Australian Sports Outreach Program

ASOP Programs


Tonga Sport for Development Program

The purpose of the Tonga Sport for Development Program is to build the capacity of the Tongan Ministry of Training, Employment, Youth and Sport (MOTEY’s) to help strengthen other sporting organisations and initiatives.

The program aims to assist in 2 small projects in the first 12 month trial period, these are:
  1. Partnering with the recently re-established Tonga Netball Association (TNA) to strengthen their overall capacity to manage netball programs and especially their ability to deliver regular, participation based netball programs for women and girls.
  2. Partnering with the Government of Tonga’s Ministry of Education, Women and Culture (MEWAC) to work with 3 pilot primary schools to help build the capacity of the school and its teachers to deliver inclusive, games-based sport programs for students in classes 4, 5 and 6.

Structure

The Tonga Sport for Development program is initially operating on the main island of Tongatapu in the Nuku’alofa area.  The project is currently managed by the Deputy Director of MOTEY’s with the support of 6 skilled staff to work strategically with partners in TNA and the MEWAC to achieve the objectives of the projects within the targeted population groups.  
  • MOTEY’s staff deliver training and provide on-going support to teachers within the selected schools to develop their strategies and skills to run inclusive, games based activities to their classes on a weekly basis. The experience gained from this will provide advice and support to the MEWAC in the development of their Physical Education curriculum.
  • MOTEY’s staff are working closely with the TNA committee to plan and implement a range of netball programs throughout the year that offer increased opportunities for girls and women to regularly participate in sport.

Partners

The Tonga Sport for Development Program is a partnership between the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the Government of Tonga’s Ministry of Training, Employment, Youth and Sport (MOTEY’s).  MOTEY’s are partnering with the Tonga Netball Association and the Ministry for Education, Women and Culture (MEWAC).

Participation

Both of the first year projects aim to increase the participation of women/girls and primary school aged children in physical activity.  These groups have been identified as having limited opportunities to participate in regular, organised and quality physical activity programs.  In Tonga, increased participation in regular physical activity has been identified as an effective approach to reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. 

Implementation

These projects are utilising the services of a range of internal and external providers and resources to help build the capacity of MOTEY’s in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of sport for development projects.  MOTEY’s have a team of sport development officers engaged to support TNA and the MEWAC in planning and implementing their activities to provide more opportunities for girls/women and primary school-aged children to participate in quality sports programs.