It is an exciting time for SportWest as we expand and restructure our team.
Our new Communications and Events Manager Steve Glover and Administration Manager Fran Jones have hit the ground running. I have no doubt their experience, expertise and enthusiasm for sport will benefit SportWest and the entire industry.
Now that Steve and Fran are on board, Matt Bamford has transitioned into his new role as our Member and Partnership Manager. I strongly encourage members to engage with Matt as he will be our eyes and ears on the ground and will ensure we know the issues affecting you and your members.
This week, SportWest hosted representatives from around 25 members who participated in a Child Safeguarding discussion.
While SportWest has historically lead industry support on this matter, feedback suggested there is a strong need for SportWest to work with government agencies to continue to provide this support and where possible, increase support available to members and clubs.
Thank you to those who took part and provided the feedback. We will now look to develop an approach and appropriate resourcing in this area to benefit you.
Over the past six months, we have been leading a mental health and wellbeing project to further understand the critical role sporting clubs play for the community when it comes to mental health and wellbeing. The project has been a partnership between Healthway, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Mental Health Commission, WA Association for Mental Health and WA Local Government Association.
We want to take this opportunity to thank the State sporting associations and clubs who assisted in the extensive research undertaken. It has showed that sporting clubs are often on the frontline when it comes to dealing with mental health challenges. We are currently finalising the final report and recommendations which we believe will assist the sport industry in this important area.
Some you may have heard that SportWest is now working on creating a home for the administration of sport – a SportsHQ.
Based on a Sports Lotteries House-model, we are now developing detailed plans to accommodate a number of sporting organisations under one roof. The potential benefits of collaboration and shared resources are endless and it will be a significant game changer for the industry. At this stage, it looks like a plan will be in place towards the end of the year.
In the meantime, if your sport is interested in discussing a potential relocation to SportsHQ, please contact with me.
Unfortunately, it appears COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon and the impact it is having on sport is immense, particularly at elite, national and international level. Fingers crossed WA remains COVID-free as this year’s lockdowns have already affected community sport enough.
To all of you working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure your sport complies to restriction changes, making changing to fixtures and logistics and assisting your clubs and members with their enquiries, thank you for your efforts to keep sport running.
Matt Fulton
Chief Executive Officer
SportWest
