This week has seen a turn of events that I could never have imagined. Across all codes, sport has come to a grinding halt as we grapple with COVID-19. Around the world, countries are going into lockdown as we try to stop the spread.
Can you imagine tabling such a scenario during your 2020 planning sessions last year? People would have called you crazy and yet, we find ourselves with the job of steering our way through this extraordinary situation. Netball is playing its role in containment by suspending our sport – and I thank you all for your cooperation in stopping this virus from spreading.
My heart goes out to the people and families around the world struggling with the many impacts of COVID-19. From the loss of life, to the displacement and isolation and of course the economic impact. Society and businesses around the world are feeling the full effects of potentially the largest economic challenge of our time. And our game is not immune.
This time of year is normally one of our busiest. But sport – and life as we know it – has been suspended. We face the challenge of adapting in the short term, whilst also planning for the recovery. I want to reiterate, it is our absolute intention to be back on court later this year. By acting now, we get back to netball faster. We have a responsibility to guide our game through this challenge.
Facing a situation where we cannot deliver netball programs in our normal way has had a profound impact on our business. We must adapt our business model within this unprecedented environment. We are feeling the same pain of organisations across Australia.
This week, we have had to scale back our operations. This means the majority of our people have been stood down or shifted to reduced hours, leaving a skeleton staff in place. These have been unavoidable decisions but that doesn’t ease anyone’s pain or the anxiety that results in taking this action. We have incredibly dedicated, passionate and hardworking staff. I could not be more proud and grateful for their professionalism and support in getting through this crisis.
Our continuity plan will also see us adapt our business model. We have fast-tracked our digital and technology projects scheduled for launch later this year, releasing our Netball Queensland App ahead of schedule. We must keep our community connected, active and healthy. We will grow the content over time to keep us engaged. It’s netball, but digital!
These steps are part of a business continuity plan, giving us the best chance of remaining sustainable in the short term, and positioning us to quickly recover once the coronavirus begins to pass.
I would like to thank our Clubs and Associations in advance for your understanding as we temporarily transition netball to a digital delivery model. We need your support more than ever. We must be ready and able to get back on court when it is safe to do so. While we have scaled back our workforce, please contact your Delivery Network lead or helpline@netballq.org.au for any questions or support.
Now is the time for us to be truly #NetballUnited. We must come together and take care of each other, as the netball community always has and always will. There are still hurdles ahead of us, and it will no doubt be rocky, but rest assured we will get through this together.
Stay safe and take care.
Catherine Clark
Netball Queensland CEO
