WAIS today announced the program will end however, it will support the Netball Program to ensure continuity of support with the WA State Teams attending the National Netball Championships through April 2025.
Netball WA Group Chief Executive Officer Simone Hansen said: “Netball has been associated with WAIS since 1984 and to end our relationship after 40 years is a blow to netball in Western Australia and the development of WA netball talent.
“We have worked well in partnership with WAIS as well as invested significantly to improve our pathway in recent years and our results at an underage national level is testament to that work.
“We are also seeing the benefits of that investment with more WA talent representing Australia at open and under-age levels and more West Australians playing in the world’s best netball league, Suncorp Super Netball.
“Netball WA must now explore ways to continue to develop these athletes without any drop off in the quality of the program. This will mean we must increase our investment across strength and conditioning, medical, athlete wellbeing, nutrition and performance psychology, which will have a significant financial impact on our business.”
Hansen said Netball WA had significant concerns with the decision aside from the financial impact.
“We are extremely concerned that our athletes do not have the facilities they require at the Gold Netball Centre, in particular strength and conditioning facilities.
“We will look to work with the State Government, VenuesWest and WAIS to determine what the short and long term solutions are before the transition period ends in April 2025.”
Netball Australia Chief Executive Officer Stacey West said: “Netball Australia will support Netball WA and all athletes and coaches with this transition.
“Netball WA delivers exceptional programs, shown by the strength of their pathways and their standing within the national competition.
“We have no doubt Netball WA will continue to support and deliver for emerging and developing Western Australian athletes.”
