Community Development Officers
Find the Community Development Officer in your area by clicking on your state/territory from the map below:
CDO program makes inroads for sport of bowls
Bowls Australia’s national community development program has continued to go from strength to strength since its inception in late 2011.
Collectively, the program has 16 CDOs servicing both metro and regional areas nationwide.
In addition, relationships and links between key stakeholders of the sport and Bowls Australia have strengthened and the breadth of these connections has grown, particularly in regional areas.
The program was made possible by Bowls Australia, the Australian Sports Commission and the state and territory associations.
Collectively, the officers share a wide range of experience in bowls, club development and importantly in the delivery of community programs.
Several success stories have emanated of the community development program already in its short life span, which highlights the importance, benefits and effectiveness of implementing such an initiative for almost 470,000 bowls club members in the country.
A familiar tale of success
One case that illustrates the success of the CDO program comes out of the Gladstone Bowling Club, located in South Australia.
Thanks to the community development program and CDO for the North and Western SA region, Richard Law, two talented young bowlers were able to secure equipment that allowed them to practice and play the sport of bowls regularly.
When Richard visited the Gladstone Bowling Club, the secretary Graham Smith commented that they had two indigenous players that were very good at the sport, but did not have any equipment and needed to borrow bowls whenever they practiced or played.
Richard facilitated assistance from the Office of Recreation and Sport’s indigenous program, resulting in inroads being made to secure the equipment for the two players.
Richard found that there may be some money available via the ORS Indigenous program which resulted in a $2000 grant to purchase two sets of bowls, bags and equipment.
After making the presentation to the two new indigenous bowlers, they then gave three sets of bowls to Gladstone for their club members to use as they wish, in the ultimate win/win situation.
This heart-warming good news story is a testament to the program and displays that inroads and improvements are being made in providing continued support and assistance to affiliated clubs nationwide.
Developing your club on and off the green
A common theme discussed amongst the nation’s Community Development Officers is the need of clubs to constantly review and revise their operations to ensure maximum potential is being realised.
If you are unsure where to start, your first port of call should be bowlsaustralia.com.au/clubassist.
As part of the CDO staff’s regular club visits, those clubs which currently do not possess a strategic plan are asked to consider implementing one.
A CDO was recently asked to assist a working party that had been specifically created with the intention of implementing a strategic plan.
A pleasing aspect on arrival was that the members of the board, as well as the men’s and women’s bowls sections were involved in the consultation process.
After a brief chat and introduction, the CDO provided the sport’s longterm vision and how each club can assist with the process.
As a group they also conducted a SWOT (strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats) analysis of the club in its current form before looking at achievable goals in areas such as patronage, membership, club structure and club development and renovation.
Once a consensus on which goals were achievable, and viable, was met, the group put together a five year strategic plan
Club Health Check
The Club Health Check is an online self-assessment tool aimed at helping clubs examine how they are operating.
The CHCL is the first step in growing your club. The checklist looks at a number of different factors that are crucial to success at club level and together these factors are used to build an overall picture of the way your club carries out its operations.
Your region’s CDO will take your club through the steps required to complete the Club Health Check during one of their regular visits.
