Netball in Western Australia is proud to celebrate the first three months of a fruitful partnership with the Gold Industry Group this week.
Announced in April this year, the partnership marked the largest investment in West Australian netball history, and saw the Gold Industry Group become the Principal Partner of Netball WA, an Elite Partner of West Coast Fever and the inaugural Premier Partner of Shooting Stars.
The partnership has impacted the more than 230,000 netball participants around the State, particularly in WA’s regional areas through the roll out of the Regional Office Structure, which has been made sustainable through the partnership.
The Regional Office Structure saw Netball WA employ more than 20 full time staff, which are based across the State in the Wheatbelt-Goldfields, Great Southern, North West, Peel, South West, Midwest-Gascoyne as well as metropolitan staff at the State Netball Centre.
These staff members are responsible for Association visits and servicing, school programs and carnivals, facilities, governance and compliance, coaching, umpiring, player programs and upskilling, Suncorp NetSetGO, Aboriginal Grassroots Sites, NAIDOC Carnivals and a range of other programs and competitions.
The partnership has also seen the Gold Industry Group hold naming rights to the West Australian Netball League (WANL), as well as becoming an Associate Partner of Suncorp NetSetGO in WA, and supporting the Fuel to Go & Play Association Championships and NAIDOC Netball Carnival.
One of the most significant components of the partnership is the Gold Industry Group’s relationship with Indigenous participants of the Shooting Stars regional education program, with funding ensuring the sustainability of the program, as well as providing new opportunities, and a proposed expansion in the Goldfields area.
A number of exciting community projects are currently in the works, including the Grassroots Leadership Camp and Leadership Program for participants across the State scheduled for November, a Scholarship Program, a range of opportunities for Shooting Stars participants, continued advocacy and support of the Gold Industry Group’s Reconciliation Action Plan, expansion of West Coast Fever’s pre season activities into the Goldfields and a proposed NAIDOC Netball Carnival in the Eastern Goldfields.
Netball WA CEO, Simon Taylor, said the partnership had directly impacted the netball community.
“The Gold Industry Group have long been supporters of the West Australian community, and we are both equally proud of our partnership, which has had a transformative effect on netball in Western Australia,” Taylor said.
“Never before has there been an investment of this scale in women’s sport in our State, both at the grassroots and elite, and we’re incredibly proud to walk side by side with the Gold Industry Group to support our respective communities.”
“This partnership is not one that just supports our elite netballers; it is one that is engrained in the fabric of West Australian netball – the more than 230,000 participants across the State, as well as our incredibly successful Shooting Stars program.”
Sentiments echoed by Netball WA General Manager of Community Netball, Liz Booth.
“There’s absolutely no doubt that our partnership with the Gold Industry Group has taken netball to a new level, particularly in our regional areas,” Booth said.
“The role our Regional Officers play in the ongoing development, support, and training of our thousands of participants, coaches and volunteers is unparalleled, and their employment is thanks to our partnership with the Gold Industry Group.”
“The Gold Industry Group’s support of netball in Western Australia will create a lasting impact, particularly in our regional areas, and we’re excited to work together to make today’s vision, tomorrow’s reality.”
Gold Industry Group Vice Chairperson Kelly Carter said it was fantastic to support so many communities at all levels across the State through the partnership.
“Three months into our partnership with Netball WA, Shooting Stars and West Coast Fever it’s humbling to see the impact being realised across the netball community throughout Western Australia,” Carter said.
“The gold industry does touch every part of our State and we are proud to provide more opportunities in regional areas and Perth to more than 230,000 participants, and their friends and families.”
“We are thrilled to work in collaboration with netball in WA to grow and expand the sport.”
Gold Industry Group members supporting the partnership include Gold Fields, Northern Star Resources, Saracen Mineral Holdings, Newcrest Mining, St Barbara Limited, Newmont Australia, AngloGold Ashanti Australia, Gold Road Resources, and Ramelius Resources.
