Photo: Gold Industry Group Chairperson Kelly Carter, West Coast Fever coach Dan Ryan, Netball in WA CEO Simone Hansen, Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz and Gold Industry Group Executive Officer Rebecca Johnston. Photo: James Campbell.
The Gold Industry Group has renewed its golden partnership with Netball WA, West Coast Fever and Glass Jar Australia, extending its landmark agreement for another three years and continuing its support across the sport through to the end of 2024.
The partnership remains the first of its kind in Australia to channel investment into women’s sport at all levels, recognising the Gold Industry Group as Principal Partner of Netball WA, Major Partner of Glass Jar Australia’s Shooting Stars program, and Elite Partner of West Coast Fever.
The renewal follows the history-making $5 million deal struck in 2019, which was the biggest investment in netball in WA history, and a major milestone for commercial interest in women's sport.
Over the past three years, the partnership has boosted netball participation, resources and engagement, while increasing awareness of the gold sector’s job opportunities, as well as its community and economic impact.
Netball WA and West Coast Fever CEO Simone Hansen thanked the Gold Industry Group for their ongoing commitment and said she was looking forward to the partnership continuing to deliver its incredible outcomes.
“The continued growth of netball, both at the elite level and grassroots, wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing and valued support of the Gold Industry Group,” Hansen said.
“The gold sector makes such a significant contribution to the social fabric of WA and is the lifeblood of many regional communities.”
“Our partnership has certainly driven exciting results and with the Gold Industry Group’s ongoing support, we can focus on positioning ourselves to continue to grow and improve the delivery of our game.”
“On behalf of netball in Western Australia, I thank the Gold Industry Group for its passion and support. Netball WA is now better placed than ever to connect our regional and remote communities with the sport of netball and invest in genuine pathways for young women into education, employment and leadership roles in the community.”
“Through the connection with Shooting Stars, this partnership is also helping to change the lives of more than 750 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls living in some of Western Australia’s most remote communities by engaging them in school, furthering their education and helping them to realise their full potential.”
Gold Industry Group Chairperson Kelly Carter expressed her pride in the partnership’s achievements to date, and optimism for the next three years.
“The Gold Industry Group is thrilled to extend its support for Netball WA, West Coast Fever and Shooting Stars for another three years,” Carter said.
“This partnership has uniquely positioned the gold industry as a key supporter of every level of netball in Western Australia, and of women’s sport more broadly."
“Together, our partnership has been instrumental in connecting the Western Australian community to each other, the sport and our industry."
“We’ve achieved a huge amount in the past three years, and the growth of the Shooting Stars program is just one example of that."
“The visibility of our sector that is created by having such enthusiastic ambassadors as the West Coast Fever athletes has been very powerful. We look forward to continuing to work alongside these incredible role models, as well as hopefully supporting the team through to a premiership title!”
The Gold Industry Group partnership is championed by members Gold Fields, Northern Star Resources, AngloGold Ashanti Australia, St Barbara Limited, Gold Road Resources, Ramelius Resources and The Perth Mint.
PARTNERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Expanding Netball WA’s regional staff footprint, employing 23 new staff to roll out its Regional Office Structure to deliver school programs and carnivals, facilities, education and accreditation programs, Suncorp NetSetGO, Aboriginal Grassroots Sites and NAIDOC Carnivals.
- Improving netball facilities across the State, which included providing branded goal post pads to each Association.
- Growing the Shooting Stars program, which now sees 750 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls achieving leadership and education outcomes.
- Providing a valuable connection to regional netballers with West Coast Fever players through Come and Try Netball Clinics in more regional areas including Kalgoorlie, Kambalda, Mt Magnet and Boddington.
- Rebranding and restructuring the Gold Industry Group WANL as the premier State League competition.
- Educating the sporting community on the value of gold and the connection between the sector and WA’s most remote and regional communities through West Coast Fever ambassadors.
- Boosting regional access to elite sport by hosting West Coast Fever pre-season matches and community engagement tours in Kalgoorlie.
- Building leadership capacity through the Gold Industry Group Association Leadership Camp, Aboriginal All Stars Camp and Shooting Stars Leadership Camp.
