The power of sport to make positive change, bring people together and promote understanding. So this week I wanted to discuss what the Solomon Islands–Australia Partnership is achieving in sport for development. 

In 2023 we launched the Australia’s Team Up program in Solomon Islands. This Pacific-wide program is locally led and uses sport to champion inclusion for people with and without disabilities, create opportunities to advance equality, address issues like gender-based violence, and develop women leaders on and off the field.

This is in addition to PacificAus Sports which develops pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions, and access high performance coaching in Australia and internationally.

Australia’s sport for development partners are:

1. Solomon Islands Hockey Federation
2. Solomon Islands Basketball Federation
3. Honiara Table Tennis Association
4. Western Solomons Surfing Association
5. Athletics Solomon Islands
6. Solomon Islands Football Federation

These partners deliver programs across Guadalcanal, Central, Western, Isabel, Makira-Ulawa and Malaita Provinces that have touched many lives, with almost 21,000 participants across all 6 programs last year.

On 25 November Prime Minister Manele said ensuring the safety and well-being of all women and girls is a priority for his government, especially by preventing and addressing gender-based violence. These programs support this vision by giving women and girls equal opportunities to participate, learn and grow, and by teaching participants about respect and equality.

Jobs and the economy are also a priority for the Solomon Islands Government. Team Up contributes to this by creating paid jobs that wouldn’t exist otherwise and work experience and transferable skill development for the many passionate and dedicated volunteers that make these programs possible. For example, sport for development volunteers develop public speaking, event management, and time management skills, among others, that allow them to find employment elsewhere

Across all 6 programs, there are 14 full-time employees, 5 part-time employees, and almost 150 volunteers. More than half of the staff across these programs are women.

Just Play Program

I’ve seen the passion Solomon Islanders have for football and I’m glad that Australia was able to support the Solomon Islands Football Federation with their Player Development Pathway Program which has 6 men from the national team playing professional football in Australia. The Just Play Program aims to use inclusivity and equal opportunities to retain girl’s interest in sports and is now piloting an Emergency Preparedness curriculum. An April school festival in East Vella La Vella had children ‘learning through play’ across six stations with different key messages about how to be prepared during a natural disaster.

Hook in4 Health

Hockey, a favourite sport in Australia, has boomed since the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands. Alongside the Oceania Hockey Federation, the Solomon Islands Hockey Federation has reached nearly 13,000 school kids in 2024. This program uses sport to teach kids to make informed choices about health and wellbeing, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and nutrition.

Basketball for Good

The Solomon Islands Basketball Federation and FIBA Oceania are delivering the ‘Basketball for Good’ program which uses games, skills sessions and discussions to teach fair play, the importance of respect, and how to develop confidence and encourage teamwork.

Women Make Waves

Australia is known for great surf breaks, and Solomon Islands has some amazing surfing spots too. In Western Province, the Western Solomons Surfing Association in partnership with SurfAid, the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association, and the Family Support Centre, has been educating communities about women’s health, equality, improving resilience among gender-based violence survivors, and fostering women’s leadership roles.

Included Through Sport

This program uses athletics to ensure people with visible and non-visible disabilities can participate equally in community activities. Athletics Solomons, with support from Sport Inclusion Australia and Oceania Athletics, has trained coaches and volunteers to deliver sport in an inclusive way across Guadalcanal, Central and Malaita Provinces. A major milestone of this program was 15 athletes from the Special Development Centre competing in the National Championships in 2024.

Smash Down Barriers and Bounce it Back

Honiara Table Tennis Federation and the International Table Tennis Federation – Oceania have delivered the ‘Smash Down Barriers’ and ‘Bounce it Back’ programs in schools and disability centres in Guadalcanal. Sessions promote the importance of physical activity as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Better quality of life from improved physical and mental health

Sport has real benefits for society – active and happy children, who learn lessons about hand hygiene and healthy eating stay well and in school (meaning parents can go to work and earn a living), and stay out of trouble, reducing the burden of anti-social behaviour for communities, families, schools and police.

Children who are confident in their abilities are prepared for future challenges which is key to their personal and academic growth.

Alongside school, church and family, safe, structured and inclusive sport is developing the next generation of Solomon Islanders and helping maximise the participation of women and people with disabilities in society.  

Lukim iu neks team!

Photo 1: Australian High Commissioner His Excellency Rod Hilton at the launch of Team Up in Barana Community.  

Photo 2: The Western Solomons Surfing Association has partnered with SurfAid, the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association, and the Family Support Centre to deliver ‘Women Make Waves’ in Western Province.