ADJOURNMENT

Senator CAROL BROWN (Tasmania) (19:30): On 30 July, I had the privilege of once again presenting at the Southern Tasmanian Netball Association Junior Leadership Program. This is a great program that has been part of the Tasmanian netball community since 1998. Since then, more than 200 players have gone through the program and had the chance to learn skills that helped them not just on the court but in their clubs, schools and communities.

Over the years, the program has covered areas such as coaching, umpiring, health and nutrition, mental health, communication and women in leadership. It gives young female players the chance to build their confidence, develop their voice and understand the contribution they make. Programs like this show that sport is much more than competition.

It can help young people grow, take on responsibilities, support others and become strong members of the community. Netball matters in Australia, especially because it shows women leading at every level as players, coaches, umpires, administrators, mentors and role models. That matters.

When young people see women leading with confidence, fairness, strength and kindness, it helps them understand that leadership can look many different ways. It's not just about being the loudest person in the room or having a particular title; it's about the way you treat people, the example you set and the way you bring others to you. Sometimes leadership simply is about turning up, being there for people and being somebody others can rely on.

The young women taking part in this program are already learning these lessons. They are learning teamwork, resilience, discipline, respect and persistence—skills that will help them well beyond the netball court. In my session, I had 15 engaged and inspiring future leaders.

During the session, we spoke about values and what leadership means to each of them. I was really impressed by the maturity and thoughtfulness they showed in talking about the kinds of leaders they want to be. One of the activities we did during the session was called the leadership crest.

Each participant was asked to create a crest with four words that were important to them in their own leadership journey. These could be qualities they already saw in themselves or qualities they want to develop. After writing their words and decorating their crests, we went around the room and gave the participants the chance to share their ideas and learn more about each other's goals.

Across the group, the 15 participants identified 31 different words they valued and associated with what makes a good leader. The words that came up most were trustworthiness and other values such as kindness, punctuality, responsibility, supportiveness and communication. I thought that said a great deal about the kinds of leaders these young women already are, and the kinds of leaders they're working to become.

We also spoke about the way support is shown on the netball court. I think it is a really powerful example of leadership. It shows that being a leader does not always mean being the person in the centre of the action; sometimes it means standing where you are when you're needed, making sure others know they're not on their own and being someone they can count on when they need support.

We finished the session with an activity focused on problem solving, teamwork and communication. It was a great reminder that leadership is serious and personal, but it also can be creative, collaborative and fun. I want to acknowledge Ava Loring, a young leader within the Southern Tasmania Netball Association, for the work she does in organising the program each year.

Her energy, care and commitment are clear in the way the program is run and the experience the participants receive. I also acknowledge the Southern Tasmanian Netball Association for its ongoing support of young people, women's leadership and the broader netball community. Thank you to the families who support participants to be involved; the mentors and the volunteers who give their time; and, most importantly, the players themselves.

Their hard work, curiosity and willingness to learn are what make this program so special.