Netball WA was pleased to provide three of our affiliated Associations Growth & Innovation Awards at the end of 2025.
Recipients were awarded on the basis of both innovation and growth in various areas as an acknowledgment of their hard work.
Belmont Netball Association
Belmont Netball Association received the award for the Growth & Innovation of a program. 2025 marked an exciting milestone for the Australian Islamic College with the introduction of Netball into the female sports curriculum. Belmont Netball Association collaborated with the College and delivered skill development sessions within the college and expanded its involvement to support the new curriculum with the delivery of a Green Shirt Umpiring Program. Belmont NA Association Umpire Development Officer (AUDO) delivered the foundations of umpiring and game management whilst building a rapport with the emerging umpires, guiding and encouraging them with mentoring.
Seventeen students successfully completed the program and have since been supported across a range of real game environments, including internal school matches, the AIC interschool carnival, Saturday fixtures at Belmont Netball Association, and the Netball WA Multicultural Carnival. This final event represented the largest umpiring commitment for the new officials, and they were supported not only by Netball WA, who kindly assisted throughout the carnival, but also by Belmonts AUDO, who continued to mentor and champion them on the day.
The program has ignited a new stream of enthusiastic young umpires who are excited to continue developing their skills and take up umpiring opportunities within the wider netball community. This initiative has strengthened netball participation within the college and opened meaningful pathways for young women to step confidently into leadership roles within our sport.
Katanning Netball Association
Katanning Netball Association received the award for Inclusion Innovation in the delivery of the Over 30s Carnival. The over 30s Carnival provides a platform for senior teams to play netball in a fun and competitive environment. Held on the indoor courts at the Katanning Leisure Centre the round robin style netball carnival caters for A grade, B grade, mixed & walking netball divisions. With novelty prizes on offer and a sundowner for all to enjoy at the end of the day it brings community together allowing participants catch up with their old Netty friends and platforms to make new ones. The carnival provides lots of laughs and show cases the participants love for the sport of netball!
Esperance Netball Association
Esperance Netball Association received the award for innovation with their social media presence. Creativity flowed to promote competitions, events and programs. The social posts drew you in with their clever visual effects. The Association has 1.4K members which is a large following for a remote Association and generally weekly. We look forward to seeing how they build on the creativity in 2026!
