Project: To improve sports programs and enhance overall sports performance through sports coaching clinics; to purchase sports equipment; and to raise funds for sports facilities.

The Need: Sydney Boys High has a school population of 1,100. It is the only state secondary school in New South Wales that has membership of the Athletic Association of Great Public Schools (GPS), one of the highest standard school sporting competitions in the world. The other eight members of the GPS are private schools. While this membership gives students the opportunities to compete at a high level it also demands a high standard of performance. To attain the highest possible level, various needs have been identified, depending on the requirements of the particular sport. Some sports need specific additions to equipment and specialised coaching clinics, others need to acquire new equipment to enable them to train competitively and still others need funds to enable students’ participation in national competitions.

The Goal: To raise a total of $300,000 over five years for various sporting needs for the sports offered by Sydney Boys High: athletics, basketball, cricket, fencing, rifle shooting, rowing, rugby, sailing, soccer, tennis, volleyball and water polo.

The Approach: Sydney Boys High has had a commitment to excellence in sport since 1906 when it became a member of the GPS and the School has a well developed structure for sports administration, fundraising and budgeting. The School’s Sports Council is the governing body for sports administration and each sport is given a yearly budget. The Sports Council chaired by a Deputy Principal, consists of the Sports Master, Masters in Charge of various sports and parents representing the sports committees that raise funds for each individual sport.

Sydney Boys High Principal Dr Kim Jaggar says that the greatest benefit of the structure is the increased involvement of parents. ‘Each committee has an initial global budget from the School and parents work in many ways to raise the amount actually needed for each sport.’ In soccer for example, which has 580 students participating, the Soccer Committee might receive a budget of $15,000 but its estimated running costs are $23,000.

Dr Jaggar says that the School’s registration with the Australian Sports Foundation has been extremely successful in attracting donations. ‘The best part of our association with the ASF is that it energises the sport being supported. Donors see ASF grants going to the school sporting program and feel they have had a say in improving particular sports.’

The Challenge: Because the School relies so heavily on volunteers in all aspects of its sporting program, the current difficulties with the high cost of public liability insurance is an ‘overarching problem’, Dr Jaggar said. ‘In this climate, volunteers come under the umbrella of the sub committees of the Parents’ and Citizens’ Association, but it is an issue that must be resolved.’ Sports administration, he says, has become ‘pretty hard news’ with the public aware of the consequences if occupational health and safety standards are not met and the expectation that those involved in sports administration and management will have the highest standards. This applies, he says, whether they are volunteers or not.

The successful strategies

• Direct involvement and responsibility of parents in fundraising;
• Full explanation of sports development project and relationship with the Australian Sports Foundation on the School website: www.sydneyboyshigh.com
• Ongoing commitment to excellence.

Location: Sydney Boys High School is located in Moore Park, Sydney.