Celebrating NAIDOC Week
This week, Bowls Victoria is proud to acknowledge NAIDOC Week and join communities across Australia in celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Bowls has always been about bringing people together. Across Victoria, our Clubs are places where friendships are formed, stories are shared, and people from all walks of life are welcomed onto the green. Those values of community, respect, and belonging are at the heart of our sport.
As part of our commitment to strengthening those values, Bowls Victoria continues to progress our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our RAP is about building stronger relationships, increasing understanding, and creating meaningful opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within our sport.
While initially explored by the BV Board, the RAP is now a mandatory document required by the Victorian Government for all medium and large State Sporting Organisations, on order to remain eligible for funding. The Victoria Government has been an important investment partner in recent projects, including the Women in Bowls – Fair Access, Lead to Leaders, and the Regional All Abilities classification for Para bowlers projects.
Over the past year we have continued to work with our RAP Working Group, building our knowledge and identifying meaningful actions that can make a positive difference across the bowls community. We know that reconciliation is a journey, and we remain committed to taking thoughtful, genuine and practical steps along the way. Bowls Victoria has prepared a draft RAP in accordance with Reconciliation Australia guidelines and will soon be consulting the the wider bowls community.
Like any worthwhile journey, reconciliation isn’t about reaching a finish line overnight. It’s about listening, learning, and taking genuine, practical steps to help make our sport more welcoming and inclusive for everyone. We’re grateful to those who have shared their knowledge and experiences with us as we continue this work.
We know our bowls community is made up of people from many different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. What unites us is our shared love of the game and the connections it creates. NAIDOC Week provides a chance for all of us to pause, learn a little more about one of the world’s oldest continuing cultures, and celebrate the contributions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to our communities and to our sport.
To our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander bowlers, volunteers, officials, clubs and supporters, thank you for the important role you play in the Victorian bowls community.
From all of us at Bowls Victoria, we wish everyone a happy and meaningful NAIDOC Week.
