BDO joins Netball Queensland on regional social impact initiative
Professional services firm BDO has teamed up with Netball Queensland on a program which promotes the sport’s social impact through community initiatives as to accessibility and inclusion.
Launched earlier this year, the ‘Starting Seven’ platform provides the opportunity for organisations to invest in various grassroots and regional programs state-wide, with BDO now becoming the second partner alongside founding member Ticketek.
“Netball touches millions of Australians every year and the Starting Seven has been created to partner with like-minded organisations like BDO so together we can amplify that impact where it’s needed most,” said Netball Queensland CEO Kate Davies.
Netball remains the largest female participation sport in Australia, with Netball Queensland contending that eight out of ten Australian families have had some involvement in the sport, be it as players, volunteers, coaches or in administration. Meanwhile, Australian Sports Commission data suggests there are now more than one million active players nationwide.
With roughly 70,000 of those registered in Queensland, the Starting Seven program aims to increase participation in the state. One of its initiatives is ‘Diamond Spirit Engage’, which brings netball to remote Indigenous communities including in the Torres Strait Islands in a culturally-safe manner through introductory clinics, essential equipment, and local leadership skills-development.
Seven Starters also supports a regional and remote coaching and development program to help identify and nurture emerging athletes from outside of traditional pathways, with Netball Queensland to further establish a network of well-being officers across its affiliated associations to promote player welfare and provide education, support, and professional development opportunities.
“Joining the Starting Seven is about more than a corporate partnership,” said BDO chief operating officer Cara Wennerbom. “Our contribution is about supporting local players to make netball accessible for everyone, especially in remote communities. We’re proud to play our part in creating opportunities, nurturing talent, and ensuring everyone has the chance to thrive on and off the court.”
As outlined in BDO’s recently-released sustainability report for 2025, the firm this year launched its internal ‘BCaring’ program, an initiative designed to maximise BDO’s collective social and community impact through targeted volunteering and support for giving in areas such as domestic violence awareness and prevention, mental health, homelessness, and food security.
