SPORT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Transcription

1 SPORT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA Discussion Paper for student sports and recreation clubs This Discussion Paper outlines a proposal to establish UniSA Sport as the area to manage and administer sport at UniSA. The University wishes to consult student sporting clubs on this initiative and seeks their feedback. February 2013

2 Table of Contents 1. Introduction Formation of UniSA Sport Sporting and Recreational Clubs Sporting Events Sports Facilities Sports Equipment Club Uniforms and UniSA Sport Merchandise Access to UniSA Health Clinics & Gym Facilities Existing UniSA initiatives Linkages with Teaching Alumni External Links Structure and Responsibilities of UniSA Sport Management and Governance Strategic Plan Membership and Affiliation Governance of Affiliated Clubs Recruitment and Marketing Branding Finance Facilities and Resources Australian University Sport Benefits for Clubs Consultation Further Information P a g e

3 1. Introduction At many universities across Australia sport has a special significance. It contributes to encouraging healthy lifestyles and building a healthy and connected university community. At these universities, participation and involvement in sporting events and clubs provides many benefits to students, including promoting active and healthy lifestyles, building friendships and being part of a broader community, and developing skills that will assist them in their future employment. Sport also provides an avenue for students to develop life-long connections with the university, bringing benefits to both the university and future students for years to come. Sporting activity at these universities is guided by a sports strategic plan that links into and supports the wider university strategy. Sport is not seen as an add-on or a nice to have, but is seen as a key component of the university s wider goals, and in particular a vital contributor in building bonds with students and in developing pride in the institution. The University of South Australia has not, in the past, given sport this level of attention. There are many wonderful things the university does in the sports space, but these are usually done in isolation and through individual efforts and are not connected to a bigger picture of sport at UniSA. The university now wishes to change this. As part of its strategy to improve the experience of students at UniSA, the university wishes to have a much greater focus on sport and the benefits involvement in sporting and recreation activities, as well as the involvement in student clubs, can bring to our current and future students, as well as our graduates. As part of this improved focus on sport and recreation activities, the university will establish a new area to manage student sporting activities. This area will be known as UniSA Sport. The university recognises that the current arrangements for supporting UniSA sporting clubs and sporting activities are not at the standard of many universities across the country. The university s Students Association (UniLife) has provided support to sporting and recreational clubs for many years, and has done a very commendable job with limited resources. The university now wishes to invest more resources into sport and recreation activities and develop a Sport Strategic Plan to realise the many benefits we believe a strong sport and recreation culture will bring to students. In looking at how best to invest resources to gain maximum advantage for our student clubs and sporting activities, we have consulted with a wide-range of universities as well as the peak body for university sport, Australian University Sport, and South Australian government departments such as the Office of Sport and Recreation. We believe the concept for UniSA Sport outlined in this paper delivers the best outcome for students and connects sporting activity across the university in the most effective and integrated way. This Discussion Paper outlines the following: The formation of UniSA Sport, what it will do and how it will support clubs The proposed structure and duties of UniSA Sport Potential benefits for students and sporting clubs Consultation process and timeline for feedback and questions 2 P a g e

4 The University strongly encourages student sporting and recreational clubs and groups to read this Discussion Paper and submit a written response with your advice, comments and questions (see section 5, Consultation Process). The university will also be holding an open Q&A session on Wednesday 6 th March to provide further opportunity to discuss UniSA Sport. This is your opportunity to help shape UniSA Sport so that it provides students and clubs with the best possible organisation to support their needs now and into the future. Have your say and help us to create the right organisation for you. Many thanks for your time and participation in what is a very exciting initiative at UniSA. Professor Joanne Wright Deputy Vice Chancellor: Academic University of South Australia 3 P a g e

