From the News Editor
Hi everyone! Last week was National Week of Deaf People, an initiative of Deaf Australia Inc. Last Wednesday gone also mark the International Day of Sign languages, another initiative belonging to World Federation of the Deaf.
I’ve had the honour of delivering two videos in which our two amazing Sport Development Officers interviewed some cool people. One was Jamie Howell; whose video went viral in social media because her AFL team included her in their victory song using Auslan. The other was of the Melbourne Deaf Cricket Club members, who is claiming great reputation for their sense of unity and great sportsmanship, and this year is their 140th year of cricket since the first deaf cricket began.
We have a few more videos scheduled to be released in the coming weeks. Keep your eyes peeled on our Facebook and YouTube for more cool people.
Lately, the COVID-19 restrictions hasn't been very fair on our family and friends in Victoria. On the 10th September, I decided to look into the R U OK? Day resources – they have resources for those in sports! I recommend perusing the website and being equipped with the right tools for future references. The current climate have been causing negative effects on people’s mental health, forcing them to be isolated, committing to the ever-changing restrictions and adjusting lifestyle circumstances.
Do not be discouraged. I invite you all to get creative in your own ways and make your days worthwhile. I also strongly encourage everyone else to be on the look-out for those needing our help. From experience, I learnt that helping others also helps ourselves feel really good. Now, I must say, animals tend to have a good impact on us in some ways too.
Two weeks ago, my family and I have moved homes. This change meant that we had to say goodbye to our family dog (he belongs to my in-laws). My home office is now terribly quieter than usual. The chocolate Labrador has always been my office buddy. He’s also my door alarm and a bird repellent, a loud one at that, for sure! Crazy if you ask me, but I really miss him! I had to ask my sister-in-law to bring him over last Friday, which she did. And within the first minute of his visit, the lab knocked out our back fly-screen door! (He is used to the swinging fly-screen doors - he usually swing them open with his head. However, our fly-screen door is a sliding door!) As a result, I’ve probably done 5 minutes and burnt a little bit of calories, doing some heavy lifting and determination to fix the shoddy door without my husband around!
Anyway, I’d like to mention that the following dates are for when our next Active Hands editions are due; keep an eye out for them when they come into your inbox.
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23rd November 2020
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21st December 2020
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18th January 2021
Enjoy the rest of our today’s edition. Oh, and make sure your fly-screen doors are good to go - summer is around the corner and we don't want uninvited winged guests!
Stay safe, stay happy and stay healthy!
Yours in sports news,
Lauren Townsend
Media & Community Liaison Officer
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General Manager's Report
Greetings everyone.
Spring is well and truly here and light at the end of the tunnel with the COVID-19 experience. Still some way to go especially in Victoria, however it is slowly looking and feeling better and hopefully we will have more freedom and peace of mind to enjoy life and sport once again. Hoping you are safe and able to manage the limitations we have. Please take care and look out for those who are at risk and need support.
While social isolation has had a huge impact on how we have been living our lives over the last few months, it is also brought some interesting and positive experiences that we can learn from and continue to use after COVID-19 has gone.
One clear example is the use of video-communication over the internet - Facetime, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and other technologies. Personal and work contact, committee meetings, fun games nights with families and groups using Kahoots and other similar options, family group chats, school and university online learning, personal training, webinars, organisation and community meetings, information sessions and so on. Being able to access these with support from Auslan interpreters and live captions has been a very important ‘support system’ for us. Without this access tool, we would be very isolated and at huge risk.
DSA recently had a Board meeting and a meeting with all our National Deaf Sport Organisation reps via Zoom which were very productive.
For those States and Territories who are able to have access to sport and community, make sure you prepare your fitness plan well so that you do not get injured when you start training and competitions.
Reminding you of our ‘Return to Sport’ information which outlines guidelines and plans on how everyone can return to sport safely. Please check this out and you can find it here.
Keep in touch and yours in sport,
Phil Harper
General Manager
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Deaf Sports Australia News |
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Grants updates
We are pleased that our assistance to DeafACT for a grant application to establish a part-time Sport Development Officer position in the ACT was successful. We have also assisted our State Deaf Sport Organisations in SA (DCSSA) and WA (WADRA) with applications for funding to also establish a Sport Development Officer position in that State. Hopefully, by the end of this year we will have expanded the number of Sport Development Officers from 3 to 6.
