Squash Australia Partners with ACHPER to Boost National Participation

Squash Australia is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) South Australia, to develop a new National Participation Program. 

The new look program will be delivered through Clubs and Schools and designed to engage new audiences and attract more participants to the sport. The first phase of the project is the development of the Sporting Schools element of the program through this partnership.

As part of Squash Australia’s strategic vision to have 1 million participants playing the game by 2032, the new program will support participation pillar to create greater engagement with the sport. 

Working with ACHPER, resources for the new look program will feature content designed for coaches and teachers, progressional learning and support for State and Territory based staff as well as modified equipment and coach development. 

Squash Australia’s National Lead – Sport Development, Shaun McEachin, said: “A key component of our new Strategic Plan is to maintain and develop enduring participation programs. 

“Our investment into a new national participation program will deliver our clubs, centres, State/Territory members and the sport with a measured and fit-for purpose product that will grow our sport in Australia.

“We know that school aged participation is a gap in our participant journey. 

“ACHPER SA provides us with a perfect opportunity to ensure that this new national participation program will align to the curriculum needs of schools while also delivering key physical literacy benefits to school children.

“This is more than just a new program for teachers and coaches to deliver in schools. It will be supported by an extensive suite of teacher and coach resources including desktop programs, video resources and face to face training,” he said.  

Rick Baldock from ACHPER SA said: “We are excited to work in partnership with Squash Australia. 

“We are very confident this project will raise the profile of Squash in Schools, and open up opportunities to promote the Sport of squash within more Primary Schools across Australia through an engaging, developmentally appropriate program.”

Squash Australia together with ACHPER SA will unveil the new program, that will replace OzSquash, in  November with delivery to commence in schools in 2023. 

Sporting Schools is an Australian Government initiative designed to help schools increase children's participation in sport and connect them with community sport opportunities.

Sporting Schools programs are provided free to children and their families to help students build the confidence and capability to be active for life.