5 2. Formation of UniSA Sport Establishing an area for administration and management of all things sport and recreation' at UniSA will be key to maximising the benefits of a sport and recreation strategy and to achieving the goals of improving student experience and lifting engagement in student life outside the classroom. This area will be known as UniSA Sport. UniSA Sport will become the focal point for all things sport at UniSA. Creation of such an area signifies that sport at UniSA is more than just a few clubs socialising and playing games on the weekends. It s about encouraging participation, creating healthy lifestyles, and connecting with the community. It s about lifting the student experience, creating vibrant campus culture, creating excitement, enthusiasm and pride in the institution. It s about developing life-long connections with the university that bring benefits to students for years to come. It s about professional management of facilities, negotiations for more and better facilities, and achieving financial sustainability through a range of funding streams. The types of activities it is envisaged UniSA Sport will engage in are as follows: 2.1. Sporting and Recreational Clubs 1 A main role of UniSA Sport will be to support the student sports and recreation clubs. UniSA Sport will create a membership structure that will allow students, graduates and staff to become members and student clubs to affiliate. Members and affiliated clubs will have access to a range of services and supports, as well as opportunity to access funding to support their club either through internal UniSA grants or supported external grants. A key role of UniSA Sport will be to encourage greater participation in sport and recreation by the student population, through involvement in a club. This will mean assisting current sport and recreation clubs, no matter what size, to improve their sustainability including assisting with membership and recruiting new members, assisting with proper governance of the club, and assisting with financial management. UniSA Sport will not run the clubs, but will provide advice and support to assist clubs to run themselves. The types of support envisaged are outlined in Section Sporting Events UniSA Sport will manage the university s participation in a range of events including the Australian University Games, the Central University Games and the SA Challenge. It will generate ideas for new events and competitions and manage those accordingly, such as the Vice Chancellor s Cup (inter-campus competition) and an Awards Night for sporting achievement. 1 What is a Sport and Recreation Club? The precise definition of a sport or recreation club will be determined in the development of the Sport Strategic Plan, but for the purposes of this paper a sport or recreation club is any club where the objective and main activity of the club is to promote and undertake human physical activity. 4 P a g e

6 2.3. Sports Facilities Access to existing sporting facilities on campus can be difficult, and UniSA Sport will play a key role in negotiating better access for student clubs and groups of students. UniSA Sport will work closely with our Facilities Managers to work through the issues, clarify access arrangements, identify new venues and facilities, and set up systems to make booking facilities simpler. UniSA Sport will also play a key role in the development of new sports facilities at UniSA. It will provide sporting expertise and advice to Facilities Management in support of their negotiations for shared or new facilities and will be a relationship manager for collaborations with organisations for shared use of their facilities, such as Adelaide City Council, Adelaide High School, Salisbury Council, and so on. It will provide critical advice on the upgrade of existing facilities, development of any new facilities, and indeed could use its expertise to generate partnerships and gain sponsorships and grants for building new sporting facilities. Importantly, UniSA Sport will be the voice for student sporting and recreational clubs, and will use its influence and expertise to encourage the university to develop more and better facilities for sport at recreation activities Sports Equipment UniSA Sport will manage a pool of funds to help clubs renew their equipment. All equipment purchased through UniSA Sport will be appropriately stored, maintained and documented (through an equipment register). It will also develop, through consultation, a protocol for using sporting equipment. Clubs with existing equipment can manage their own equipment if they wish, or can elect to ask UniSA Sport to manage their equipment to ensure it is appropriately stored, maintained and documented. UniSA Sport will manage a system for loaning equipment to students and clubs for sporting activities Club Uniforms and UniSA Sport Merchandise In 2012 a new line of uniforms was developed for those clubs and individuals competing in the Australian University Games, and had a significant impact on the confidence of the teams, and certainly the appearance of teams on the courts and fields. This work will be continued by UniSA Sport and a line of uniforms will be developed for all clubs affiliated as well as all codes of sport competing in Australian University Games and other sporting events, and these uniforms will be gradually phased in. Uniforms will be available for purchase through UniSA Sport, however UniSA Sport will also manage a pool of funds to assist clubs renew their uniforms. UniSA Sport will also develop a range of sporting merchandise that will be available for purchase Access to UniSA Health Clinics & Gym Facilities UniSA Sport will negotiate discounts for consultations and treatments offered by the range of UniSA Health clinics (Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Exercise Physiology for example). Members will also have access to discounted membership at the City East Gym and Magill Swimming Pool, 5 P a g e

7 as well as basic First Aid Training and/or discounted advanced First Aid Training offered through UniSA Health Existing UniSA initiatives The University is already involved in a range of activities with a sports focus. UniSA Sport will contribute to these activities and provide greater access to and involvement by our student population. The current activities are outlined below, but there are many organisations seeking to collaborate with the university through a mechanism such as UniSA Sport and the future opportunities are considerable. These collaborations and activities have the potential to provide students with hands-on learning experience with leading sporting organisations which will contribute to the development of employability skills, but also assist students to develop networks. Current UniSA sporting initiatives and activities include: Tour Down Under Ride for Pain Football United Pedal Prix Elite Athletes program Sporting related scholarships Power Cup 2.8. Linkages with Teaching UniSA Sport will work closely with related teaching areas of the university, such as the School of Health Sciences and key program groups such as Sport and Recreation and Tourism and Events. Involvement with sporting clubs will be encouraged and will provide students with opportunities to put the skills they are learning through their academic program into practice, putting them head and shoulders above other candidates when they enter the workforce Alumni A key advantage of UniSA Sport is to foster mutually beneficial ongoing relationships with UniSA graduates. Our graduates provide excellent connections within the community, as well as a vital source of fundraising. Graduates involved in sporting clubs also provide excellent mentoring opportunities for current students. The UniSA Sport structure will ensure that students can remain involved in university sporting activities long after they graduate and will assist in club succession planning, which will ultimately improve club sustainability External Links South Australia is a sporting-mad state and the university has generated a number of fruitful relationships with external groups and people in this field. There is significant opportunity to improve our linkages with top sporting bodies and personnel to generate partnerships that will provide opportunities for students. This could be done in a number of ways, including external expertise on the UniSA Sport Advisory Group; generating partnerships with elite clubs 6 P a g e

