About Leisure Networks
Community Services
Club Development
Event Calendar
Contact Us





Telephone:
+61 (03) 5222 3911
Fax:
+61 (03) 5229 0640
Postal address:
Sports House (Simonds Stadium)
370 Moorabool St,
Geelong Vic, 3220
Email:
lnetworks@leisurenetworks.org





 

ABOUT LEISURE NETWORKS

In The Beginning:

Leisure Networks was incorporated on 4th December 1989 as a community-based, not for profit organisation “providing recreational experiences for a targetted group of people with disabilities”.

On 1st March 2001, Leisure Networks merged with the Barwon Region Sports Assembly and  a new Committee of Management was elected to govern and set the strategic direction for the new organisation.

Leisure Networks was born out of a partnership created to increase opportunities for “community organisations and people of all abilities” to achieve their goals through a variety of avenues including participation in sport, recreation and leisure related activities. Building partnerships remains the core of Leisure Networks' ability to influence others and deliver its Vision.

Community development continues to underpin Leisure Networks' focus on achieving its Vision through significant investment in promoting collaboration and effective partnerships between all levels of government, the community and the private sector..

 

Leisure Networks Now:

Leisure Networks continues its community focuses work to promote and strengthen community sport, recreation and health opportunities for people of all abilities across the Barwon Region of Victoria. Leisure Networks has a strong focus on supporting young people with disabilities. It is a charitable organisation with DGR status providing individual support services to clients.

A voluntary Board works through the CEO and twenty full and part time staff to support, facilitate or deliver over twenty programs and initiatives. Many of these programs and initiatives have been developed by Leisure Networks from concepts based around recognised community needs.

Once such example is the award winning Sportsaccess program that started as an idea and now helps less advantaged primary aged children to participate in sports through support and grants for equiment, clothing and membership fees. Grants are provided by donations and schools, clubs, parents and young people all commit to driving the process.

Sportslink is another example of an idea from within Leisure Networks to link people, clubs and community through the internet by sharing information.
Sportslink has now been embraced right across Victoria.

Our Vision is:

strong, capable, healthy and active communities.

Our Mission

We will achieve our Vision by leadership in:

  • supporting sport, recreation clubs and community organisations to be well managed, inclusive and sustainable;
  • assisting people of all abilities to identify and pursue their aspirations;
  • providing opportunities for more people to be physically active and healthy;
  • increasing participation in community building activities.

Our Values are to be

  • inclusive
  • innovative
  • honest
  • enthusiastic
  • fair

Operating Principles :

To achieve our Vision and Mission we will:

  • build the capability of individuals and groups to set and achieve their goals
  • work with and through others committed to healthy and active communities
  • develop partnerships and networks with government, community, public and private sector
  • focus on the sustainability of programs and initiatives over the longer term
  • act in non-partisan way at all times
  • act against discrimination - treating everyone as “equal” and with respect
  • be well governed, effectively managed and a sustainable not-for-profit community organisation.

 

Our Funding:Leisure Networks funding arrangements are with the Department for Planning and Community Development, the Department of Human Services, VicHealth and the Australian Drug Foundation. Such diversity in funding is a great strength for the organisation giving us regional coverage and significant leverage in being a leader in the development of a strong sport and recreation sector.