By Elizabeth Winter
To mark this year’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, Netball Australia is reflecting on the progress made in strengthening safeguarding across the Pacific netball community, in collaboration with the Australian Government through Team Up and Netball’s Ocean of Power.
The theme “Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers” highlights the role sport can play in uniting communities and creating inclusive environments. As a sport that empowers women and girls to thrive, netball is uniquely positioned to bring this to life, and safeguarding is central to ensuring netball remains a safe, supportive space for everyone involved.
BRINGING VOICES TOGETHER
In March 2026, leaders from across the Pacific Netball Federations attended a Strategic Leadership Workshop as part of the Netball’s Ocean of Power program in which they participated in a session on safeguarding ran by leading experts Keesha Booth and Tahina Booth from the Grass Skirt Project.
Bringing together a range of people from each organisation, from federation staff members to board executives, highlighted that safeguarding is a collective responsibility and high priority.
“The role of sport in the Pacific is incredibly impactful,” said Keesha Booth.
“If any sporting institutions lead and integrate safeguarding into their day-to-day operations, then it has a huge impact in how it plays out in the community.
“If you can get people to talk about difficult taboo topics, and use sport as that leverage point, then you can make huge movements socially.”
Keesha Booth and Tahina Booth from the Grass Skirt Project led a session on safeguarding for Pacific Netball Federation leaders.
During the workshop, participants discussed the process of transforming policy on paper into something tangible which can be utilised on the ground.
Tusi Faasootau-Ale, Country Program Manager at Netball Samoa, found working with Grass Skirt Project a crucial opportunity to take the moment to discuss issues around safeguarding.
“It takes a village. That’s what I’ve learned sitting here, to honour that and normalise safeguarding in everyday conversation and within our organisations,” she said.
Netball Australia and Pacific Netball Federations are encouraging broader conversation around safeguarding in sport.
NETBALL’S IMPACT AND INFLUENCE
Through the Team Up program, Pacific Netball Federations have been strengthening their safeguarding practices and becoming leaders in this space.
Key milestones include safeguarding workshops being delivered at the end of 2025 in collaboration with Netball PNG, Netball Samoa, and Tonga Netball Association, led by each federation’s designated Safeguarding Experts.
As the first point of contact, these experts led presentations with coaches, community leaders, local teachers, and federation staff on safeguarding guidelines and protocols, reinforcing that safeguarding is not an add on – but a core part of netball.
Rosabel Tuatagaloa, Sports Development Coordinator for Netball Samoa, has been directly involved in the growth of safeguarding knowledge and implementation in program delivery.
Tuatagaloa reflected on her experience participating in Team Up’s safeguarding education workshops.
“The way I design programs has changed by putting safeguarding at the centre,” she said.
“Every plan now starts with clear safety roles, child-friendly environments, and strong partnerships so that netball is not only fun and competitive, but also a safe space for every participant.”
Rosabel Tuatagaloa has been part of multiple safeguarding workshops and is now sharing her knowledge gained with Netball Samoa's broader community.
Exemplifying this, Netball Samoa recently ran their annual Farmer Joe Safeguarding Primary School Netball Tournament – a competition which invites six primary schools to compete, while socialising safeguarding terminology and inviting people to be part of the broader conversation.
As well as country-led initiatives, Team Up has delivered annual safeguarding workshops in Fiji, bringing partners together to share knowledge and strengthen approaches across the region. Consistent participation in these forums is building confidence and capability in safeguarding practices for community leaders like Tuatagaloa.
Lavelua (Lua) Taulahi, Assistant Development Officer at Tonga Netball Association, reflected on the increased recognition of safeguarding within the netball community in Tonga.
“By raising more awareness of safeguarding, we are building and allowing young athletes to thrive not only on the court but also in life. They become the best versions of themselves,” she said.
Tonga Netball Association are broadening the conversation around safeguarding through community-led initiatives.
SHARING KNOWLEDGE AMONGST COMMUNITY
Netball Australia have been working closely with Pacific Netball Federations to ensure knowledge on safeguarding is spread across their broader networks.
In 2025, during a workshop ran in collaboration with Netball Australia and the ADF, Netball Samoa CEO Justine Samu and Country Program Manager Tusi Faasootau-Ale led a session on safeguarding for local netball community leaders.
The session highlighted the role everyone must play, from players and umpires to those in governance, to ensure netball remains a safe and inclusive environment.
“I’m looking forward to everyone getting out there and spreading this message, working together to grow this shift in mindset,” Samu said.
In 2025, Netball Samoa ran a safeguarding session involving broader community members to share knowledge with schools, clubs, and associations.
Workshop participant Visceta Meredith, President of St Mary’s Sports Club, found the discussion around safeguarding insightful as she learned more about the role it plays in sport as a whole.
“We have more awareness after this week around safeguarding. It’s an issue that is a concern whether it happens on or off court,” she said.
“I’ve learned that safeguarding is not just about safety in the game, it can be emotional, mental, physical, these are all areas that we need to make sure our players in all sports are looked at,” she said.
Netball Australia and Pacific Netball Federations are continuing to work together to strengthen safeguarding policies across the Pacific.
PAVING THE WAY FORWARD
As well as delivering education workshops, Pacific Netball Federations are designing their own safeguarding policies – a crucial step in protecting netball participants, coaches, and umpires, while ensuring policy remains grounded in local culture, context and community needs.
Sallee Caldwell, Head of Market Development at Netball Australia, emphasised the significance of prioritising safeguarding in the development of netball across the Pacific.
“The partnership between Netball Australia and Pacific Netball Federations is built on a shared vision to create safe and inclusive environments for all participants. The progress achieved in safeguarding is a vital component of this work and plays a key role in netball’s ongoing development.” she said.
Netball’s Ocean of Power is an Australian Government initiative empowering women and girls in the Pacific to step into leadership roles and become champions within their communities.
Team Up is the Australian Government’s sport for development program in the Asia-Pacific which uses the power of sport to transform lives. Team Up and Netball Australia work closely with Pacific Netball Federations to support the growth of netball in the Pacific and ensure the sport is safe, inclusive and accessible, and work to strengthen relationships between Australia and Asia-Pacific partners.
Interested in Netball Australia’s International Development work? See more here.
