Bocce Tournaments & Programs – Ongoing bocce play and women’s empowerment sports.: Boche Australia is proud to announce that it has successfully applied for the Australian Government’s $200 million ‘Play Our Way’ program. The program is specifically designed to remove barriers to women and girls participating in sporting activities and provide them with equal opportunities in sport.
This initiative is a significant step towards making sport more inclusive across the country, not only increasing participation in sport, but also strengthening social cohesion and inclusion.
Two key aspects: from infrastructure to participation
The ‘Play Our Way’ program is divided into two main parts:
- Stream 1: Facilities
It aims to develop new or upgraded sports fields, facilities and sports venues specifically for women and girls.
- Stream 2: Participation and Equipment
This stream provides long-term sports programs and necessary equipment for women and girls.
Bocce Australia has been awarded a grant under Stream 2: Participation and Equipment. This is evidence of the organisation’s solid, inclusive and practical plan to promote women’s sports participation.
‘Come ‘n’ Try Bocce Team Challenge’: A new model of participation
This funding will be used by Bocce Australia to implement an innovative program called Come ‘n’ Try Bocce Team Challenge’. The program will be run in the states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland over the next two years. Its main objective is to increase long-term participation of women and girls so that they can enjoy sport and lead an active lifestyle.
The program takes a more inclusive, flexible and social approach than traditional sporting competitions. It has the excitement of playing in a team, but is also suitable for women who are short on time, or who want to avoid a highly competitive environment.
Promoting diversity and inclusion
A unique aspect of this initiative is that it specifically targets underrepresented communities. These include:
- Women
- CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse communities)
- People with disabilities
Through this program, Boche Australia is looking at sport as something that is not just about competition, but about bringing together communities and providing opportunities for personal growth.
Breaking down barriers locally
The program will be implemented across eight locations in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. It aims to overcome barriers to participation in sport at the local level,** such as:
- Lack of facilities
- Cultural hesitancy
- A mindset of distance from sport
This initiative will encourage positive attitudes towards sport in local communities and allow women and girls to participate in sport with confidence.
Efforts towards social inclusion and sustainable development
This project of Boche Australia will not only be a means to involve women in sport, but it will also promote social inclusion, diversity and equality. This project fully supports the objectives of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines:
- Provide sustainable access to sport and physical activity
- Ensure opportunities for all communities
- Reduce inequality and create an inclusive environment
Conclusion: Sport changes minds and lives
This effort of Boche Australia proves that sport can be not just a competition, but also a social movement. When women and girls have equal opportunities, they make their presence and contribution felt not only on the field, but also in society.
Inclusive programs like the ‘Come ‘n’ Try Bocce Team Challenge’ lay the foundation for positive change and lasting growth in the world of sport.
If you would like to find out more about this program, visit the Play Our Way program | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Play Bocce, Be Happy – and Be a Part of the Change!
Brief Summary:
Bocce Australia has received a grant in the category of Sport Participation and Equipment for Women and Girls under the Australian Government’s $200 million ‘Play Our Way’ program. The grant will be used to run the Come ‘n’ Try Bocce Team Challenge’ program in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland over the next two years.
The initiative aims to promote inclusive, flexible and socially accessible sporting activities by engaging women, CALD communities and people with disabilities in sport. The program popularises the sport in a team-based but non-competitive environment, allowing people with time or experience constraints to participate.