2016 Victorian Inclusion Forum a Huge Success

On Friday 12th August 2016, Sport Inclusion Australia hosted an Inclusion Forum at Athletics Australia and Athletics Victoria’s head office in Albert Park. Victorian State Sport Associations and National Sport Organisations came together to engage in an afternoon focused on the development of inclusion in sport. With 47 attendees on the day, representing 16 sports (list of sports shown below), it was fantastic to see such a great representation from the sector, a clear indication of the demand and interest in building capacity for inclusion in sport.

PresenterCHamilton

The forum involved three presentations from individuals with a variety of expertise in the area. Firstly, Professor Jan Burns MBE, INAS Head of Eligibility, gave a detailed presentation about the classification system for athletes with an intellectual disability. It was great to hear such a valuable international perspective, clearly highlighting the importance of providing inclusive pathways in sport. The second presentation was provided by Brett Watton, Athletics Australia’s Para-Athletics Development Officer. Brett was able to offer a range of hints and tips for sports to develop their inclusive programs and pathways. He focused on sharing information about inclusion resources and the value of linking national and state practice for successful outcomes. The final presentation came from Christian Hamilton, who represents both Golf Victoria and Golf Australia as National Manager. A collaborative approach to inclusion in sport is a key component of establishing effective inclusive outcomes, and Christian was able to demonstrate that message perfectly.

 

The Forum concluded with a workshop session. In groups of 8, table discussions explored two key issues. Firstly, how do we maximize resources and collaborate between state and national level to achieve inclusive best practice? And secondly, should inclusion and diversity in sport for people with a disability only occur when funding is available? These hot topics generated some fantastic discussion, and it was great to see so much energy and passion in the room.

Sport Inclusion Australia would like to thank all those who participated in this Forum. We will be hosting our next Forum in November in conjunction with our AGM.

Organisations in attendance

Athletics Australia Athletics Victoria INAS Head of Eligibility
Cricket Australia Tennis Victoria Disability Sport & Recreation
Basketball Australia Basketball Victoria Sport and Recreation Victoria
Softball Australia Cricket Victoria Sporting Schools
Golf Australia Bowls Victoria School Sport Victoria
Gymnastics Australia Badminton Victoria Access All Abilities
Hockey Australia Hockey Victoria Rowing Victoria
CAMS Gymnastics Victoria Rugby League
Football Federation Victoria Netball Victoria Touch Football Victoria
Golf Victoria

 

Contact

Jenny Leach, General Manager
jenny.leach@sportinclusionaustralia.org.au
(03) 5762 7494

2016 Victorian Inclusion Forum

Sport Inclusion Australia will be hosting its next Inclusion Forum in Melbourne on Friday 12th August. Victorian State Sport Associations and National Sport Organisations will be invited to attend this session, to learn more about what it means to be an inclusive sport.

One of the Guest speakers will include Professor Jan Burns MBE, an inclusion specialist currently visiting from the UK. Professor Burns is the Head of INAS Eligibility and is in Australia as a Guest Speaker at the International Association for Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IASSID), forum being conducted in Melbourne in 14-19 August. Professor Burns played an instrumental role working with the International Paralympic Committee to develop classification and research which resulted in athletes with an intellectual disability being re-included into the Paralympic Games. We will also have SSA and NSO presentations, as well as the usual opportunity to engage in a facilitated networking session.

2016 Victorian Inclusion Forum
Friday 12th August 2016 

at

Athletics Australia Head Office
Cathy Freeman Room
Ground Floor, Athletics House
31 Aughtie Drive
Albert Park, VIC, 3206 

For

Victorian State Sport Associations and
Victorian based National Sport Organisations

Contact
Please contact Jenny Leach at Sport Inclusion Australia for further information:

Jenny.leach@sportinclusionaustralia.org.au

Oceania Melanesian Regional Athletics Championships 2016

OceaniaAths

Congratulations to Tom Burrows (QLD), Andre Rivetts (QLD) and Blake Carr (NSW) on their selection in the Australian team to contest the Oceania Melaneasian Athletics Championships in Suva from 7-9 July. This will be Tom’s third Australian team having competed at the Inas World Athletics Championships in Prague (2013) and Guaranda, Ecuador (2015). Tom will compete in the 200m while Blake and Andre are making their debut. Blake in the 100m and 200m and Andre in the Javelin.

Nowra Gala Regatta Results

The Gala Regatta was conducted from 18-19 Feb 2016 at the Nowra Community Sailing Club in the Shoalhaven River, NSW. This was the first sailing regatta to utilise the INAS classification process. To be eligible to compete sailors needed to be on the Inas Master List, or be eligible to be on the Provisional Master List. Racing was conducted by a Yachting Australia accredited National Race Officer under the International Rules of Racing. There were ten entrants, including an enthusiastic team from Hong Kong who unfortunately were unable to be assessed in their homeland prior to travelling to Australia. The Gala Regatta was a two day event with coaching and practise racing on Thursday conducted by Terry Peek who has much experience coaching sailors with an intellectual disability. On Friday five races were scheduled in each division.

Division 1 solo (Hansa 2.3)
The experience of the four sailors in this division ranged from novice to vast sailing experience. Allister Peek of ACT won each race and showed great sportsmanship in assisting the other sailors. The other sailors in this division gained a great deal of experience for following regattas.
Div 1 Results
1 Allister Peek – ACT
2 Nathaniel Quan – Dobroyd
3 Thomas Drivas – Shoalhaven

Division 2 2-Person: 2 Inas sailors (Hansa 303)
As there was only one entry for this division, Melissa Saxby and Alsye Nelson sailed in division 3.

Division 3 2-Person: 1 Inas sailor + 1 companion sailor (Hansa 303)
This division is to support sailors who are not yet confident to sail solo or with another sailor so they are accompanied by an able bodied companion sailor. In this division three teams from Hong Kong competed, together with two teams from Australia. The 6th team was Melissa and Alsye, 2 sailors together. They achieved a commendable 2nd place, winning over the other teams with able bodied companion sailors.
Div 3 Results
1 Greg Carruthers / Chau Yen Fai – Hong Kong
2 Melissa Saxby / Alsye Nelson – Port Stephens & Pittwater
3 Alexandra Jones / Mike Rawbone – Hong Kong

All competitors then competed in the NSW Hansa Championships which was an open event for sailors of all abilities.

sailing2

2016 Australian Tennis Championships

The 2016 Australian Tennis Championships conducted by Tennis Australia and supported by Lord’s Taverners Australia, Victorian Branch and Sport Inclusion Australia will commence in Melbourne this Wednesday 27th January. This year will see Australia’s Kelly Wren Inas Number 1 female player in the world defending her Singles title for the 19th consecutive year and Archie Graham newly crowned Inas Number 1 Male also back to defend his title after winning the previous three. This event will be fiercely contested again by Australia’s best players and an entrant from Japan and one from United Kingdom. Preliminary rounds to take place at Albert Reserve with finals day at Melbourne Park on Saturday 30th January, which will be very competitive.