Written by Amelia Barnes
The 2023 Inclusive Netball Community of the Year Award is presented by RACV
With its strong mixed gender participation base, various positions on court, and modified programs available for players of different ages and abilities, netball has the power to be one of the most inclusive sports.
Wyndham Netball Association (WNA) recognises this and has made significant strides over the past 12 months to introduce more people from far and wide to the sport, earning the association the title of Inclusive Netball Community of the Year in the 2023 Netball Victoria Community Awards.
Despite the COVID pandemic driving migration away from Victoria, the south western Melbourne area of Wyndham was the fastest growing region in Australia from 2019 to 2022.
Following lockdowns, Wyndham Netball Association saw an opportunity to bring the community back together through netball. This was important to re-engage lapsed participants in the sport and attract new interest among members of the community.
The association’s focus turned to those who may not be familiar with netball, or had not had the opportunity to play before, who represent a significant proportion of the region’s population. Over 17 per cent of the region’s current residents were born in India, and a non-English language is used in over 55 per cent of households.
“If Wyndham Netball Association doesn’t reach out to the multicultural community, we are omitting a growing and important part of our community,” said Phil Morley, president of WNA.
Morley had read about the Doorstep Sport Club program in the UK that exists to bridge the sporting inequality gap for young people from low-income and underserved communities.
He saw an opportunity to do something similar with Wyndham Netball Association, working with local schools and Netball Victoria to bring free netball clinics to participants' doorsteps.
Morley explained, “The school holiday clinics focused on introducing netball within a particular subdivision/area of Wyndham where there was a high concentration of new residents, with many of these being from multicultural ‘non-netball’ origins.
“Offering the program on their doorstep, through a local school, made the clinics more accessible.”
Indeed, WNA saw higher participation rates for clinics hosted in developing estates than those held at their home ground of Eagle Stadium in Werribee. “One club recruited almost an entire team from one of these clinics,” said Morley.
Around 1200 students across 12 local schools attended these free school holiday clinics, conducted in association with Netball Victoria through the Positive Netball Program.
The clinics focused on students from grades five to seven, providing them with an introduction to netball skills, court layout, and rules all with a fun objective.
Another potential growth area identified by WNA was older members of the community, or those unable to play the traditionally high-impact sport.
Again, Morley had read about the growing interest in Walking Netball – a modified version of the traditional game that allows participation regardless of age, fitness level, ability, or previous netball experience – so WNA began its own adult program.
In 2023, the association held 34 Walking Netball sessions participated in by a total of 104 individuals.
The initiative proved most popular with women over the age of 35 who are “very enthusiastic to continue playing the sport, or learn the sport, in a low-impact, friendly, non-competitive environment,” Morley said.
Among players were those returning to the sport after significant injury, with one stating, “Walking Netball represents what sport should be about: camaraderie, community and connection.”
Last but not least, WNA launched an All Abilities youth program in 2023 catering to players with an intellectual disability.
Fourteen participants took part in the inaugural 11-week program, launched with the support of Sport4All and the Wyndham Disability Services Network.
Morley enjoys seeing friendships forming between players, and the happiness it provides both them and their parents. “Parents are happy that their children are included in a mainstream activity,” he said.
Both Walking Netball and the All Abilities youth program will continue at Wyndham Netball Association in 2024.
The association will continue expanding and diversifying its offerings to maximise the individual and community benefits of netball.
“I think the sport enables a great environment: fun, safe, supportive, positive, life skills, and small numbers needed to create a team,” said Morley.
“Congratulations to every association and club that is doing something to include more and different people through netball. And if you’re not, find some way to do so.”
Find out more about inclusive netball programs
