Members Statement - Sandy All-Abilities Program

MEMBERS STATEMENT

‘SANDY ALL-ABILITIES PROGRAM’.

Thursday, 14 October 2021.

Mr NEWBURY (Brighton):

Bayside-based netball association Sandringham and District Netball Association delivers an award-winning program and inspires young people of all abilities.

The association founded the Sandy all-abilities program in 2018. The program is led by Emily Higgins and Kris Pierce, two community advocates who have shown leadership in so many facets of bayside life.

As the two said on founding the program: ‘We wanted it to be accessible and inclusive of everyone so that we could set the foundations for a strong program culture from the beginning’.

Week in, week out, young girls donate their time to couch the program. As Emily described: ‘These girls just “got” the program from the beginning. They coach these kids just like they would coach everyone else. They teach them the fundamentals of skill development, positioning, teamwork and provide a level playing field for all netballers of all abilities’.

There is now a junior and senior all-abilities offering. And to add to their inclusive program, the team have also created an eight-part free video resource through the Netfit app—an app founded by Sarah Wall.

My warmest congratulations to Emily, Kris and Sarah on the incredible leadership they have shown with the all-abilities program.