PARTNERSHIPS Sport for Development – Pacific Sports Partnerships (PSP) 2020 was the final year of the Pacific Sports Partnerships (PSP) Australia’s flagship sport for development program (which we have been involved with since 2013) and it was extended again from finishing up in June to complete at the end of December 2020. We have continued to utilise the BWF Shuttle Time program as the basis for our PSP activities – to increase levels of regular participation of Pacific Islanders in quality sport activities: Papua New Guinea – inclusion focus – in partnership with Gymnastics our objectives were: • Increased levels of regular participation of Papua New Guineans with disability, in quality sport activities • Improved attitudes towards and increased inclusion of people with disability in Pacific communities • Increased public diplomacy opportunities – good relationship with Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea
The PSP programme has allowed us to increase capacity through engaging staff to deliver, monitor the programme and report; building a larger workforce, by delivering Shuttle Time workshops; delivering in outer islands and rural/ outlying communities; creating partnerships with other sports and local organisations; connection with the Australian High Commission and public diplomacy opportunities. Heartfelt thanks to all PSP staff and volunteers who have put a huge amount of energy into creating social change in their communities throughout the life of the PSP programme – particularly the late ‘Ahosivi Kaitapu, Siosifa Malolo, Lauti Na’aniumotu, Peti Tupouniua, Mary-Jane Sifa and Sione Vainikolo who led PSP in Tonga, and Kinivinagi Karo who established the programme in PNG, along with Nigel Paloa, Vele Karo, Brian Ameua and the Gymnastics Papua New Guinea Federation team. Sport for Development - Team Up In February 2020 Badminton Oceania submitted an initial application for Australia’s new Sport for Development programme. This new phase involved partnering with Aid organisations in an increased collaborative partnership approach.
Tonga – health focus – improving health related behaviors which impact on Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) risk factors, focusing on increasing levels of physical activity: • Increased levels of regular participation of Tongans, including people with disability, in quality sport activities. • Improved health related behaviors of Tongans, which impact on NCD risk factors, focusing on increasing levels of physical activity. • Increased public diplomacy opportunities.
In August we were accepted to a co-design phase for our Inclusive GymBad – PNG proposal, in conjunction with partners Badminton PNG, PNG Gymnastics Federation, Oceania Gymnastics Union 12