8 and sports men and women (guest speaking, mentoring, fundraising, supporting practicum arrangements); collaborations with external partners to provide access to facilities (Adelaide High School, Adelaide City Council etc). 3. Structure and Responsibilities of UniSA Sport 3.1. Management and Governance UniSA Sport will adopt a management and advisory board governance structure that is endorsed by Australian University Sport and is in place within many other university sport departments. The UniSA Sport Coordinator will lead the activities of UniSA Sport across the organisation and will be responsible for the strategic planning and management of physical, financial and workforce resources, and the day to day management of UniSA Sport. The Coordinator will be supported by a UniSA Sport Advisory Board who assists the development and direction of UniSA Sport. The advisory board will contain three types of members: 1. UniSA representatives 2. Student representatives (from UniLife and from affiliated clubs) 3. External experts The following membership structure is proposed: UniSA Facilities Management Unit 1 position UniSA Marketing and Development 1 position UniSA Student Experience 1 position School of Health Sciences 1 position Student - UniLife 2 positions Student Club members 2 positions External expert members 2 positions 3.2. Strategic Plan An initial role of UniSA Sport will be to develop a Sport Strategic Plan for This will provide the vision for UniSA Sport and guide its operations and activities to achieve that vision, and it will link into and contribute towards the university s wider strategic goals. A key component of the Strategic Plan will be to build participation in sporting clubs and activities at UniSA. Once UniSA Sport is established and staff appointed, the Sport Strategic Plan will be drafted and will involve further consultation with clubs, student representatives and university staff. 7 P a g e

9 3.3. Membership and Affiliation Individuals can join UniSA Sport and receive a range of benefits you do not need to be a member of a club to be a member of UniSA Sport (a range of expected benefits is outlined in Section 4). It is proposed that all current UniSA student sporting and recreation clubs will affiliate with UniSA Sport, and be supported through this mechanism in place of their current arrangements. General principles about membership and affiliation will be as follows: Individuals are members of UniSA Sport Sport and recreation clubs will become affiliates of UniSA Sport. In order to affiliate, clubs will need to meet membership, governance and sustainability requirements (ie, be properly constituted clubs). UniSA Sport will assist clubs to organise themselves to meet these requirements (see section 3.4). All individuals in an affiliated club will need to also be a member of UniSA Sport. Membership fees will be established by the UniSA Sport Advisory Board, however an indication of fees for membership categories is outlined below. Current student fees are heavily discounted in this structure. $20.00 for UniSA students $40.00 for UniSA staff and alumni, and other tertiary students $50.00 for general community 3.4. Governance of Affiliated Clubs Clubs that affiliate with UniSA Sport will receive advice and support to organise the governance of their club. In time, all clubs affiliated with UniSA Sport will be expected to be appropriately governed, including having Office Bearers (President, Secretary, Treasurer etc), Annual General Meetings and Annual Reports, as well as documented evidence of membership and financial sustainability. For an initial period UniSA Sport will work with all clubs to ensure they are appropriately governed and assist them to meet these requirements. UniSA Sport will offer a membership system that will store and track membership information, including membership numbers and types of membership (current student, graduate, staff, other). Affiliated clubs will be required to have a majority of UniSA connected members to be eligible for UniSA Sport status, ie the total membership of the club must have a majority of a combination of current students, UniSA graduates and staff. UniSA Sport will assist clubs to monitor their membership levels, and undertake recruitment activities to ensure their membership balance is suitable Recruitment and Marketing UniSA has 35,000 students, and more than 174,000 graduates worldwide, with whom we regularly communicate through a wide range of mediums. UniSA Sport will tap into existing communication avenues, as well as establish its own, to help promote club benefits and activities. As part of its Strategic Plan, UniSA Sport will develop a marketing and 8 P a g e

