Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP)
Overview
Australia’s principal vehicle for development through sport assistance is the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP).
ASOP is funded by AusAID and managed by the Australian Sports Commission. Through ASOP, Australia will provide up to $12.9 million from 2009-2014, to deliver development through sport activities:
- country-specific activities in seven Pacific island countries
- a regional activity in the Caribbean
- grants programs for smaller community-driven sports activities across the Pacific, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.
Priorities
- Help address the four primary risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases, particularly physical inactivity.
- Support people with disability by improving the quality of their lives, including by increasing their inclusion in society.
Development through sport can also:
- Improve social cohesion by bringing people in communities together in a positive way.
- Positively engage young people and help them learn important life skills including leadership, teamwork, respecting rules, discipline and perseverance.
ASOP Pacific Sport Development Grants
The Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) Pacific Sport Development Grants program provides assistance of up to $AUD 10,000 to targeted small–medium size community sport development projects which provide benefits to the community (community development) through increased community participation in sport and physical activity.
More on ASOP Pacific Sport Development Grants [external link]
Pacific Sports Partnerships (PSP)
PSP, also funded by AusAID and managed by the Australian Sports Commission, uses an approach that starts by identifying sport-related partner organisations and then agreeing on development priorities that need to be addressed.
Through PSP, Australia is providing $15 million over five years (to 2013–14) to contribute to social development through rugby league in PNG and football, rugby union, netball and cricket across the Pacific.
PSP is delivered through partnerships between the Australian Government and Australian, regional and Pacific island sports organisations and will, wherever possible, complement ASOP.
Through PSP, Australian and Pacific sports organisations involved with cricket, netball, football, rugby union and rugby league will:
- strengthen grassroots sports activities in Pacific communities
- build the skills of administrators, coaches and officials so they can take up the cause of achieving development outcomes through sport over the long term.
More on PSP [external link]
Australian Sports Outreach Program Initiatives
| Initiative |
Partners |
Initative description |
|
| ASOP Fiji |
Fiji National Council for Disabled Persons and Fiji Disabled People’s Federation |
In Fiji, ASOP has partnered with the Fiji National Council for Disabled Persons and the Fiji Disabled People’s Federation to provide opportunities for people with disability to participate in sport and use sport as a vehicle to promote increased inclusion and positive community attitudes towards people with disability. |
More  |
| ASOP Kiribati |
The Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs |
In Kiribati, ASOP has partnered with the Ministry of Internal and Social affairs to facilitate increased youth leadership, improved positive health-related behaviours and increased employment-related knowledge and skills of young people. |
More |
| ASOP Nauru |
Ministry of Sport, Health and Justice |
In Nauru, ASOP has partnered with the Ministry of Sport, Health and Justice to facilitate increased leadership and engagement of Nauruans in community activities, and improved positive health-related behaviours. |
More |
| ASOP Samoa |
Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture |
In Samoa, ASOP has partnered with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture to facilitate increased youth leadership and improved positive health-related behaviours of villagers. |
More |
| ASOP Solomon Islands |
Save the Children |
In the Solomon Islands, ASOP has partnered with Save the Children Australia to facilitate increased youth leadership and participation, promote positive health related behaviours of young people and address livelihoods of young people through sport and physical activity. |
More |
| ASOP Tonga |
Ministry of Health; Ministry of Training, Employment, Youth and Sport (MOTEYS); and Tonga Netball Association |
In Tonga, ASOP has partnered with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Training, Employment, Youth and Sport to facilitate increased women’s leadership and improved positive health-related behaviours of women. |
More |
| ASOP Vanuatu |
Department of Youth Development, Sports and Training
Sanma Frangiapani Disability Association
Save the Children
Aniwa Island Community |
In Vanuatu, ASOP has partnered with the Department of Youth Development, Sports and Training to assist identified organisations within Vanuatu increase the engagement of young people in social development programs through their participation in sports-based activities. |
More |
| ASOP Caribbean |
Caribbean Community and the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sports and Physical Education |
In the Caribbean, ASOP has partnered with the Caribbean Community and the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sports and Physical Education to:
- develop youth leadership
- improve health related behaviours and increase awareness of priority health issues, with a particular focus on sexual health and nutrition
- increase opportunities for people with disability to participate in their community.
|
More |