Justice McGowan
Member of the YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery
The Recreation, Tourism and Culture Committee. I Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications
The Pathway to Sports Bill 2024 is a bill to presented in the 2024 YMCA SA Youth Parliament, to boost youth sports participation and development in South Australia. It aims to do this by establishing an infrastructure scheme to enhance sporting facilities, a mobile coaching program for high schools, and scholarships to support talented athletes in local club sports. The bill aims to improve access to sports training and pathways, fostering both grassroots participation and elite sports development.
The bill was developed and debated by the Recreation, Tourism and Culture Committee. The committee was guided by mentor Samoda Silva and Adelle Martin.
The bill was first debated in the legislative council on Thursday the 18th of July. During this debate three amendments were made to the bill. The mover of the first was the Hon. Sapphira Sparnon, which was to change Part 2, Section 4(d) from the state electorate to the local council electorate. The mover of the second amendment was the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Ember McBryde to add an interpretation of a “sports facilitator”. The Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council was also the mover of the third amendment was about providing resources to coaching staff and students that share information on the challenges people with disabilities face in sports. The bill passed in the Legislative Council with 32 ayes to 4 noes.
The Hon. Sapphira Sparnon, making a speech during the Legislative Council debate. I Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications
The bill was debated for a second time in the House of assembly on the same sitting day. This debate focused on sports in the regions. With many on the Youth Parliamentarians exclaiming “Up the Regions”, Which was brought on by the Hon. Vanessa Maczkowicak. The bill passed in the House of Assembly with 23 Ayes and 14 Noes.
The Hon. Nadia Rondon Carreno, Making a speech during the House of Assembly debate. I Photo: YMCA SA Youth Parliament Media & Communications
A member of the Seaton High School PE faculty, Mel McGie, was asked about the bill’s mobile coaching program. She states that “the mobile coaching sessions would benefit Seaton High Students. As PE Staff, we could identify sports that our students are interested in participating in at school and at a grassroots level. We could introduce them to the sport through PE lessons but also engage with the mobile coaching sessions so that they can gain contact with local clubs and develop their skills and tactics further.” McGie also mentioned that PE students or students already with an interest in sport would be the most likely to participate and gain the most benefit, however other students may find an interest or enjoyment by discovering less mainstream sport they never initially thought to try.
Originally published on The Y South Australia.
The YMCA SA Youth Press Gallery is a program for young people aged 15-17, where they gain valuable experience serving in the Press Gallery for the 2024 YMCA SA Youth Parliament. Youth Press Gallery members develop and distribute articles about the Youth Parliament and the issues being debated, and have their work published.
