Issue number 8 - 10 September 2007

A few months ago, in issue number five of  Actively in Touch, we asked our readers to complete a short survey to help us evaluate how effective this newsletter is in delivering the information you need at a time when you need it.

Thank you to those people that took a few minutes out of their day to provide us with some thoughtful and insightful comments.

Unfortunately, the number of responses we received was less than we would have hoped for. So we’re giving it a second try.

The survey link has been included again in the email notification for your convenience. If you have come across our newsletter while browsing our website and wish to respond to the survey, it can be accessed at http://survey.development.tas.gov.au/AiTv2/

This time around we are offering every person who fills out the survey a chance to win two complimentary tickets valued at $85 each to the 2007 Tasmanian Sports Star Awards gala dinner to be held on Friday 14 March 2008.

Those who complete the survey will also be in with a chance to win one of 50 copies of the SRT commissioned publication Sporting Island: a history of sport and recreation in Tasmania.

To enter into the draw to win one of these two great prizes, simply fill out a survey, press submit and then send an email with the subject ‘AiT survey promotion’ to sportrec@development.tas.gov.au. Please include your name, your subscription email address and a mailing address.

Winners of the complimentary tickets and Sporting Island books will receive notification by mail in early November 2007.

We really appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey and giving us the information we need to improve this newsletter and make it an even greater resource for you and our other readers.

The survey will be open until Friday 2 November 2007.

Liz Jack

2008 State Grants Program is now open

Closes Friday 28 September 2007

SRT’s State Grants Program is now open for applications.

The program provides grants of up to $50 000 per applicant.

In 2007, 33 organisations received $772 700 to help meet the costs associated with fostering participation in Tasmania.

These organisations demonstrated their capacity to be innovative and professional in the way they deliver their services to Tasmanians.

Funding received under the State Grants Program can be used by organisations to improve the way they operate, the services they provide and the opportunities they create for more Tasmanians to participate in sport and recreation.

Organisations that received funding last year included:

• Football Federation Tasmania
• Bowls Tasmania
• Fitness Tasmania.

To be eligible for the program, an organisation must be recognised by affiliates (for example, clubs or associations) as the peak body for a sport or recreation activity in the state, or they must be an organisation that provides specific services, such as education or safety improvement, across the state.

The State Grants Program closes on Friday 28 September 2007.

To find out more about this program, or to obtain a copy of the application form, please visit Sport and Recreation Tasmania’s website at http://www.development.tas.gov.au/
sportrec/grants or call 1800 252 476.

The inaugural Positive Ageing Small Grants Program is now open

Closes Monday 8 October 2007

The Positive Ageing Small Grants Program is designed to help communities to empower seniors to stay active and achieve the level of independence that older Tasmanians desire.

This program is part of the state government’s Plan for Positive Ageing – Second Five Year Plan.

The program will support projects that:

• showcase older Tasmanians’ talents, contributions and achievements
• promote a positive image of older Tasmanians in the planning and development of activities
• acknowledge the common interests of older Tasmanians as well as their diverse backgrounds and circumstances
• enable older Tasmanians to express their ideas to be heard.

Applications for the Positive Ageing Small Grants Program close at 5pm on Monday 8 October 2007.

For a copy of the grant guidelines please visit http://www.seniors.tas.gov.au or to have a hard copy posted to you contact the Seniors Bureau on 1300 13 55 13 or at seniors@dpac.tas.gov.au

Foster’s Community Grants

Various amounts available

Closes Wednesday 19 September 2007

Community grants are being offered by the Foster’s Group as part of their community sponsorship initiatives within the Foster’s in the Community framework. The grants support high-quality, charitable and community outcomes by offering funding to genuine, not-for-profit groups and charities.

For further information, please visit http://www.fosters.com.au/about/
fosterscommunitygrants.htm

Coaching Principles courses available

The Training and Business Consortium will be running level-one and level-two Coaching Principles courses from October through to November.

