Bowls WA rolling out inclusive sport programs
Bowls WA rolling out inclusive sport programs
Bowls WA is taking a team of bowlers from Fremantle, Scarborough and Alexander Heights to the Disability Sport Australia Multibowl Championships in October, thanks to the Inclusive Sports Funding Scheme.
The event is being held at the Musgrave Bowling Club on the Gold Coast from 11 to 16 October.
Bowls WA is one of 19 State Sporting Associations who receive funding through the Inclusive Sports Funding Scheme, and have been implementing programs for people with a disability since 2009.
Funding from the scheme can go directly towards employing an Inclusion Officer to create programs to gain involvement from minority groups in the community.
Bowls WA Inclusion Officer Denise McMillan has created various programs for people with a disability to be involved in bowls.
Ms McMillan said she had people say to her that they were ready to give up bowls before they found out there were opportunities for them.
“Some people bowled before they became disabled and quit shortly after as they thought there were no pathways for them to continue playing with their disability,” Ms McMillan said.
“It is very empowering for them to be able to come and play the sport with other people with disabilities and compete well.
“Sustainability of inclusion programs like these are heavily reliant on people behind the scenes to drive it.”
Bowls WA provides for groups with all types of disabilities including deaf and blind, people with physical, mental or intellectual disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse and the Aboriginal community.
Bowls WA achieved a Commendation in the Community Participation category of the Sport and Recreation Industry Awards last year due to Ms McMillan implementing activities such as the Bowlability Program, classes with Inclusion WA, Senses fundraisers, and wheelchair sports.
Another special event for the bowlers was the State Multi Disability Lawn Bowls Championships which was hosted by the Kardinya Bowls Club in April this year.
Over the past 10 years the TAB has provided more than $30million to the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) to invest in community based programs across WA. One of the various programs DSR directs these funds into is the Inclusive Sports Funding Scheme.
Racing and Wagering WA Chief Executive Officer Richard Burt said the TAB is proud to have been supporting important WA sport programs and organisations alongside DSR.
“The TAB funding supports a range of projects across the State and funds vital sports and recreation representative organisations such as the WA Sports Federation and Parks and Leisure Australia,” Mr Burt said.
“In 2015 the TAB contribution to the Department of Sport and Recreation will total nearly $4.5million.
“Profits from the TAB are helping to ensure the sustainability and growth of our sporting industry for the social and economic benefit of WA.”
Over $2million has gone towards the Inclusive Sports Funding Scheme from the TAB funding since 2009.
Community TAB