Australia continues to play a leading role in the delivery of sport for development opportunities in the Pacific through the signing of a major regional partnership driven by netball.

The Australian Government signed the major partnership with Netball Australia (NA), Netball New Zealand (NNZ) and the Oceania Netball Federation (ONF) taking place in Adelaide on 11 April which provides $2.9 million in funding and support over four years for sports capacity building and the delivery of netball programs throughout the Pacific.

Speaking at the announcement at the ANZ Championships netball match, the Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis said the partnership would provide a tremendous boost to community development through sport in the Pacific as part of a wider regional sports initiative. 

‘Sport is widely recognised as a vital tool in building stronger communities, not least through providing opportunities for youth leadership and achievement in Pacific communities,’ Ms Ellis said.

‘It will give players, leaders, administrators, coaches and officials opportunities to progress to levels beyond community competitions, as well as strengthening the sport at the grassroots,’ said Ms Ellis.

‘This important agreement means more young women and girls will get access to play netball in these countries, along with better opportunities for the development of coaches, administrators and officials which is great news.

‘The Prime Minister announced $26 million in sports-related assistance to the Pacific island countries at the Pacific Islands Forum in August 2009. 

‘This includes $15 million over five years to establish and support sport partnerships between Australian and regional sporting federations in the Pacific region.’

Under this Pacific Island partnership, the Australian Government in cooperation with national netball federations in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu will support the delivery of broad and inclusive netball programs for community development through the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP).

A key aim of ASOP, managed by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) in partnership with AusAID, is to help Pacific communities to deliver their own quality, sports participation programs, which have social benefits in key areas of health, cohesion and leadership. The programs take place in mostly rural areas of Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Solomon Islands.

It is the third out of five Pacific Islands partnerships to be signed by the Australian Government after agreements with football in August 2009 and February 2010 respectively. Pacific Island partnerships are expected to be signed later this year in rugby union and league.

The ASOP is working with ONF, a constituted body under the International Federation of Netball Associations, to enhance and promote community development through sport in Pacific nations.