NETBALL AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2012 2 SECTION 02 ASC MESSAGE 04 06 08 BOARD CEO 2012 REPORT MESSAGE HIGHLIGHTS 30 COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS SECTION 1 CONTENTS 10 14 16 17 18 FEATURE HIGH RESULTS SQUADS FEATURE MADISON PERFORMANCE INCLUSIVE BROWNE CLUBS OPEN DOORS FOR NEW TALENT 20 28 SPORTS GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT RELATIONS 34 36 41 2012 EVENT CORPORATE AWARDS OPERATIONS SERVICES 42 44 45 BOARD OF ORGANISATIONAL SPONSORS DIRECTORS STRUCTURE / MOS 2 ASC MEssaGE SPORT NOT ONLY INSPIRES AND UNITES, IT ALSO PROMOTES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, COHESION AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES. 3 Mr John Wylie AM Chairman Board of the Australian Sports Commission MessaGE From THE Australian Sports Commission The Australian Sports Commission This means we need to raise the bar Despite recent events that have (ASC) has two core goals — ourselves in everything we do in high impacted upon the integrity of sport, ensuring Australian athletes excel performance sport — our talent it is important to emphasise that our in the international sporting arena, identification and development, commitment to elite international and increasing Australians’ coaching, sports science, use of sporting success will never compromise participation in sport. technology and innovation, and the our commitment to integrity in sport. management and administration Our belief in, and requirement for sports These two clear objectives are mutually structures that support our athletes. to uphold, the values of fair and honest reinforcing — international success It is fundamental to success that we competition is inviolable. inspires Australians to participate set the same standards of excellence in sport, and greater participation Importantly, the ASC is investing and accountability in all of these areas helps nurture our future champions. $120 million this year to promote that we expect of our athletes on Sport not only inspires and unites, grassroots participation in sport competition day. The ASC, which is it also promotes community involvement, throughout Australia and to continue investing a record $170 million this year cohesion and active lifestyles. a suite of successful national in high performance programs, has the programs such as the Active Australians are inspired by success on responsibility to ensure that we have high After-school Communities program. the world sporting stage — it’s central performance support structures in place Increased community sport participation to who we are as a nation. The 2012 to enable high performance sporting has a profound long term dividend, London Olympics showed that the success. We have significant work to do and remains a vital objective of the standards required for elite international on these fronts. Our partner sports can ASC notwithstanding the challenges success keep increasing relentlessly. expect much sharper focus by the ASC in high performance sport. Traditional competitors keep getting in future on best practice governance better, and rising countries have become and administration, intellectual property The ASC looks forward to working forces to be reckoned with in many ownership, athlete management and in collaboration with the sport sector of our stronghold sports. If we want to support structures and general to encourage more people into sport continue to enjoy the success we expect, accountabilities by the sports. and to drive Australia’s continued we need to respond to this new sporting success. environment in circumstances where Government funding for high performance sport is likely to be constrained at current levels. 4 BOARD REPORT THE SPORT HAS NEVER BEEN IN BETTER SHAPE AS A RESULT OF OUR CLEAR ALIGNMENT AND WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT THE GREATER GOOD 5 Noeleen Dix President BoarD report At the end of each year it is healthy We made a commitment to our athletes Directors to reflect on how far we have come. that we would strive to ensure they could Thank you to Debra Tippett who did not Whether we have achieved what we earn an income from the sport that they renominate after serving for five years set out to do? Are we balancing the are passionate about. We are incredibly as a Director. During that time Debra, needs of our members with our drive proud to say that our Diamonds are a partner at Minter Ellison, added to succeed commercially? Are we close to achieving this. enormous value to the Board through delivering on our ambition to have strong We also made a commitment to ensure her strong understanding of corporate governance and management of the that every little girl would be introduced governance and community netball. sport? It is now five years since the to netball through NetSetGo! and grow In particular Debra’s involvement in the inception of the ANZ Championship up with a netball in their hand. The next Technology Master Plan governance when we dreamed of creating the generation NetSetGo! which is being was critical to its success. most successful national netball rolled out in 2013, will deliver on league in the world. The Board welcomed Paolina Hunt this commitment. who was appointed to the Board We also dreamed of stronger partnerships At a time when the public is questioning during the year to fill a vacancy and with government. This has come about the position of the sport industry in our Kevin Roberts who was recruited through federal government assistance society, we need to protect our image, as an Appointed Director. in purchasing our new Home for Netball, act with integrity and uphold our values. and investing in our participation, There is no room for complacency and Vale high performance and community my fellow Directors at both the national Betty Kempster (nee Robbie) — programs. The Minister for Sport, and state levels take this responsibility South Australia. A member of Kate Lundy has been integral in our very seriously. the Australian team from 1955. renewed relationships and we thank her for the respect that she shows us and I would like to thank the Netball Australia Maxine Boyd (nee Waklin) — the trust placed in us to deliver on both Directors for their valuable contribution South Australia. A member sport and community outcomes. and ongoing commitment and for being of the 1958 Australian team. so clear about the potential for our great We imagined an environment with more game. On behalf of all of the Directors corporate investment, higher profile I would like to thank Kate Palmer, athletes and an increase in all media CEO of Netball Australia, who has coverage and I thank our sponsors and continued to build and lead a strong media partners who made this a reality team at netball headquarters. We are in 2012. We were excited about the proud of the dedication and commitment opportunity to increase visitation to that the NA staff put into their roles; our websites but we have now also as they all continue to go above enhanced our into digital media — and beyond; making sure that the Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube bar is lifted every year. and apps and are developing our own content. We need to celebrate everything that is wonderful about netball. Valuing the past We promised to work together to but focusing clearly on the future. strengthen the game at all levels and We have started dreaming about what I thank our eight Member Organisations comes next...our aspirations must and all of their coaches, umpires and be bold and innovative, we have proved administrators who have contributed anything is possible, so look forward to national priorities. The sport has never to the build up to the 2015 Netball been in better shape as a result of our World Cup in Sydney. clear alignment and willingness to support the greater good. 6 CEO MEssaGE Kate Palmer CEO BUILDING THE BUSINESS CASE FOR INCREASED INVESTMENT FROM AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTERS IS OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE CEO messaGE The impact of netball’s new strategic The organisation commenced work positioning announced at the start on a national audit of inclusion strategies. of 2012 was significant with a raft Netball plays an important role in of exciting new community initiatives connecting us to our communities launched and some outstanding and in providing support to our friends commercial outcomes. Through the when they need us most. Every week course of 2012 netball secured its future thousands of young and not so young by purchasing a new home, launched hit the court across the country. This is stage one of a technology platform that important for the health and wellbeing promises increased engagement with of our community but the real challenge the huge netball member and fan base, for our sport is to ensure that all agreed on expansion of our national Australians feel like they belong, sponsorship framework and experienced feel welcome and can connect with their record spectator and broadcast figures community whatever their background for both ANZ Championship and and wherever they live, play and work. International Tests. This feeling of connectedness was never In the two years since the Australian more evident than at the Asian Region Sports Commission increased netball’s Championships in Sri Lanka in August. participation funding we have achieved Girls and women from all over Asia — significant outcomes in the areas of Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, workforce development, inclusion and India and Pakistan — took part in what participation. In particular, the partnership was an incredible display of the power between netball in Australia, Service Skills of our sport to bring women from Australia and the Australian Sports different nations and cultures together. Commission delivered a workforce plan Our leadership role both domestically that will create a powerful and capable and internationally is a hugely important workforce critical to the sport achieving one. Our project in the Pacific focuses ongoing success. on building capability in netball communities and increases the political and economic influence of women.