Page 50 - BWA 2021 ANNUAL REPORT

50 |
ASSOCIATION
DEVELOPMENT
FOCUS ON ENGAGING WITH ASSOCIATIONS
ACROSS THE STATE AND DEVELOPING
A STRONG UNDERSTANDING
While 2021 presented many challenges mental health concerns and major provided by BWA, the Department
for BWA’s member Associations and the Association Development team were pleased to assist with queries around Annual General Meeting (AGM) requirements, Tribunal By-Law interpretation and implementation, Member Protection queries and general questions around building strong and sustainable basketball associations.
BWA were fortunate to have long standing employees in the Association Development team. However, in 2021 there has been a new look with Association Development Manager Eric Mackenzie and Association Development Coordinator Zanè Bricite appointed in their roles. Eric and Zanè certainly hit the ground running with a focus on engaging with Associations across the State and developing a strong understanding of how we can continue to support them moving into 2022.
BWA’s Association Development team are available to assist Associations with holding their AGM or with questions about the process for calling a Special General Meeting. If you are concerned that your current Constitution doesn’t meet the requirements of the Associations Incorporations Act 2015 then BWA can help you make the necessary updates.
In 2021 the Association Development team introduced ‘Country Association Forums’ to allow presidents to share ideas, discuss plans and strengthen the relationships. Key topics discussed during these forums in 2021 included support for Associations in addressing
BWA ANNUAL REPORT 2021
incidents, including the ClubCare Cover program, Country Championships, Referee development and retention and management of COVID protocols. It is intended that these forums will continue to develop into 2022.
RESOURCES AND VOLUNTEERS
Our Associations could not provide the valuable service to their communities that they do without the work of many volunteer committees members. As a part of our 2021 – 2025 Strategic Plan, Basketball WA is placing a renewed focus on supporting Associations to continue to engage, train and retain volunteers from our broad community. Basketball in Western Australia has long thrived on the back of a huge volunteer base, and we are committed to continue to implement strategies to maintain and grow our numbers of volunteers to continue to support our growing sport.
Many of our Associations are made up of volunteers with roles often changing on an annual basis. In recognition of the fact information can be lost when committee members change, and to smooth the process of a new member joining the committee, BWA have reviewed a suite of documents to assist Associations in retaining information when committee members change. Documents in this new suite of resources include a policy overview, a conflict of interest policy and register and a recruitment policy.
In 2021 we also began to review the section on Basketball WA website that links Associations to key resources
of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and other WA and Australian Government programs. This page will be updated and will provide resources on club management, child safeguarding and ways to create a safe and inclusive club environment.
COMMUNITY AFFILIATION
As Basketball WA continues to grow its presence within the community, the organisation faces more interest from groups not looking to pursue association as structured clubs or who may not meet all the reqirements of being an Association, but are keen to access products and services that contribute to BWA’s driving philosophy of using basketball as a vehicle for social good.
BWA was pleased to add a new membership tier in 2021 being for Affiliated Community Programs. Affiliated Community Programs are an incorporated organisation that utilises basketball to support its objectives. Binar Sports Inc. were the first Affiliated Community Program approved by the BWA Board in 2021.
“ Basketball WA is placing a renewed focus on supporting Associations ”