Netball grateful for Australia

By PATRICIA KEAMO
NETBALL Australia and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been hailed for helping develop the sport through the Pacific Women’s Sports Administration programme.
Netball Papua New Guinea president Ulato Avei said there were three initiatives — team up, high performance and official development assistance (ODA) — under an agreement with Netball Australia and the department.
“We are grateful and appreciative of this assistance from DFAT and we look forward to working with Netball Australia,” she told The National last week.
“The challenging initiatives are high performance and ODA.
“Both are timely and greatly needed as the federation is at the stage of implementing reforms to improve the capacity and standard of netball in PNG. “With ODA, we are in the process of recruiting a chief executive and development manager.
“We hope to attract competitive applications to choose from.
“These are key positions that are expected to raise the standard of netball through the high performance initiative, and up-skilling of coaches, umpiring and bench officials.
“The high performance initiative is key to raising the standard of athletes’ performance.
“With the Coronavirus restrictions imposed again, the federation is reviewing its work plan for the initiatives.”
Avei said netball was the biggest female sport in the country, however, funding was limited due to the lack of inclusion in the Government and private sector gender equality policy frameworks.
She said the federation would now focus on delivering structured programmes to gain recognition from the Government and private sector.
“The federation is grateful and we appreciate the assistance of DFAT and we look forward to working closely with Netball Australia,” Avei said.
“I am quietly confident that these programmes will be implemented within budget and on time as prescribed in the agreement.”