Local Sporting Stars | Congratulations Mason and Sharon 

We’re proud to announce Mason Watts and Sharon Barrett as this fortnight's recipients of the WA Local Sporting Stars Volunteer Recognition Program.

Mason Watts’ passion for community sport has transformed Touch Football in WA’s North West. After identifying a gap in local opportunities, he brought the Exmouth community together to establish the Exmouth Touch Football Association and helped relaunch North West Touch, connecting regional communities through a travelling carnival. Now a Life Member, Mason continues to inspire participation and create junior pathways for young athletes across the region.

For more than 25 years, Sharon Barrett has been the backbone of Australind Basketball. From coaching and refereeing to serving as Vice President and Carnival Coordinator, Sharon’s influence spans every level of the game. Her leadership has also extended to Basketball WA’s high-performance programs, where she has supported the growth of athletes and officials alike, leaving a lasting legacy built on passion and positivity.

Supported by the WA Government and delivered in partnership with SportWest, Seven West Media and Spudshed, the Local Sporting Stars Volunteer Recognition Program celebrates the volunteers who keep community sport thriving across Western Australia.

Nominations remain open - and we encourage the sector to continue recognising the volunteers who truly make a difference.

You're Invited to Play a Direct Role in Shaping the Future of Sport in Western Australia

Over the coming months, SportWest will be developing a clear and unified industry advocacy agenda in the lead-up to the 2028 Federal Election, and the 2029 State Election. This is a critical opportunity for us, as a sector, to align our voice and ensure government understands the true value, impact and needs of sport in Western Australia.

But this can’t be done in isolation. It needs to be informed by the lived experience, challenges and opportunities across the entire industry. It needs to be informed by you.

We have developed a short survey (5-8 minutes) to capture your views on:

• The most important issues facing sport right now
• The key priorities we should be advocating for with both Federal and State Government
• Where investment in sport will have the greatest impact
• Who across the industry wants to help shape this work more closely

Importantly, this is only the start of the process, and we will also be forming a small Industry Advocacy Working Group to help guide this work, and we encourage those interested to nominate through the survey.

This is about more than a list of Government asks. It’s about positioning sport as an essential part of the solution to meeting Government priorities across health, community, education and the economy.

The stronger and more aligned our voice, the greater our impact. I would really appreciate you taking a few minutes to contribute to the survey. Please also feel free to distribute the survey to others in your organisation.

High Performing Leaders | Expressions of Interest Now Open

SportWest has partnered with Department of Creative, Industries Tourism and Sport to facilitate a High Performing Leaders course, delivered by Leading Teams – a highly practical leadership development experience designed specifically for high level professionals working across the Western Australian sport industry.

This program equips leaders with the tools, language and confidence to lead people effectively, strengthen team culture, and drive sustainable high performance. Built on Leading Teams’ proven leadership and team dynamics models, the course goes beyond theory to focus on real-world behaviours, conversations and actions that directly impact team and organisational performance.

Delivered face-to-face over multiple days, this exclusive cohort experience brings together leaders from across WA sport, providing a safe yet challenging learning environment where participants can reflect, share experiences, and learn from one another.

Hear Me Play | Youth Perceptions of Safety in Sport

Hear me play: Youth Perceptions of Safety in Sport study, conducted by Sport Integrity Australia is a long-term study designed to amplify the voices of children and young people in Australian sport and help shape future safeguarding priorities. 

Running over five years, the study provides important insight into how young people experience sport and what helps them feel safe. 

This first report shares the findings from the 2025 annual survey, completed by more than 1,000 young people aged 12 to 18 from across Australia.

The Rematch Perth Has Been Waiting For!

One moment. One margin that stung all the way back to Perth. Last August, Melbourne Vixens claimed the Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final by a single goal. 

This Sunday, West Coast Fever gets the chance to respond and they're doing it on home soil. 

The reigning premiers come to RAC Arena on 26 April at 2pm, and if you want elite netball at its most intense, this is your fixture. Grand final rematches don't come around often, and this one carries the weight of everything that happened in August. 

When the Green Army fills RAC Arena, the atmosphere is unlike anything else in Australian netball - passionate, loud, and completely behind their team. 

This Sunday, they'll have every reason to bring the noise. Gear up in Green and Feel the Fever Sunday 26 April | 2pm | RAC Arena, Perth

Inclusive Sports Symposium | Inclusive Program Design

Get ready to be part of something truly impactful. The WA Disabled Sports Association's (WADSA) second Interactive Inclusive Sports Symposium, proudly supported by Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS), is designed to inspire, challenge, and equip you to lead the way in inclusive program design.

This year, WADSA are putting a strong spotlight on inclusive program design - the “how” behind creating sport and recreation opportunities where people of all abilities can genuinely participate, contribute, and thrive. This isn’t just about ideas; it’s about giving you the practical skills and confidence to design programs that work for everyone.

