National handball competition gets Aussie kids moving again
8 May 2021 at 12:00 pm
The National Handball Championship was designed to support the physical and mental wellbeing of children throughout 2021
Australian sport stars have come together to get kids active again following a year of COVID-19 lockdowns, throwing their support behind Australia’s biggest handball competition for primary school children.
The finals for the first National Handball Championship took place last weekend across seven states, and was attended by more than 400 children aged between six and 12 years old.
This event – which was hosted by Camp Australia in collaboration with Handball Australia at 12 partner schools – was backed by several Australian sporting stars.
World No. 1 tennis player Ash Barty donated a signed top for the event, while recent Stawell Gift winner Ed Ware attended Hughesdale Primary School to support the kids taking part in the finals.
AFLW star Kara Antonio, Carlton AFL player Mitch McGovern and the St Kilda Football Club also threw their support behind the event.
The championship formed part of Camp Australia’s post-COVID campaign to get children active again following a year of lockdowns and increased screen time.
A recent survey from Camp Australia found that 69 per cent of parents and 90 per cent of principals reported a decrease in physical wellbeing and increased feelings of disconnection for children during the pandemic.
Camp Australia chief operating officer Brett Comer said the National Handball Championship was designed to support the physical and mental wellbeing of children throughout 2021.
“Our research highlighted that following 2020, parents and principals observed a significant decrease in children’s physical and mental wellbeing because of the loss of participation in sports,” Comer said.
“Part of our response to COVID-19 continues in activities that guide children’s growth, such as the National Handball Championships to reconnect friendships whilst making physical activity accessible and fun to any child.”
Each of the participating schools crowned a winning child who took home $1,000.
Antonio said she was proud to be a part of the event.
“Bringing fun, physical activity to kids is always crucial to their health and wellbeing. It was exciting to be part of this unique collaboration to bring the National Handball Championships to kids around the country,” Antonio said.
“It is an awesome initiative to get kids moving and socialising again in a positive, healthy environment.”