Sporting School Program
Work with Sport Australia on their Sporting Schools Program (SSP) is developing and schools with deaf and hard of hearing students were able to apply for grants in Term 4. Hopefully we will be able to facilitate a number of sport programs in partnership with other National Sport Organisations. You can find more information on the SSP here - https://www.sportaus.gov.au/schools/schools/sports.
If you are connected with schools that have deaf and hard of hearing students, please let them know.
Our staff - Sport Development Officers
Our Sport Development Officers work in Queensland, NSW and Victoria continues to develop with Queensland and NSW allowing sport activities to be held. Victoria while still in lockdown will have a governance training program for Deaf Sport clubs which is exciting and hopefully this opportunity will spread to other States too. Please check out their news in this bulletin.
Collaboration
Our collaboration work with Sport Australia and the National Disability Sport Organisations to find ways to better share resources, knowledge and skills continues and we should have a report by the end of October on where we can create cost savings through shared resources and opportunities. This will assist DSA as well as the others with keeping our costs down in areas such as event planning and management, travel, finance management, web platforms, communication channels, etc.
Work with Sports Inclusion Australia and Blind Sports Australia continues with providing inclusion awareness training to many National Sport Organisations and other related organisations. We are looking at ways to further develop our opportunities over the long term.
National and State Deaf Sport Organisations
Network meetings with our National and State Deaf Sport Organisations has been an important focus to ensure they are doing okay as we manage the COVID-19 experience. Many have had to defer their activities such as national championships until 2021. DSA has been assisting them with information and support where possible including communicating with State and National Sport Organisations. Some very positive developments in basketball, golf, cricket, AFL and other sports will hopefully see participation growth over the next few years.
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NDSO meeting with Deaf Sports Australia |
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Australian Deaf Games
The Australian Deaf Games in 2022 to be held in Newcastle and Port Macquarie is not that far off, so make sure it is in your diary for an exciting national community sport and cultural event. You can find some information on the website which will have more detail later this year - https://austdeafgames.org.au
National Week of Deaf People
Along with our other deaf organisation partners, we joined in with Deaf Australia to celebrate National Week of Deaf People during 19th to 26th September. We were able to share some wonderful stories which gained great interest and sharing on social media. I want to highlight the impact of an AFL local football club showing wonderful inclusion example for a young deaf woman football player by signing in Auslan, their club song after the game. This was not a spontaneous act - there was preparation and practice to learn the club song in Auslan with coaches and players showing support and extending this communication access on the football ground as well. Check out the story in this bulletin to understand how inclusion can work positively and share it as role model for others to follow.
AGM 2020
Our 2020 Annual General Meeting covering the 2019-20 period is likely to be held on Saturday 13th February. Location is yet to be decided and will advise shortly. Please put this date in your diary.
Website
A new Anti-doping policy have been updated and added to the DSA website. The Board's biographies have also been updated as well. Check them out!
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Lawn Bowls and 8-Ball's National Championships are still going ahead in April (Easter) in 2021.
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Touch Football, Netball, Beach Volleyball and Futsal are still working on their plans, depending on current climate.
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Julie Lyons, our Queensland based Sports Development Officer for DSRQ, is working from home. She will also attend events booked in.
Deaf Futsal Gala Day
It has been confirmed for Thursday 22nd October from 9:00 am till 2:00 pm
Deaf Sports Day
DSRQ have had to cancel the popular event due to covid-19 situation. The tracks are still not available to use. It would have been DSRQ's 16th Deaf Sports Day. It is the first time to have no Deaf Sports Day this year.
Diving
DSRQ has been organising Diving Clinics with Diving Queensland in August and October at Sleeman Aquatic Centre.
In August, DSRQ had a fantastic time at Diving Queensland. A good number of deaf and hard of hearing children turned up. The deaf kids enjoyed trying out new skills in diving. Age range from 5 yrs to 16 years old. At first, they were terrified of heights but when they first jump from 7 metres, they wanted to do more jumps.
The children want more clinic sessions.
Diving Queensland is now offering three more weeks for deaf, hard of hearing, hearing siblings and codas. It is free and runs on Saturday afternoons from 3:00 pm till 5:00 pm. Sign in at 2:45 pm.
Dates of next diving clinic sessions:
3rd October
10th October
31st October
It is not too late to register. If you are interested in registering your child / children, please contact Diving Queensland directly – admin@divingqld.org.au. Please register early due to COVID-19. Limited booking applies. Auslan interpreters will be provided.
