Orienteering NSW is calling for expressions of interest from coaches and mappers to be involved in the new Sporting Schools Program (SSP) starting next month.
"Sporting Schools" replaces the Active After School Communities (AASC) program and is again being funded by the federal government via the Australian Sports Commission. Each school will receive $1700 per term. (Members can read more about it on page 22 of the current June edition of the Australian Orienteer.)
ONSW has already started receiving enquiries from some schools for coaches, mapping and to purchase the OK-GO kits developed by Ian Jessup, Barbara Hill, Carolyn Rigby and Salme Fuller.
As such, ONSW would like to hear from coaches and people wishing to train as coaches, to teach orienteering before, during or after school. These are paid positions.
In addition to its existing 100+ school maps, ONSW will require more school maps, and is looking for people wishing to train as mappers (People making school maps will be paid by the schools).
The aim of the program is to get children more active and hopefully into club sport through physical activity, while also addressing the growing problem among children.
See www.onsw.asn.au/sporting-schools for additional information as it pertains to ONSW.
Orienteering is one of 32 sports selected by the ASC to take part in this program. In 2015 the program will target 5,000 primary schools, after which it will extend to 80 secondary schools. Schools will select the sports they wish their students to be involved in, term by term. To be able to deliver in the SSP the coach must be accredited by ONSW or Orienteering Australia. Orienteering NSW seeks orienteers who are interested in being coaches for this new and exciting program, to register an Expression of Interest by contacting John Murray (
Coaching Candidates must be willing to:
- Complete successfully the ASC online Introductory Officiating General Principles (no cost, 4 hours)
- Attend and complete successfully a Level 0 - Orienteering Coach Accreditation course run by Orienteering NSW.
- These training courses are free for club members.
- These positions are on a pay-for-service basis, at a nominated hourly rate.
Demand for our services may be light or heavy (depending on requests from schools). We are looking for coaches all over NSW. We can run coaching courses in regional areas if there is enough interest.
Coaching Candidates must also:
- Be a paid up member of Orienteering NSW
- Be able to work in a professional manner with experienced teachers
- Be able to cope with classes with a wide range of abilities and behaviours
- Teach by example.
- Mentor staff and assist each school in developing a sustainable orienteering program
- Have a validated NSW Working with Children Check status.
Mapping Candidates: if you are interested in learning to make school maps (and be paid for it) please contact John Murray (
