The Australian Sports Commission’s commitment to getting children more healthy and active, plus making sport more accessible, fun and safe, kick started the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program, which is the largest Government initiative of its kind.
The AASC program provides primary school children with a fun, free and safe introduction to over 70 sports and 20 other structured physical activities and encourages life-long participation in sport.
The program is designed to engage traditionally non-active children, or those not involved in mainstream sport.
The positive introduction of these sports to the children inspires a passion for sport and develops mobility skills – which is the foundation for a child to progress to local club sport and continue to be involved in sport for life.
Since 2005, nearly 400 000 children have been given this foundation in sport and over half a million sessions have been delivered around the country.
Currently, there are up to 150,000 children participating in the program, which is run in up to 3250 schools and after-school care sites in every state and territory in Australia.
The program also aims to build pathways with local community organisations, including sporting clubs. It is delivered by sporting organisations, sporting clubs, local community organisations and private providers of sports programs.
There are currently 20 schools and after school care services facilitated by the Wimmera Regional Coordinator. These sites service the Shires of West Wimmera, Hindmarsh, Ararat Rural City , Horsham Rural City , Yarriambiack, Buloke Shire and the Northern Grampians . Interaction with Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly and its user groups contributes towards the AASC program meeting its objectives in the Wimmera region.
(information provided by the Australian Sports Commission Active After-school Communities Program 2009)
