Volleyball Tasmania
 

Mr President, before I start, I congratulate the member for Windermere on his elevation to the ministry and wish him all the best in his new role and responsibility.  Congratulations.

 

This morning I bring the sport of volleyball and the role and importance of Volleyball Tasmania to the attention of all members. 

 

Volleyball Tasmania is the recognised state volleyball body under Volleyball Australia Limited, a dedicated group of enthusiasts fostering vibrant and inclusive volleyball experiences within our community, striving to promote health, teamwork and community engagement. 

 

Volleyball is actually one of the most well‑liked sports with approximately 900 million participants and fans across the world.  Unfortunately, in this state and country, unlike other countries, volleyball does not receive the same due recognition, media attention or financial support as many of our traditional sports. 

 

Volleyball can be played almost anywhere - in a stadium, on the beach or even in the backyard - with the only requirements being a net, which could be a rope strung between two trees, and a ball.  Given this disparity, Volleyball Tasmania's priorities are to promote, develop and coordinate the sport of volleyball - indoor and beach - at all levels; foster inclusiveness, equality and protect members from harm; foster skill development and promote social priorities to ensure an enjoyable experience, and to engage migrant communities to explore participation opportunities and partnerships. 

 

Community volleyball at the Port Sorell Banksia Stadium in my own electorate is a perfect example that welcomes international workers and fruit pickers to its fully inclusive teams and rosters.  It builds partnerships with specialist organisations, such as Disability Services, and/or mental health providers to enhance engagement from all members of the community, including the aim of delivering a sitting volleyball program and, finally, it encourages collaboration within the school network to enhance student participation opportunities.

 

As many of us recognise, a successful sport needs a healthy junior development program, or JDP.  Volleyball Tasmania is proud to say they have an excellent program, led by an experienced director of coaching, Adrien, ably supported by a dedicated team of volunteers.

 

Adrien was appointed as head coach of the Australian Men's under-16 team and comes with 20 years experience in coaching volleyball across a wide variety of organisations and performance levels. 

 

Tasmania's JDP runs annual talent ID camps, bringing skilful young players to the attention of Australia's national coaches.  It bodes well for the future of this sport to know that there are currently over 100 athletes attending the weekly JDP training sessions, striving to be selected in the Tasmanian state junior and youth teams. 

 

In 2023, four Tasmanian volleyball teams competed at the Australian Junior Championships in Sydney; another five teams went to the Australian Youth Volleyball Championships in Bendigo to compete against other states and territories.

 

It is always an eye-opener for our young athletes to come up against the bigger and better resourced states.  However, I am aware they were able to hold their own and can be very proud of their performance and I am sure the Government's recently extended junior travel assistance program will play a big part in their ability to participate at future championships. 

 

Tasmanian volleyball teams are always praised for their spirit, and individual players on their behaviour.  We might be a small state but we set very high standards, and the more exposure our young athletes come up against at a higher level with the success of JDP, the sport of volleyball in Tasmania looks very promising. 

 

In recent years, state team youth members have been selected to attend national camps.  Selection for the camps is based on an individual's performance in youth championships and other events held throughout the year and camps are restricted to athletes identified as having potential to make future Australian teams. 

 

In 2023, Volleyball Tasmania launched its Road to Brisbane program, a high‑performance pilot program of 16 athletes with the aim of getting Tasmanian athletes selected for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic squads.  This program is available to athletes who show the will, determination, ability and commitment to represent their nation at the Olympic level.

 

I am happy to say that as well as developing grassroots athletes, Volleyball Tasmania also supports and coordinates an elite women's and men's team aptly called the Echidnas.

 

My colleagues may be interested to know that a spike is the terminology used for an attacking move in the game of volleyball.  I think we can all make the association between that definition and the clever use of the Echidnas' team name.

 

In 2022, the Echidnas participated in the Australian Volleyball League with some great results.  It was unfortunate that they were not able to gain a licence to compete in the inaugural 2023 Australian Volleyball Super League, or the AVSL competition.  However, the Echidnas are participating in a number of interstate tournaments this year and hosting interstate teams in Tasmania.

 

The Echidnas' aim is to be included in the AVSL in the not-too-distant future.  Volleyball Tasmania's challenge is to continue developing the talent and gaining sponsorship and funding to cover the cost of participating in the AVSL but attracting sponsorship for a minor sport is not easy.

 

Members, we understand that, as with every sport, facilities, funding and partnerships are an integral part of being sustainable whilst improving the sport both at the social fun and fitness level and continuing to cater for the talented elite individual.  In order to increase participation, you need sufficient facilities.  However, to gain facilities one needs to demonstrate increased numbers in participation.

 

Volleyball Tasmania has a dedicated board, together with a team of hardworking and capable volunteers who donate their time and efforts to enable the volleyball community to thrive.  Without suitable beach and indoor facilities and the monetary means to do this, volleyball may well cease to exist in its current form.  This would be an absolute tragedy as volleyball is a sport that caters for all ages, genders, body types and abilities.

 

As a former physical education teacher, I understand the importance of sports like volleyball, which appeals to most students as there is less body contact and perhaps a greater emphasis on team fun and cooperation.

 

I have been fortunate to represent Tasmania in a number of sports, and indoor volleyball is one of them.  However, my all-time favourite 'fun in the sun' sport has to be beach volleyball.  As an aside, my volleyball partner Brendan Schmidt and I were ranked number one in Tasmanian beach pairs for a substantial period of time in the late 1980s and early 1990s when Loughrans sponsored the statewide beach volleyball championships to the tune of $25 000 for prizes.  Members of my family were surprised to receive microwaves, toaster ovens, sandwich makers, video cassette recorders and small televisions for Christmas presents that year.

 

Whitegoods aside, whilst there has been a mention of playing in a certain stadium being aspirational for our young girls and boys to become AFL footballers, I believe there are a myriad of minor sports such as hockey, soccer, basketball, badminton, netball, table tennis, swimming, athletics, tennis and even frisbee golf - or, as I have been reliably informed, disc golf - which provide the natural social structures, skills, fitness and capacity to keep many more Tasmanians engaged in a sport.  This is a more realistic way that will improve the health and wellbeing of our communities and encourage the long-term participation in health and sporting activities well into middle age and beyond.

 

Volleyball is one of the most enjoyable sports on offer with much less risk of physical injury than corporatised sports like AFL. Yet, sponsorship deals for these more community‑focused sports would not be as forthcoming if we, as a state, put all of our financial eggs into one AFL basket as a single multi-use stadium at the affluent end of the state.

 

It is both heartening and inspiring to know that Volleyball Tasmania is on a mission to have representation in the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane and they would love to be able to bring their supporters and wider community with them.

 

Volleyball Tasmania encourages anyone who wishes to invest in the future of the sport of volleyball, its participants and wider community to please contact them to discuss how that can be achieved and how they can work together in partnership.  I assist Volleyball Tasmania sponsorship when I can and if any member has the capacity to assist, I am certain the board of Volleyball Tasmania and its members would be extremely grateful.