This is more than just an event, it’s a hands-on opportunity to explore how thoughtful, inclusive design can transform sport and recreation so that people of all abilities can genuinely belong, participate, and thrive.

Whether you’re a coach, umpire, volunteer, club administrator, or community leader, you’ll leave with the tools, confidence, and ideas to create programs that are not just accessible, but truly inclusive.

What to expect:

Interactive workshops focused on inclusive program design—learn practical strategies you can implement immediately.

Insightful speakers and lived experiences from athletes and organisations leading the way in inclusion.

Practical tools and frameworks to help you design and deliver programs that welcome everyone.

Meaningful connections with like-minded people passionate about creating inclusive communities through sport.

Together, we’ll explore how to break down barriers, rethink traditional approaches, and design programs that ensure everyone, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to participate and succeed.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the movement redefining sport and recreation through inclusion.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Course

SportWest is pleased to offer Youth Mental Health First Aid to our members!

This two-day, face‑to‑face course is designed for anyone working with or supporting young people, particularly within sporting and community environments. Facilitated by Happiness Co., the training builds confidence and practical skills to recognise when a young person may be experiencing a mental health challenge and how to respond appropriately.

Participants will learn how to:

• Recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health challenges in young people
• Understand risk factors and protective factors related to youth mental health
• Provide initial support using a clear, evidence-based action plan A.L.G.E.E
• Respond in a crisis situation until professional help is available
• Reduce stigma and support positive mental health conversations

This course is ideal for coaches, administrators and staff working in sport with young people.

Places are limited and available to SportWest members only, so early registration is encouraged.

Participants must attend both days to receive accreditation.

Date: Wednesday 29 April & Thursday 30 April 2026

Venue: Sport HQ, 203 Underwood Ave, Floreat

Time: 9:00am-3:30pm both days

Details: Morning tea and light lunch included

Cost: $160.00 per person for SportWest members

Registration: Closes Monday 27 April 2026

Community Sport Parent Masterclass | Support your Teen in Sport

Join us for our upcoming Community Sport Parent Masterclass, proudly delivered by SportWest in partnership with the WA Government as part of the True Sport Initiative. Taking place at the beginning of Term 2, this timely session is perfectly positioned ahead of the winter sport season.

📍 Attend in person at Murdoch University
💻 NEW: Live stream registration now available for regional communities

This engaging and practical masterclass is designed to empower parents as they support and guide their child or teen through their sporting journey. Participants will gain valuable insight into the moments that matter, with a deeper understanding of the holistic development of young people in sport.

You’ll leave with practical tools and strategies to:

• Create enriched and positive sporting experiences
• Foster healthy motivation, wellbeing and enjoyment in junior sport
• Build habits that encourage lifelong participation

The content is particularly relevant for parents of young people aged 11–17 years, however parents of children across all age groups are welcome. Opportunities to attend future sessions alongside your teen will also be available.

We encourage our members to help spread the word by sharing our social media post and promoting the Sport Parent Masterclass across your clubs, networks and parent communities, so together we can support positive sporting experiences for young people across Western Australia.

True Sport Respectful Relationships Disclosure Training Workshop

Want to feel more confident responding to disclosures in your sport or club? Keen to promote gender equality and safe, inclusive environments through sport?

Join us for an engaging and interactive training workshop designed to support sport leaders in responding safely and respectfully to disclosures of Family and Domestic Violence.

Delivered in partnership with Starick, this session is ideal for sport leaders, administrators, coaches and volunteers who are committed to creating clubs where everyone feels safe, welcomed and respected.

What you’ll gain:

• Build confidence to safely respond to Family and Domestic Violence disclosures.
• Learn how to provide respectful and appropriate support.
• Understand procedures and available resources to support your club.
• Know how to refer and report concerns.

Workshop Details:

Facilitators: Starick Youth Team and Sport Integrity Australia

Date: Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Time: 9:30am to 11:30am

Venue: Sport HQ, 203 Underwood Ave, Floreat

Parking: Free onsite parking available

Cost: Free

Registration Closes: Monday, 11 May 2026

Hon. Rita Saffioti | Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Transport; Sport and Recreation
Italian legends in WA ahead of exclusive football matches

Hon. Meredith Hammat | Minister for Health; Mental Health
Spending uplift for mental health services across Western Australia

Athletics West

General Manager, Marketing & Commercial

General Manager, Competition & Events

Fremantle Dockers

Remedial Massage Therapist

Netball WA

Recruitment Officer

Perth Bears

Head of Technology, Data & Innovation

Head of People, Culture & Operations

Head of High Performance

WAIS

Finance Manager

Sports Dietitian

If you have a position you would like to advertise, please submit it online.