These courses provide introductory information on the sport sciences.  This is the theoretical component required in order to become an accredited coach through the Australian Sports Commission's National Coaching Accreditation Scheme. They are also suitable for people with an interest in learning more about sport.

Level 1 Coaching Principles course

When:
Sunday 11 November 2007
9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Where:
Sport and Recreation House
1 Self’s Point Road
Cornelian Bay, Hobart

Cost: 
$120 per person

Level 2 Coaching Principles course

When:
Sundays through October and November 2007 – starting 7 October to 4 November

Where:
Sport and Recreation House
1 Self’s Point Road
Cornelian Bay, Hobart

Cost:
$275 per person
(includes workbooks, marking and certification)

For further details, please contact Marina on (03) 6228 0355 or email info@tandbc.com.au

LATEST NEWS

Help play a part in suicide prevention

Suicide is a major issue everywhere.  Many more Tasmanians die from suicide than from road accidents. And when it happens, it affects the entire community.

The Tasmanian Suicide Prevention Steering Committee is conducting a statewide consultation into suicide prevention and you are invited to contribute.

There are varying ways for you to be able to participate. These include:

• completing an on-line survey at
  http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/agency/
  pro/suicideprevention/consultation.php

• preparing a written submission - as outlined on the consultation website (listed above)
• attending one of the upcoming community forums, which will be promoted in local press and listed on the above web page (which is regularly updated).

The closing date for responses to the online survey, written submission and return of the survey is 10 September 2007.  The community forums, however, will be occurring around the state between July and December 2007.

For further information, please contact Janette Papps on (03) 6230 7784 or 0418 123 182 or at janette.papps@dhhs.tas.gov.au

Forum discusses alcohol abuse and illicit drug use in sport

In the first of a series of forums for key sporting personnel to stimulate informed debate about issues impacting on the sector in Tasmania, the effects of alcohol abuse and illicit drug use on sport was a recent topic of conversation.

Chaired by SRT Director, Elizabeth Jack, the forum brought together a number of representatives from key sporting organisations, including the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, AFL Tasmania, the Tasmanian Cricket Association, Hockey Tasmania, the Tasmanian Netball Association and Football Federation Tasmania.

" Because SRT recognises that alcohol abuse and the use of illicit drugs is a serious issue we wanted to provide an opportunity for state sporting organisations and commonwealth and state government representatives to talk about how we can take a leadership role in dealing with this issue in Tasmania," Ms Jack said.

“This forum was just the first step in having a coordinated approach to combat the effect that alcohol abuse and illicit drug use is already having on the sporting sector.

“While the outcomes of our discussions were valuable in helping us to develop a better understanding of the issues and work towards creating effective strategies to deal with those issues, it is important to recognise what sports and governments are already doing in this area.

"This includes the provision of relevant codes of conduct, policies and education programs for sports participants."

The forum – entitled Alcohol Abuse and Illicit Drugs, the Role of Sport – focused on:

• the prevalence and use of alcohol and illicit drugs in the community and the scale of the issue in Tasmania
• the role of the state government and Sport and Recreation Tasmania
• the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority’s role in deterrence, detection and enforcement in relation to illicit drugs
• the role state sporting organisations play in education, policy development, implementation and enforcement
• the need for consistent policies and strategies across sports at the state level.

Any clubs or individuals needing help to address issues such as these should contact Sport and Recreation Tasmania on 1800 252 476.

Recreation planning course – the first in Australia

Australia’s first ever training course in recreation planning (or so we believe) began here in Tasmania in July 2006.

An initiative of the state government through Sport and Recreation Tasmania, the course is accredited as an Advanced Diploma in Business Management - Recreation Planning, through the National Business Institute of Australia.

The course, designed and delivered by Dr Ken Marriott of HM Leisure Planning Pty Ltd, took a group of 16 officers working in sport and recreation for state and local government from across Australia through all aspects of contemporary recreation planning.

