Table Tennis Victoria is thrilled to celebrate the success of the Raising the Net program, a Victorian Government-funded initiative designed to encourage participation in table tennis and badminton among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in Bendigo and Ballarat. In partnership with Badminton Victoria, this program has provided participants with the opportunity to try these exciting sports for free in a welcoming and inclusive environment. 

Table Tennis Victoria CEO Gen Dohrmann expressed her enthusiasm for the program’s impact stating “Raising the Net has been a fantastic initiative, allowing us to introduce table tennis to new communities and create lasting opportunities for engagement.” 

“We are proud to see so many participants embracing the sport and experiencing the benefits of an active lifestyle” added Dohrmann. 

Ballarat Table Tennis Association Stadium Manager Adam Pegg highlighted the importance of the program in expanding access to the sport. “Programs like this strengthen our community and demonstrate the unifying power of sport.” 

“Whilst we saw a lower uptake in participants everyone provided positive feedback about wanting to come back and play in a social setting” added Pegg. 

Laura Bradley, Community Development and Partnership Lead at Sports Focus attended the first Bendigo session, stating “It was fantastic to see so many people enjoying themselves and giving badminton and table tennis a try - the smiles on the participants faces said it all.” 

“We have 2 more come and try sessions remaining, and I am looking forward to seeing members from our local Indian, Filipino and Afghan communities also enjoying themselves” added Bradley. 

The success of Raising the Net underscores the importance of community-driven programs in increasing sports participation and fostering inclusivity. Table Tennis Victoria looks forward to continuing this collaboration and providing more opportunities for all Victorians to experience the joy of table tennis. 

TTV has also been fortunate to run the Regional Racquet sport Roadshow also in partnership with Badminton Victoria to deliver regional governance workshops to committee members and volunteers in Ballarat, Traralgon and Shepparton. As part of this program TTV has also been able to upskill new coaches in the regional areas, bringing coaching courses to accredit over 25 new coaches. 

We extend our sincere gratitude to Badminton Victoria and the Victorian Government for their support in making this initiative possible, along with all of the regional clubs and associations involved for their continued support.