A HEALTHY approach to sport has powerful positive effects on and off the field, which is why the Member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall, is knocking on doors in Macquarie Street, arguing the case for an increase in funding from the state government for the Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS).
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NIAS has received $148,000 a year from the state government for the past eight years. Now, along with the state’s other 10 regional sports academies, it is renegotiating that five-year funding agreement, due to expire in December.
As a former chairman of the board of NIAS, Mr Marshall is backing a push to have each academy’s annual funding raised to close to $250,000.
Mr Marshall said it was about more than just sport, as NIAS’s philosophy of “developing potential on and off the field” doesn’t just train good athletes; it means more healthy, engaged young people in northern NSW communities.
“When our young elite athletes do have access to psychologists, nutritionists and other sports medicine practitioners, they are being supported to develop a healthy, happy well-rounded approach to their sport,” Mr Marshall said.
Although he thought the additional funding was a reasonable request, he did acknowledge that the academies would have to tighten their collective belts.
I intend to knock on all the relevant ministerial and departmental doors to ensure this request for an increase in funding does not go through to the keeper.
- Adam Marshall
“Tight budgets are limiting the programs they are able to offer. It also limits the number of high performance coaches and specialist medical staff they are able to access,” Mr Marshall said.
However, he said he is determined that the essential service provided by NIAS and other regional academies should be maintained, and where possible, expanded.
Already lobbying for the increase in academy funding to be built into the upcoming State Budget, Mr Marshall has asked his fellow Nationals to do the same.
“I intend to knock on all the relevant ministerial and departmental doors to ensure this request for an increase in funding does not go through to the keeper,” he said.
NIAS identifies and supports 160 athletes and 25 coaches in the North West/New England each year.