Wednesday, 1 November 2023

Adjournment

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (17:49): I move:

That the house do now adjourn.

Boroondara Netball Association

John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (17:49): (556) My adjournment is for the Minister for Community Sport Minister Spence. I request that the minister visit Boroondara Netball Association with me. Recently I met with the Canterbury Netball Club president Judi Wittingslow. Canterbury is a fantastic local club at the heart of my electorate in Hawthorn, which I know dearly misses their former hardworking Labor member John Kennedy. Canterbury’s story is remarkable. In 2019 just before the pandemic began, three friends, Judi, Gayle and Danielle, created the club to offer athletes of all ages the opportunity to develop their netball skills. Since then the club has only gone from strength to strength. They are part of the Boroondara Netball Association located at Boroondara Netball Centre in Macleay Park, Balwyn North. Since opening in 2005 Boroondara’s membership has grown to over 3800 players, coaches, umpires and admin staff, and that means over 200 school and community teams play there.

We know that netball is a great way for women to get involved in sport and be physically active, and I should know – my five daughters all played netball. Some of my favourite memories are on the weekend watching them play and compete. That is why I am so proud to be a member of a government that supports women in sport, from the 70 recipients who undertook a range of professional development and training through the 2023–24 Change Our Game professional development scholarships program to the 2023–24 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund backed up by $5 million in this year’s budget – and a reminder to my community that applications close for grants from this fund on 13 December. In September the minister launched the 2023–24 Change Our Game research grants program, providing grants of up to $25,000 in a program to assist university researchers in finding ways for women and girls to participate in sport and recreation. We know the benefit that sport provides to our community, our society and our mental and physical health. A 2020 report by Sport and Recreation Victoria found that there is a $7 billion benefit to our state thanks to our community sport and recreation infrastructure. As the minister said:

Sport is the lifeblood of many communities and all Victorians deserve access to quality change rooms, grounds and playgrounds regardless of their age, gender, ability or where they live.

Since 2014 we have invested more than $1.6 billion in community sport and recreation infrastructure, and we are not stopping. The recently released Fair Access Policy Roadmap provides a pathway to ensure women and girls have the facilities they need for equal access to community sports infrastructure. That is why I know my community would greatly appreciate the minister coming down to chat with the players and volunteers who make community sport work.