Andrew Leigh (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

In the electorate of Fraser, the Active After-School Communities Program is a terrific way of keeping young people engaged with sport. In 2014, a number of schools in my electorate have joined the program: Gold Creek School, Burgmann School, Kingsford Smith School and Maribyrnong Primary School, as well as Emmaus Christian School and Mount Rogers School at the end of last year.

Primary school children in the ACT engage in Active After-School Communities sports across 27 schools, in sports ranging from cricket, touch football, golf, frisbee, fencing, rugby league, martial arts, tennis, gymnastics, dance, athletics, basketball, lawn balls, AFL and softball. There is a range of teachers who work with these programs. When I visited, I was greatly impressed by the regional coordinator, Liz Chester, and the team of coaches that she has working with her. Mentoring provide an opportunity for senior students to develop skills in leadership and in sports coaching; it also provides the opportunity for junior students to engage with their peers and to build bridges within the school. It is a great example of how sport can build social capital, and I commend all those involved in the Active After-School Communities Program.

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