Part 1: Mini masters helps Indigenous kids get active

It was a weekend of fun that has paved the way for a lifetime of benefits.

When more than 350 Indigenous children descended on Rockhampton's Southside United Sports Club for the Indigenous Mini Masters it showed two things: (1) kids still love their sport no matter how many video games they're playing; and (2) that by working together, local Indigenous organisations could successfully run community-based sporting events.

"The whole idea was to encourage the kids to play sport and as a result of the day we had 130 expressions of interest from children who weren't playing beforehand," said Lloyd Willie, the manager of Milbi Incorporated, which ran the event.

The Mini Masters was made possible thanks to a $6030 grant from the Department through its Indigenous Community Development Program.

The Queensland Government's support for the event, one of hundreds of projects it has supported through the Indigenous Community Development Program, demonstrates its commitment to helping Indigenous people to become more physically active.

Each year, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community councils and not-for-profit incorporated organisations can apply for a share of $1.5 million in funding under the program for planning, education, training and participation initiatives and the employment of sport and recreation officers.

Following the approval of its funding application, Milbi worked closely with local development officers from sports such as soccer, touch football, volleyball, netball and basketball work with Milbi to organise coaching clinics and games for the excited participants during the staging of the two-day Milbi Mini Masters.

Children aged between four and 14 travelled with their families from as far as Gracemere, Yeppoon and Mount Morgan to attend.

"We had them playing three on three in all of the sports and every 15 minutes they'd rotate on to the next sport," Mr Willie said.

"A lot of the kids had never had the opportunity to play sport like this, but after the weekend they've joined up to play with local clubs."

Mr Willie said sport was one important area that Milbi was focusing on as part of its youth crime prevention programs.

"We're teaching the kids how to play, but we're also teaching them about respect and to work together instead of getting up to no good," he said.

The success of the day cannot be understated. Seven months later Milbi hosted a similar two-day come-and-try event on behalf of Bidgerdii Aboriginal Medical Clinic, which had received $10,570 through the Indigenous Community Development Program 2003.

This time more than 500 participants turned up.

Additional funding of $6197 through the Indigenous Community Development Program 2003 enabled Milbi to host another come-and-try event in June 2004 and it is hoped it will become an annual event.

As a result of these come-and-try days, Indigenous organisations from the Rockhampton region have worked together to develop and maintain a calendar of events for young Indigenous people in the region.

This coordinated approach aims to avoid date clashes and ensure Indigenous children in the region have access to high-quality sport and recreation programs.

Read more about how Milbi organised and ran the Indigenous Mini Masters.

Part 1: Mini masters helps Indigenous kids get active

It was a weekend of fun that has paved the way for a lifetime of benefits.

When more than 350 Indigenous children descended on Rockhampton's Southside United Sports Club for the Indigenous Mini Masters it showed two things: (1) kids still love their sport no matter how many video games they're playing; and (2) that by working together, local Indigenous organisations could successfully run community-based sporting events.

"The whole idea was to encourage the kids to play sport and as a result of the day we had 130 expressions of interest from children who weren't playing beforehand," said Lloyd Willie, the manager of Milbi Incorporated, which ran the event.

The Mini Masters was made possible thanks to a $6030 grant from the Department through its Indigenous Community Development Program.

The Queensland Government's support for the event, one of hundreds of projects it has supported through the Indigenous Community Development Program, demonstrates its commitment to helping Indigenous people to become more physically active.

Each year, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community councils and not-for-profit incorporated organisations can apply for a share of $1.5 million in funding under the program for planning, education, training and participation initiatives and the employment of sport and recreation officers.

Following the approval of its funding application, Milbi worked closely with local development officers from sports such as soccer, touch football, volleyball, netball and basketball work with Milbi to organise coaching clinics and games for the excited participants during the staging of the two-day Milbi Mini Masters.

Children aged between four and 14 travelled with their families from as far as Gracemere, Yeppoon and Mount Morgan to attend.

"We had them playing three on three in all of the sports and every 15 minutes they'd rotate on to the next sport," Mr Willie said.

"A lot of the kids had never had the opportunity to play sport like this, but after the weekend they've joined up to play with local clubs."

Mr Willie said sport was one important area that Milbi was focusing on as part of its youth crime prevention programs.

"We're teaching the kids how to play, but we're also teaching them about respect and to work together instead of getting up to no good," he said.

The success of the day cannot be understated. Seven months later Milbi hosted a similar two-day come-and-try event on behalf of Bidgerdii Aboriginal Medical Clinic, which had received $10,570 through the Indigenous Community Development Program 2003.

This time more than 500 participants turned up.

Additional funding of $6197 through the Indigenous Community Development Program 2003 enabled Milbi to host another come-and-try event in June 2004 and it is hoped it will become an annual event.

As a result of these come-and-try days, Indigenous organisations from the Rockhampton region have worked together to develop and maintain a calendar of events for young Indigenous people in the region.

This coordinated approach aims to avoid date clashes and ensure Indigenous children in the region have access to high-quality sport and recreation programs.

Read more about how Milbi organised and ran the Indigenous Mini Masters.