Queensland Deaf/Hard of hearing Junior Tennis Development Sessions
Tennis Queensland organised two sessions. The first session was held on Sunday 16th August. The next one will be on 25th October at Tennis Queensland, Tennyson. See the flyer.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, bookings are limited. Please contact Tennis Queensland early and directly.
- Alison Scott: alison.scott@tennis.com.au
- Jamie Zafir (deaf coach): jamie.zafir@hotmail.com
Deaf Sailing Try Out Day
Congratulations to Deaf Sailing Queensland for getting two new boats through the grant. Local Government Member MP Yvette D’ath came to launch their new boats on Sunday 20th September.
Deaf Sailing Queensland have started organising their Sailing Try-Outs. They will have more try-out activities once a month. These are usually on Saturdays and it goes for a whole day. Please check out them on Facebook for the updates.
If you want to contact Ronald Bothma to see if their event may be still on as it is water activities, please contact Ronald Bothma. Email: deafsailingqld@gmail.com
Yoga
Where: Pine Rivers Park, 125 Gympie Road, Strathpine QLD 4500
When: Every Wednesday until 16th December 2020
Time: 5-6pm
What to bring: Yoga Mat
Cost: Free
Please contact Anna to confirm your place by email or text at:
Text: 0414 153 521
For more info checkout the following:
Moreton Bay Council info: Link
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James Hale, Sports Development Officer for DSRV, is working from home and likely to continue this way until later this year, depending on Victorian government guideline changes.
DSRV in conjunction with VICsport has almost finished completing its survey and results will be allocated.
DSRV will also be holding a state club meeting in October via Zoom to see how everyone is and gather updates of what’s happening in each sport.
For all clubs and sports based in Victoria, it is encouraged that everyone refer to this link on COVID-19 updates from the Victorian Government:
We have also uploaded a 'Return to Play' guideline specifically for Victoria. See it here.
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Lauren Townsend, Sports Development Officer for NSW Deaf Sports, is also working from home and will continue to do so until end of this year.
NSW Deaf Sports have been doing the following:
- Successfully delivered a Deaf Sports Awareness Training to Tennis NSW in Tennis City Community, Surry Hills NSW. Plans are underway for more involvement in tennis.
- Continue to feed updates to Sport NSW and other stakeholders; an offer is up for involvement with the indigenous community in rural areas. This will be discussed later on down the track.
- Attend every Sports updates provided by the Office of Sports NSW
- Conduct meetings with NSW sport clubs/teams
- Develop and distribute a club survey - results are currently being received
- The Deaf cricket project have started rolling out. Cricket Australia, Cricket NSW and Winston Hills Cricket Club and NSWDS are now working together to provide an exclusive cricket program (Junior Blasters) for the deaf and hard of hearing. More plans are underway for deaf & hard of hearing girls/women to be more actively involved. There is also some advocacy undergoing to ensure inclusivity of girls/women being involved in future events hosted by Cricket Australia.
- After receiving results from DSA's National Research Survey, NSW will be looking into becoming an active Active Kids provider with a select sport organisation
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Actively promoting for involvement in the Sporting Schools Program. Next funding round date is yet to be released, for Term 1 in 2021. Schools are encouraged to apply for funding when it becomes available through this link. You can also look here to see which sport organisations are currently able to work with DSA to deliver a deaf-friendly ADK program.
- Preparing to attend a sporting camp near Dubbo in December
- Looking into implementing more projects by perusing further grant funding opportunities
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NSW Deaf Sports also have one exciting news to share but this will unfortunately have to wait until the next Active Hands edition! Sorry!
Since the emergence of Lauren's role as a staff at NSW Deaf Sports, the education and sporting networks are starting to be aware of the existence of deaf sports, NSW Deaf Sports and Deaf Sports Australia's services and it is making its mark in NSW. New South Wales Deaf Sports are also planning to work with their sports clubs/teams and more - this will also be detailed in the next edition!
Useful information
Sporting updates in NSW can be found here.
For all other deaf sports updates, go here.
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In relation to international events, we continue to get more information about 2021 Deaflympics and a website has been created - https://www.deaflympics2021.com
Deaf Sports Australia made contact with our national Deaf Sport organisations who usually participate in this event and through a survey received responses on how we should make a decision about attending the Games.
We have agreed to hold off a final decision about sending an Australian Team until January 2021. We are in contact with Sport Integrity Australia and Australian Federal Police to get advice on international travel and security information.
Deaf Sports Australia Board will continue to carefully monitor this and liaise with our NDSO’s and others to make a confident and safe decision. Keep you posted.
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