News from the IHA Board: August 2021

Published Sun 15 Aug 2021

As you read this update from the Board, the majority of our members are in lockdown, with Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland all experiencing community transmission cases. Our sincere best wishes go out to all our impacted members, and as a Board, we are looking forward to a hopefully near future where hockey can return to as close as “business as usual” as possible.

Despite the situation within Australia at present, it was a somewhat timely distraction to have the Games of the XXXII Olympiad proceed in Tokyo, albeit without crowds. Congratulations to all the Australian athletes who competed in these Summer Olympics, particularly those who medalled and/or achieved personal bests. I’m sure everyone is looking forward to the 2020 Summer Paralympics to commence later this month and the 2022 Winter Olympics.

PARA ICE HOCKEY MAJOR GRANT – NEW EQUIPMENT

As previously mentioned, IHA has received a major grant from the Australian Government’s NDIS Social and Community Participation Stream Grant. The grant funding is to be used to purchase new sleds and safety equipment as part of Para Ice Hockey’s vision to grow this into a national sport. IHA is excited to report that the first round of new sleds and safety equipment has been ordered, and we look forward to receiving updates over the coming months.

SPORTAUS SPORT VOLUNTEERING NATIONAL PLAN

Sport Australia recently published their Future of Sport Volunteering: Insights Report that was created from a series of workshops hosted to “better understand the sport volunteering experience” so that the best volunteer experience can be created. As per many sporting organisations within Australia, IHA and all our Member Associations critically rely on the contribution made by our volunteers. You can find a copy of the report here, and the volunteering plan, here.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

As we are all aware, the pandemic continues to affect our whole community and the world. IHA and our MAs have regularly met and remained positive that conditions may change and that National Hockey Championships could return in 2021. Unfortunately, with extended lockdowns in some states and associated uncertainty surrounding travel within Australia, at IHA’s last President’s telecon, our MA’s came to the decision to cancel the 2021 National Championship Program. We understand that there will be many disappointed members; however, over the coming weeks, IHA will continue to work with their Portfolio Directors and MA’s to investigate alternative programs that will hopefully substitute some of the learning experience associated with national championships. IHA welcomes any suggestions from our members, so please forward any ideas to them.

NEW IHA DIRECTOR

IHA is pleased to announce that Dr Ryan O’Handley has been appointed a Director of IHA. Many of our members may know Ryan through his role as IHA National Player Development Director, which he has held since 2010. Ryan was also Head Coach of the Australian National U20 team (2011 & 2012), the National Men’s Team (2013 & 2014) and Head Coach of the AIHL Adelaide Adrenaline from 2011 to 2014. Ryan is currently Associate Professor of Veterinary Parasitology at the University of Adelaide with 20 years of research and lecturing experience. Besides excellent hockey credentials, Ryan brings expertise in financial and strategic planning, grant funding, and high-performance pathway planning and development to the IHA Board. The Board welcomes and looks forward to working with Ryan.

IHA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The IHA Annual General Meeting (AGM) was scheduled for Saturday, 24 July 2021; however, it was postponed until the Board could achieve quorum with the appointment of a fourth director. Now that Ryan has been appointed, a date for the AGM will be scheduled shortly where IHA will present the 2021 Annual Report, Financial Statements and the Independent Auditor’s Report.

Announcement