10 communication strategy to provide assistance and opportunities for clubs looking to promote themselves to UniSA students to increase their membership, sources of funding and general awareness. There are a range of existing avenues that will provide a vehicle for clubs to gain exposure, including at major university events such as: Gear Up music festival access to 4000 students on one day at one campus Open Day exposure to more than 10,000 potential students UniSA Sport will investigate online solutions for clubs to communicate with their members, including supporting social media avenues and cross-collaboration with other UniSA communication mechanisms to spread the word about sporting clubs far and wide Branding UniSA Sport and the clubs affiliated with UniSA Sport are reflections of the university through their name and their appearance. As mentioned above, UniSA Sport will develop a line of uniforms that will be consistent across the range of sports and these will be gradually phased in. UniSA Sport will also work with clubs and the university to identify a suitable team name (for instance, Adelaide Uni is The Blacks, RMIT is The Redbacks ), logos or emblems, and potentially a mascot Finance UniSA Sport will provide initial financial management support for clubs during the transition from UniLife to UniSA Sport as required. Ongoing management of club finances will be discussed with appointed club office bearers. Larger clubs with their own arrangements for managing their finances will be able continue with these methods Facilities and Resources UniSA Sport will be in a unique position to negotiate directly with Facilities Management on behalf of UniSA sporting clubs and will aim to secure priority, free use of UniSA facilities where possible. UniSA Sport will also provide support for clubs seeking facilities through developing relationships with local councils, government departments and other recreational venue managers. UniSA Sport affiliated clubs will have access to meeting rooms and facilities across all campuses but in particular at the Student Bar at City West campus. This also provides a fantastic venue for clubs to hold social and fundraising events Australian University Sport UniSA Sport will provide support for clubs wishing to participate in events sanctioned by Australian University Sport. 9 P a g e

11 4. Benefits for Clubs The information contained in this Discussion Paper outlines a wide range of benefits to both individuals and student clubs and groups of the UniSA Sport initiative. Below is a summary of those benefits that may be available through UniSA Sport: Support to improve the governance of your club and ensure that it is properly constituted and managed to fulfil its legal and fiduciary responsibilities, as well as ensuring it is sustainable into the future Access to grants for equipment and uniforms Access to grants for coaching Access to UniSA facilities free of charge or at minimum cost (with priority access) Assistance with grants for facility upgrades Subsidised membership costs (compared to suburban clubs) Potential for free trainers and treatment at the UniSA Health Clinics (e.g. Physiotherapy Clinic, Podiatry Clinic, Exercise Physiology Clinic etc) Assistance with recruitment and fundraising activities, including exposure at significant events Support from UniSA in regards to gaining sponsorship and developing strategic plans Web support Online payment system Sharing of facilities (e.g. discounted hire of the Rowing Club for fundraising functions) Free access to the Student Bar at City West campus for meetings and events, including fundraising functions Discounts for equipment/uniform purchases through preferred suppliers UniSA Sport Membership Card to provide discounts at local businesses negotiated by UniSA Sport Discounted use of UniSA Gym Facilities and Swimming Pool Discounted basic First Aid Training and advanced First Aid Training This level of support from UniSA Sport for the clubs will enable them to run at a much lower cost than most suburban clubs, making it less expensive for budget-conscious students to participate at an amateur level. 10 P a g e

12 5. Consultation The purpose of this Discussion Paper is to outline the university s proposal to create UniSA Sport. We have discussed the concept with UniLife, and now we wish to open the discussion up to our wide range of sporting and recreational clubs for your input and advice. We would like to hear your views on any and every aspect of UniSA Sport. The purpose of the discussion and your feedback is to ensure that UniSA Sport meets the needs of our sporting clubs so that they are well supported and able to flourish. Your feedback is important and will ensure that UniSA Sport is the best organisation that it can be. Please feel free to provide a response on any aspect of this Discussion Paper (or on any matters that are not discussed in the paper). In particular we are interested in your views on the following: What kind of support does your club most require? What are the best aspects about the current support arrangements through UniLife that you would like to ensure UniSA Sport retains? What are the areas of improvement you would like to see under a new UniSA Sport arrangement? What are the current areas of frustration? What is the ambition of your club? We will also be holding an Open Discussion session for club members and students to come along and ask questions about the UniSA Sport proposal (see details below). The timeline for responding to the Discussion Paper is as follows: Feedback due by Friday 22 nd March Clubs are asked to review paper and collate feedback and questions for submission Submissions to be ed to anne-marie.parsons@unisa.edu.au Open Discussion Forum on Wednesday 6 th March Club delegates are asked to attend an open discussion forum to discuss all aspects and questions of the UniSA Sport proposal The Open Discussion Forum will be held at the Student Bar at City West Campus (Building N, formerly known as The Academy), 59 North Tce, Adelaide (next to the Espresso Room) from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. 11 P a g e

13 6. Further Information If you have any questions about the contents of the Discussion Paper, how you can provide feedback, the open discussion forum, or any aspect of UniSA Sport, please contact: Anne-Marie Parsons Deputy Director: Student Experience Phone: P a g e