With four workshops over six months, the program’s inaugural participants included representatives from the Launceston City Council, Burnie City Council, Hobart City Council, Sport and Recreation NSW, Sport and Recreation ACT and Sport and Recreation Tasmania.

Director of Sport and Recreation Tasmania, Elizabeth Jack said recreation planning is essential to ensure that we have the right mix of sport and recreation opportunities to meet the needs of our communities now and into the future.

“We need to provide those people involved in planning for recreation with the knowledge to ensure we get the planning process right.

“I’m very proud that we are leading the way to develop recreation planning expertise within state and local government in Australia.

“This course is an exciting development for Australian sport and recreation and a great achievement for Sport and Recreation Tasmania.”

Course participants completed assignments specific to their existing work, which means that a number of planning projects throughout Tasmania will directly benefit from the course.

Several participants also had the opportunity to attend a two-day study tour of leisure and recreation venues and projects in Victoria.

One presentation that particularly stood out on the Victorian tour was from the City of Melbourne. Through the Playgrounds and Recreation Association of Victoria, the council has developed the Good Play Space Guide, an innovative guide to help local councils provide better play spaces.

The guide is a one-stop resource that provides advice on how to improve the quality and accessibility of play spaces through planning, design, construction, maintenance and management.

“Sharing ideas and initiatives between states and sectors in Australia is one way we can work together to achieve smart and sustainable development of sport and recreation nation-wide,” Ms Jack said.

To find out more, please contact Sport and Recreation Tasmania on 1800 252 476 or at sportrec@development.tas.gov.au

The Good Play Space Guide: “I can play too”.

Play helps children develop new skills, such as problem solving, creativity, independence and self-awareness, and encourages kids to become more active and play with other children.

The Good Play Space Guide helps local councils maximise the benefits of play space to the local community.

Developed by the Department of Victorian Communities and the Playgrounds and Recreation Association of Victoria, the guide is a valuable resource that assists local councils and other key stakeholders to improve the quality and accessibility of play spaces.

It also provides advice on the planning, design, construction, maintenance and management of play spaces.

The Good Play Space Guide has been informed by extensive research, providing the best recommendations for play spaces.

It highlights the importance of understanding the nature and function of play space. Instead of focussing on standards for play equipment, this guide establishes modern principles for play space based on social participation and inclusion, safety, the developmental needs of the child, access to nature and diversity of challenge.

For an electronic copy of the guide, please see Sport and Recreation Victoria’s website at www.sport.vic.gov.au or contact the Department of Victorian Communities for hard copies of the report.

The Playgrounds and Recreation Association of Victoria contact details are available on their website at www.prav.asn.au.

Friday 5 October is Walk to Work Day

Friday 5 October is all about walking...

The Pedestrian Council of Australia is encouraging all Australians to leave the car at home and to walk to work. Supported by all Australian states and territories, the aim of the initiative is to promote better health, cleaner air, less traffic and improved transport.  

So get your sandshoes on and plan out a path from home to work, and prepare yourself.

Some ways in which you can incorporate walking into your working day are to:

• use public transport and get off the bus a few stops earlier to walk the rest of the way
• take a half-hour walk at lunch time
• use the stairs instead of the lifts where possible
• if you have to drive, leave the car at least a kilometre from your destination and walk the rest of the way.

For further information, please visit www.walk.com.au 

2008 TIS scholarships up for grabs

Applications close 5.00 pm Friday 28 September 2007

The Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) invites applications for the 2008 scholarship year from:

• individual athletes registered with national or state sporting organisations for individual scholarships
• state sporting organisations for elite development squads.

