A sporting chance for kids out west

This article appears in the November 2009 edition of Sportshorts.

Dubbo-based Development Officer Katrina Hausia spreads the word about sport to people in remote and rural communities.

No day in the office is ever the same for Sport and Recreation Development Officer Katrina Hausia.

“My role is to create more opportunities for people to participate in sport, especially in the Far West of the state,” says Katrina.

“It’s varied. One day I can be running a sport management course and organising sporting clinics and the next I am coordinating Swimsafe learn-to-swim classes – anywhere from Broken Hill to Goodooga and in between!

“Most importantly, I help local communities get access to and run sport in their area.”

A key facet of Katrina’s work is to help people tap into assistance from peak sporting bodies. “The Western Tour program that I put together is a good example,” says Katrina. “I contract development officers from netball, basketball, tennis and golf to go on week-long tours into remote schools and deliver clinics. I organise the schools, times, transport and accommodation for them for their visits. It’s a great way to make contacts in these communities, which helps other areas of my work.”

That other work includes organising three netball gala days in communities in the Barwon Darling region. “This year I held one in Goodooga in July, Brewarrina in August and Walgett in September. I invite towns such as Goodooga, Lightning Ridge, Walgett, Coonamble, Gulargambone, Bourke, Warren, Brewarrina and Collarenebri to take part. Community contacts in each town help me organise teams and venues. Then we bus in up to 200 girls, women and spectators to each venue for the day. I do all the draws, which can be up to three or four for one day, and provide bibs, balls, prizes and umpires from Dubbo.

It gives people in these communities the opportunity to play in a structured netball competition, and they love it. I love it – it’s my favourite part of the job!”

Katrina’s networking and organisational talents have also contributed to the setting up of the Barwon Darling Sports Committee which has representatives from Sport and Recreation, netball, Country Rugby League and other sports and community organisations such as the Murdi Paaki Aboriginal Young Leaders Project. This regional leadership development program for Aboriginal young people aims to increase their knowledge and skills in community governance which will lead to more of them taking on roles in decision making bodies.

“The Barwon Darling Sports Committee will help coordinate transport and volunteers from the community and help establish other, smaller committees in each town,” says Katrina. “The ultimate aim is for these to take ownership of their community’s sport needs. For example, through such coordination we hope to have the netball and football played on the same day in the same towns so parents can watch both girls and boys play sport and cut down on the need to drive vast distances.”

Three times a week Katrina also delivers an Active After-schools Communities program and another circus skills and exercise program called IKI Magic, via a satellite feed to remote areas.

“My role is to provide school aged kids with a fun sporting program,” says Katrina. “These satellite programs give kids access to sport and physical activity they would otherwise not have. Because my stuff is live, all my mistakes and funny bits are broadcast – kids love it and I enjoy having a good laugh at myself.”

Technology plays a big part in reaching out to young people in the state’s Far West. “The broadcast is straight from Dubbo TAFE into kids’ homes via their computers.

Most of the satellite kids live on remote properties hundreds of kilometres from any town or city.

“Kids in the Far West are extremely isolated and rarely have opportunities to take part in a structured program or develop physical skills. If there is a special event such as the Olympics. I will design a program based around that. It adds another element to their education.”

Katrina’s dream is to see sporting associations and clubs grow in communities such as Walgett, Goodooga, Bourke and the many other towns in the region she services.

“This would give kids pathways and hobbies to explore and just maybe keep them out of trouble and help them in school,” she says.

”Sport and being physically active contributes so much to young people – keeping them healthy and giving them positive life experiences and skills. I love playing my part in delivering these opportunities!”

More information

Katrina Hausia
Sport and Recreation
katrina.hausia@communities.nsw.gov.au