13 November 2024

When considering what it takes to win, Bowls Australia has a ‘person first, player second’ philosophy embedded in their High Performance strategy.

Under this framework, Bowls Australia strives to provide clear support and guidelines to help staff and athletes lead balanced lives and foster a sense of belonging by celebrating individual and personal milestones as well as success on the greens.

Some of the initiatives that support this approach include a parenting policy to support athletes travelling with young children, a carers policy that fosters an inclusive environment for athletes with a disability, formalised support for athletes transitioning in or out of the HP program and performance and professional development opportunities for both athletes and staff.

To encourage a culture of shared values from grassroots to high performance, Bowls Australia worked with top-tier Jackaroos as well as emerging athletes and staff to develop the Jackaroos Playbook. The playbook outlines agreed values and behaviours that combine challenge and care to support athletes and staff to perform at their best.

Similarly, Bowls Australia’s Athlete Leadership Group consists of both Open squad members and our Para squad members, further highlighting the fully integrated and inclusive program that Bowls is proud to lead. Athlete leaders meet on a regular basis and have significant input in new processes around athlete transitions, disciplinary processes and valued behaviours.

Both Open and Para Jackaroos also purposefully contribute to building a legacy where Bowls Australia continues to be a leader in inclusion and diversity.

To learn more about the incredible achievements of the Win Well award finalists, visit www.ais.gov.au/events/aspas