Application forms and further details are available on the TIS website at http://www.tis.tas.gov.au

Applications may also be obtained from the TIS and Sport and Recreation Tasmania (SRT) offices at:

NORTH
TIS
Silverdome Complex
Oakden Road
PROSPECT
Telephone: (03) 6336 2202

SOUTH
SRT
Level 4
ANZ Building
22 Elizabeth Street
HOBART
Telephone: 1800 252 476

NORTH WEST
SRT
2^nd  Floor
Harris Building
49 Cattley Street
BURNIE
Telephone: (03) 6434 6255

The Tasmanian Diving Association

The Tasmanian Diving Association (TDA) has again demonstrated its willingness and capacity to organise major events for the sport here in Tasmania.

Recently the association, in partnership with Swimming Tasmania and the Hobart Aquatic Centre, successfully hosted the National All Schools Diving and Swimming Championships over three full days, 9 and 11 to 12 August 2007.

The diving competition involved 135 springboard and platform divers from all over Australia. Staging of the 24 diving events was made possible by SRT's recent financial support towards the upgrade of all springboards at the centre. Tasmanian divers performed extremely well, winning seven medals, which exceeded the local clubs’ expectations.

Photo courtesy of the Tasmanian Diving Association

Event convenor, Lisa Verrier, has calculated that organising the event has absorbed over 300 hours of volunteer time. This is a significant commitment given that other states have funded resources at their disposal to fulfil the same expectations.

Feedback from people visiting from interstate has been particularly positive in terms of how effectively the competition was managed and how the friendly nature of the whole experience impacted on divers, coaches and their families and managers.

The competition, besides showcasing high‑quality diving, also delivered economic benefits to the local area, as nearby retail and hospitality businesses welcomed visitors. Many families spent a few more days visiting snow-capped Mount Wellington, the Huon Valley and Tahune airwalk, to mention a few.

This competition provided an opportunity for talented Tasmanian divers to compete at a national level in the early stages of their diving careers, encouraging them to aspire to the level of performance required to compete at the 2008 National Age Championships, which are to be held at the Hobart Aquatic Centre in April.

The Hobart Springboard Diving Club in the south and the Launceston Springboard Diving Club in the north cater for all levels of diving, ranging from beginner and recreational divers through to state, national age and elite junior divers.

Nationally accredited coaches, judges and officials, as well as dedicated parents and friends, work hard together to ensure the diving experience for all athletes is a positive and enjoyable one and that each diver can achieve their best at their own level.

If any parent is interested in their child trying out diving, please visit the TDA website at www.tasmaniandiving.org.au or contact Lisa Verrier on 0419 007 577 or at verrier@netspace.net.au

Anti-doping publications available from ASADA

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) has recently made a series of publications available to athletes and their support staff free-of-charge via the internet.

Electronic versions of the publications, including the ASADA Handbook and ASADA Control Guide can be downloaded at http://www.asada.gov.au/resources/
publications/index.htm

Hard copies can also be purchased by calling the ASADA Anti-Doping Hotline on 1800 020 506.

2007 Medibank Private Active Towns Awards – nominations are closed

The nominiation period for this year’s Medibank Private Active Towns Awards is now closed.  One of the really pleasing things about this year’s nominations is that they cover a great variety of initiatives and come from areas right across the state – from King Island to Port Huon. 

We now look forward to the awards ceremony in Hobart on 9 October 2007, where Minister for Community Development Michelle O’Byrne will announce the winners.

Thank you to all those organisations who continue to support this great initiative that contributes to a healthy, active Tasmania.

Need to get a message out into the sport and recreation sector?

Actively in Touch will do it – for free!

We have seen a major leap in the size of our newsletter readership. In the last 12 months the number of readers has increased by over 400 people. Each newsletter now hits over 550 in-boxes and provides a vital means of communication through the Tasmanian sport and recreation sector.

To have your event or message considered for the next edition, please forward your article — in dot points only — along with a picture or illustration, if appropriate, by close of business Wednesday 26 September 2007 to: sportrec@development.tas.gov.au

Articles should be of a not-for-profit nature and in the interest of the sport and recreation community. No advertising articles will be accepted.

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