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1:00 AM Fri 20 Feb 2009 GMT
Sailability Australia encourages and facilitates sailing and boating throughout Australia for people with disabilities. These activities include social, recreational and competitive events that range from introductory try-sailing days and social days through to high level competitive events.
Yachting Australia proudly supports Sailability via a National Committee which is chaired by past AYF President Mr Bruce Dickson. The committee members are made up of state MYA delegates who bring forward ideas and efforts on behalf of their states and for the good of national initiatives.
National committees such as the Sailability Committee usually make recommendations to the Board of Yachting Australia on matters of policy and strategic direction. Typically this does not directly touch grass roots efforts as seen in clubs and Sailability branches, but it provides a structure of support and direction for the next levels to work within.
The policies and strategic efforts seek to advance opportunities within yachting (sailing and boating) for people with disabilities. The committee tries to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities within all mainstream yachting activities.
Yachting can be promoted as a fun, safe and rewarding activity in which people with disabilities can participate.
But to achieve this, yachting needs national safety and procedural policies for Sailability activities. This can include development and training of persons involved in Sailability activities.
Another role of Yachting Australia and the Sailability Committee is to develop and promote regattas and championship events at the national level for people with disabilities in association with affiliated bodies of Yachting Australia.
As Yachting Australia seeks to mainstream the efforts of Sailability and see opportunities for disabled persons opened up, the sport also needs to liaise with sporting, health and educational bodies, government agencies and relevant organisations. This is handled by Yachting Australia with the federal government's Australian Sports Commission, and by the state MYAs with the respective state government departments.
In the past with the efforts of the Sailability Committee and the support of the Australian Sport Commission, Yachting Australia has developed a significant number of resources referred to as the "Opening Doors" modules. These can be found on the Yachting Australia website and have been distributed to the state MYAs for application at the club and grass roots levels.
The Opening Doors modules address everything from influencing people's attitudes and dispelling myths, through to fund raising, preparing a club and even identifying champions. The Opening Doors modules are freely available and have been a great help to people trying to start Sailability at club level.
Other initiatives carried forward by Yachting Australia and the Sailability Committee is the training and accreditation of Classifiers.
Classification is the means by which athletes with a disability can compete against each other. It enables athletes with different disabilities to be classified for competition, ensuring that teams are more evenly matched.
There is substantial information on the Yachting Australia website, and a DVD has been produced by the Australian Sports Commission with the assistance of Yachting Australia. Australia has several internationally recognised Classifiers, perhaps the most prominent being Dr Stephen Wilson who joined the Australian Paralympic Team to the 2008 Paralympics.
Looking to the future, Yachting Australia is committed to working with the Sailability Committee to investigate how to push these initiatives further into the sport. There will be a strong dependence on the committee and its members to work closely with the state MYAs in developing state Disability Action Plans, training of Classifiers and delivery of Opening Doors information seminars.
There is a need to encourage state MYAs to include sailors with disabilities in regular training squads and coaching activities.
Yachting Australia is looking at this by trying to improve the integration of the Paralympic Sailing Team into its mainstream High Performance activities. This may include the Australian Sailing Team, the Australian Sailing Development Squad and the State High Performance Programs.
Whilst these future developments represent challenges for both state MYAs and Yachting Australia, the team at Yachting Australia and the Sailability Committee is determined to see the successes through.
The next Sailability Committee meeting is scheduled for April 17 at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.
For further information on Sailability please contact Yachting Australia or your MYA.
by Glen Stanaway
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Lord Howe Island Windy Point, NSW
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