Netball Queensland’s Diamond Spirit program is set to benefit considerably from a new multi-year partnership with Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld), announced today as part of Netball Queensland’s acknowledgement of Close the Gap Day.
This partnership will see close to half a million dollars invested into the program over the next two years.
The Diamond Spirit program uses netball to engage, empower and educate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in remote and regional communities across Queensland.
Netball Queensland CEO Kate Davies said she is looking forward to seeing more lives be transformed with the help of the partnership.
“Diamond Spirit is an amazing program and the tangible community benefits are shaping lives across Queensland. It is wonderful to know they will be able to continue to do so for years to come,” Davies said.
“It is also great to partner with an incredible and innovative organisation like Health and Wellbeing Queensland to make this happen.”
Health and Wellbeing Queensland Chief Executive, Dr Robyn Littlewood echoed Davies’ thoughts, confident the ‘significant investment’ of $400,000 over two years would help Diamond Spirit grow its footprint in remote and regional Queensland.
“It’s so important we create culturally supportive and safe opportunities for our First Nations girls and women to play sport, understand the importance of health and wellbeing, and keep involved in sport as they grow,” Dr Littlewood said.
“We know adolescent First Nations girls have lower levels of participation in organised sport than boys of their age, and lower participation than non-Indigenous girls and boys. Participating in sport is not just about playing the sport, it is also about the community it builds, and the opportunities it can bring.
“The Diamond Spirit program provides a supportive pathway for girls to get active through netball and the benefits reach beyond the court too. Participants are empowered to stay healthy and achieve their full potential in the classroom and in their future careers.”
Diamond Spirit, Diversity and Inclusion Manager Chenoa Stockton highlighted specific ways the partnership would allow the programme to flourish.
“This will provide our Diamond Spirit team with additional opportunities to deliver health, social and educational outcomes to First Nations women and girls across Queensland,” Stockton said.
“This will also provide opportunities to those who live rural and regionally to engage in, possibly their first game of netball.
“Who knows what incredible athletes emerge in the future due to this partnership.”
The Diamond Spirit program currently operates across Far North Queensland including the lower Gulf and Cape regions, as well as through two dedicated school sites in Cairns and Ipswich.
