indicate direction, balls, frisbees and bean bags.

Safety is always at the front of Matt’s mind and he clearly describes the safety rules at the start of every session.

Coopers Plains AASC regional coordinator Murray Button said Matt delivered a high-quality program at all of his three sites.

‘The gymnastics program that Matt delivers to the children is amazing due to the quality and diversity of the equipment that children love to play on. One of the sites where Matt delivers has 35 children attending and all 35 love participating!’ Murray said.

Matt combines his experience as a gymnastics coach with the skills he is developing through his studies towards a bachelor of Education, to deliver the most fun, interactive and stimulating sessions possible.

Matt has also developed a working relationship with the nearby Robertston Gymnastics Club and encourages his AASC participants to join the club. 

SA - Sam Broughton

Zen Do Kai martial arts instructor Sam Broughton has been a coach for the AASC program since early 2006. With a knack for finding new delivery techniques to capture children’s interest, the popularity of Sam’s AASC sessions have led to him providing additional sessions during the school day.

As head instructor and highest ranking member of the Port Lincoln Zen Do Kai martial arts club, Sam has spent a number of years as a club volunteer focusing on junior development, organising training sessions and camps. He brings this experience in working with children, along with his outstanding sports skills, to AASC activities.

While cerebral palsy restricts Sam’s leg movements, it does nothing to slow his tireless community coaching service. His work in martial arts, personal training and schools has been described as having a very significant impact on the Eyre Peninsula region and community.

Eyre Peninsula AASC regional coordinator Margie Fahy said Sam has worked hard to engage and enthuse children to be physically active and to join local clubs. ‘Sam even includes ex-AASC participants, to come back to the program as assistant coaches to help out with the sessions.’

‘Sam is a great ambassador for the program [and] a superb role model for the children in every way,’ Margie said. ‘His volunteer work and community spirit have not only led to Sam winning this nomination but also led to his selection as a finalist in the Young Community Contribution category of the National Disability Awards.’

Tas - Liza Darrow

When you visit Liza Darrow’s AASC sessions at Mole Creek or Westbury, the energy is palpable. Liza’s background as a personal trainer is apparent when you hear her using her favourite phrase, ‘you can do it’, during sessions. ‘I probably say it ten or more times throughout a session,’ Liza admitted. ‘It was fantastic when I heard one of the older children use the same phrase to a younger child when we were partnered up trying a new activity.’

Liza said the best thing about being a deliverer was ‘having fun with the kids’, and ‘being able go crazy ... to sing and dance like no-one is watching. To come down to a child’s level and just have fun’.

Liza began as an AASC deliverer at Mole Creek Primary School when she moved there with her family in 2008. She began organising group fitness classes in the local community, and was soon involved as a volunteer deliverer in the school’s AASC program. When the school in the nearby town of Westbury needed to extend its AASC program beyond the deliverers immediately available, Liza agreed to the request of the regional coordinator and extended her delivery reach to the town.

Liza’s sessions are well attended, with supervisors saying it’s largely due to her enthusiasm, attention to detail and her delivery of fun and engaging activities.

‘As soon as you walk into a room where Liza is delivering, straight away you feel energised and eager to join in with the activity yourself,’ said northern Tasmania AASC regional coordinator Ralph Morris.

Liza’s latest achievement was in making Mole Creek the first Tasmanian AASC site to submit its entry in the Turning to Sport for Good Health dance competition and to lead the children in the dance at the northern Tasmania gala day.

Vic - Darrell Marr

Darrell Marr’s versatile and varied AASC programs in Melbourne’s northern suburbs are constantly booked out every term. The interest is testament to Darrell’s efforts to always go one step further in each AASC session.

As an AASC deliverer, Darrell draws on his skills as a coach across a number of sports, offering children an opportunity to learn new activities with quality instruction. More than this, though, at his own expense Darrell has provided prizes and awards, such as basketballs, AFL balls, jerseys and clothing, to participating children who show enthusiasm, effort and improvement over his seven-week programs.

Outside his AASC interests, Darrell manages the local Auskick program and promotes the pathway to that activity during his AASC sessions. He has even conducted fundraising to subsidise the cost of Auskick registration for children who would otherwise not be able to afford it. Such is Darrell’s commitment to the AASC program that he does all of his delivery work on a volunteer basis. All money paid for his sessions go straight back to other members of his delivery team in the Broadmeadows area. 

WA - Helen Cope

In the southern Esperance region, Helen Cope is known for her work to galvanise and support Lake King community sports in becoming part of the AASC family. This has enabled AASC kids experiencing Helen’s calm and encouraging delivery style, to discover all that their local sports have to offer.

Helen coordinates and oversees a program that is unique in the southern Esperance region. The AASC program is run solely by Lake King community sports coaches and is fully integrated into local sports. Some sports also have their skill development and training immediately after the AASC program at the school.

Thanks to this model, children are encouraged by the sports to participate in the AASC program as a warm-up and then the coaches are able to move directly into the fun skills and drills with no need for further warm-up and fitness activities. Children who may be uncertain about joining in community sport also have the opportunity to watch their friends participate in training sessions after AASC activities.

Helen maintains this model through her hard work and by gaining (and keeping) the trust, confidence and support of the community’s sports coaches. She provides clear and consistent communication to coaches and ensures they have ample resources and are sufficiently prepared for AASC activities. In all of this, she never forgets the children and is always questioning them to understand their level of satisfaction with activities.

Lake King Primary School principal Geraldine Drabble has appreciated Helen’s work. ‘Helen has been willing to take on the role as a key organiser who is on hand to assist with any applications, acquittals, ordering of sports equipment and other tasks to promote the program. Helen also prepares weekly healthy afternoon teas and communicates through newsletters to inform parents of timetables, rosters and events,’ Geraldine said. ‘I would like to formally thank Helen for her dedication and enthusiasm in helping to run the Active After-school Communities program here at Lake King.’