AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ATHLETICS WEST COMMUNITY

Published Thu 11 Jul 2024

Recently our member Centres and Clubs received direct communications from the President of Little Athletics Australia in relation to Athletics West's proposal to ask its members to no longer affiliate with Little Athletics Australia.

The Athletics West proposal put forward for Centres and Clubs to consider provides a clear and objective review of WA’s unique circumstances, in the hope that our Centres and Clubs will see the benefits that will be delivered to them under the proposed new model.

After a period of consultation and engagement we have responded to the legitimate questions asked by Centres and Clubs, producing a collection of frequently asked questions (FAQs) as a result.

We have been diligent in ensuring this process is transparent and have addressed a range of topics in detail in these documents, which can be found here:

Business Case for Change
National Affiliation FAQs

There is no intention or desire to stop or prevent Centres and Clubs from continuing to offer the traditional Little Athletics WA competitions and events. The Athletics West Board has six current members with roots in the Little Athletics WA system, having been heavily involved in their local Clubs and Centres with their own children and want to preserve this experience for others.

The current dispute with Little Athletics Australia over who has the right to use the name "Little Athletics Western Australia" and “Little Athletics WA” provides clear evidence of our desire to retain our history and continue building on the legacy our members have created.

To suggest otherwise is incorrect.

At the core of our business case for change, we believe the funding and resources can be better spent directly on our own Centres and Clubs, and that a single simple pathway from the youngest to the oldest athletes will be for everyone's benefit.

We encourage you to make sure that your committee knows and can vote for the proposal with confidence. Of course, the Athletics West Management Team and Board Members will continue to be available to meet or attend committee meetings to help explain or answer any further questions.