The Commonwealth Government are reviewing Australian Sport through an independent review.  An independent expert panel has been appointed to investigate the reforms required to ensure Australia's sporting system remains prepared for the challenges in the future.  WA Sports Federation has come together with the other State and Territory  Sports Federations to lodge a joint submission to the review.  

The ASC have also provided a submission to the Commonwealth Independent Review of Sport in Australia.  For more information see www.ausport.gov.au

The finalists for the six Awards are currently being selected with the finalists to be advised in early December.  All nominees for the Awards will shortly receive an invitation to the ANZ Sports Star Awards.

As part of the junior Awards, eight young people from regional WA have been nominated as 2008 Emerging Regional Junior Smarter than Smoking Sports Stars. Each person has been selected based upon their sporting performance in their region, and their potential. They have been invited to attend the ANZ Sports Star Awards at Burswood Entertainment Complex on January 8 2009. This will provide an opportunity to interact with their sporting peers.

Congratulations to Emma Hancox - Swimming (Midwest), Mitchell Williams - Baseball (Pilbara), Alexandra Hagan - Rowing (South West), Sam Rundle - Tennis (Great Southern), Jake Watts - Rugby League (Kimberley), Josh Nelson - Tennis (Wheatbelt), Izaac Rowatt - Hockey (Goldfields), Jaymes Ballantyne - Karate (Peel).

If you require any further information view http://www.wasportsfed.asn.au/anz_sports_star.php or contact WA Sports Federation

WA Sports Federation is working in partnership with the Department of Sport and Recreation to develop a framework to assist sport and active recreation organisations to keep pace with their financial management responsibilities.

WA Sports Federation Members identified at a Ministers breakfast that support is required in the area of financial systems and processes, with a view to increasing knowledge of their books, using time spent on processing more efficiently and ensuring their accounts are ready for audit.

This project is in its pilot phase, and will start on a number of pilot organisations. Once the pilot phase is completed and feed-back is received, there will be a further update about this project in early 2009. 

If you are interested in finding out more information about this project, contact the WA Sports Federation on info@wasportsfed.asn.au.

An Ethics in sport and active recreation forum was held earlier this month to provide sport and active recreation organisations with knowledge, skills, resources and contacts to support them in the broad area of ethics.

Over fifty members of the sport and active recreation industry attended the forum supported by the WA Sports Federation, Department of Sport and Recreation and Australian Sports Commission.  Presentations were made by the Australian Sports Commission, Equal Opportunities Commission, Working with Children Screening Unit, Safe Clubs 4 Kids and the WA Police.  The panel session after the presentations, provided an opportunity for specific questions to be asked.

The positive feedback from the forum highlighted the relevance and importance of ethics in sport. 

For more information about the forum contact Helen Cunningham helencunningham@wasportsfed.asn.au

Applications for the next round of Sport Sponsorships over $5000 close on 30 November 2008.

The sponsorships are available to organisations seeking support for an annual program of activities, those operating on a state-wide basis and those wishing to conduct major events with a large reach. Applications can cover one or both of the following: