For many years, considerable time and effort was devoted by
teachers in Australian schools to the organisation of sporting
activities for students. As a result, School Sports Associations were
formed in most Australian States early this century. These
Associations provided intra state and inter state competition on a
limited scale.
It was not until the early 1970's that any co-ordinated effort
was made to bring together all the States' and Territories' activities.
Regular meetings of Association Secretaries led to the formation of
the Australian State Secondary Schools Sports Council in 1973.
This was the beginning of a new era in secondary school
representative sport in Australia. The creation of a forum for States
to discuss matters of mutual interest resulted in a greater awareness
within school communities of the benefits provided by sporting
activities.
This generation of interest eventually led to the formation of
the Australian Secondary Schools Sports Federation in 1977. This
body, representing all States and Territories became identified as
the controlling body of secondary school sport in Australia and has
continued to develop this role over the years.
Since the formation of the Australian Secondary Schools Sports
Federation, there has been significant growth in representative
sporting activities, greater liaison and improved relations with
community groups and systematic generation of relevant policies aimed
at the betterment of school sport.
After several years of operation, the role of the Federation
was supplemented by the establishment of the Australian Schools Sports
Council. This body represents both Primary School and Secondary School
Sports Associations throughout Australia. After considerable effort,
the Council was successful in obtaining Commonwealth Government funding
for the employment of a National Executive Director to work full-time
on the promotion of school sport.
The years 1977-1983 saw dramatic growth in school sporting
activities in Australia. Many problems were encountered some of which
were ultimately solved. Other problems continue to occupy those who
work within the organisation and their solution would appear to be the
main task for the future.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219073 |
| Date | January 1985 |
| Creators | Kalend, Steven L., n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Steven L. Kalend |
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