Page 426 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 18 February 2020
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In a sporting context, the activities undertaken by volunteers range from administration to fundraising, coaching, serving food and running canteens, helping with gardening and maintenance, transportation, mentoring juniors; the list goes on. Sport benefits significantly from the input of volunteers. In fact sports organisations rely heavily on volunteers to provide services for their members. Research has proven that sport volunteers are key to the success and long-term sustainability of sporting clubs, organisations and events. Without this contribution many sports organisations or individual clubs could not exist.
Importantly, voluntary work also helps to develop and reinforce social networks and cohesion with communities. This is the reason that volunteering features so heavily in the Canberra Liberals’ sport and recreation policy booklet “Find your game”. “Find your game” is a coordinated approach to providing more opportunities to increase grassroots participation and to grow sport and recreation in the ACT. Whilst the strategic framework within “Find your game” has a focus on increasing participation for groups such as seniors, females, people with disability, children and young people, this is not just in terms of playing; this also includes volunteers.
That is why we have specific initiatives within this policy document that aim to support the important work of volunteers. The local sporting heroes grants are specifically aimed at helping those who help to keep our clubs running: volunteers, referees, coaches and committee members. We know that this program will make a difference to local clubs and associations.
I refer also to the recreation matters initiative, which recognises the importance of the various recreation groups that operate right across our community. These include hiking and walking groups, rock climbing, cycling, orienteering, and water sports like kayaking, canoeing and waterskiing.
There are other activities that are growing: eSports, Rubik’s cube clubs, parkour and free running. These are really appealing to young people and to those who have not been attracted to traditional sports. That is why the Canberra Liberals have a policy aimed at supporting these groups, because we recognise the benefit of being involved in these activities.
We know that for every dollar invested in sport and recreation, you can reap a $7 return in terms of health and wellbeing benefits. This is a significant return on investment, along with the numerous benefits that you cannot quantify, the social engagement, sense of belonging, community building and so much more.
I am pleased that we get some time in this place to reflect on and acknowledge the importance of volunteers. I am confident that the Canberra Liberals’ sport and recreation policy “Find your game” recognises this role as being vital to the development of sport and recreation in the ACT. I look forward to working with local sport and recreation groups over the coming months to announce more detail on the programs and initiatives we have to support those in our community who do so much for others.
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