Storytelling is the single most powerful way to effect change. It has been used since the beginning of time to inspire, teach and motivate.
With this in mind, the Office of Sport and Netball NSW partnered to host a Storytelling Workshop - Shooting for 2027. The workshop aimed to unlock the enormous opportunities for brands and netball athletes to leverage their impact in the lead up to the Netball World Cup on home soil in 2027.
Held on 15 May 2024 at Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park, nearly 100 people collaborated and strategised on how to explore and amplify partnerships in netball through stories that create positive change, reaching well beyond the court.
The audience included current NSW Swifts and Giants players, coaches, Netball NSW staff and board members, Netball Australia staff and board members, current and potential netball partners. Major brands Suncorp and Woolworths spoke to the audience about how their values-based partnerships are delivering big impact.
Athletes are important because they get the cut-through of the message. They bring personality, credibility and athleticism. Not only that, they can bring their audience and they are seen as idols. So, by using them, you can create more engaging content.
Sarah De La Mare, Head of Community and Sponsorships at Woolworths
Examples of innovative investment and campaigns where brands, athletes and sports have achieved success together were shared, alongside latest research and insights.
Guided workshops using practical workbooks, were then held for athletes to assist in crafting compelling stories that resonate with audiences, and for brands to develop a blueprint that will drive their partnership further.
There are huge opportunities to capitalise on the Netball World Cup to drive investment and collaboration. Netball is the number one female team sport in Australia with more than one million people involved in the sport nationwide and 114,000 participants in NSW.
At the professional level, Suncorp Super Netball announced the best start to the 2024 season with record-breaking viewership and attendance. This event was designed to help athletes and brands connect on values-based storytelling in the lead up to the Netball World Cup on home soil in 2027.
For athletes, the focus was on unlocking the enormous branding potential opportunities, and for partners it’s about how to leverage the impact for their brand in the lead up to the Netball World Cup. Examples of innovative investment and campaigns where brands, athletes and sports have climbed the ladders of success together were shared, alongside latest research and insights.
The guided workshops helped the athletes to assist in crafting compelling stories that resonate with audiences, and for brands to develop a blueprint that will drive their partnership further.
It’s all been about what impact we can make in leading into the 2027 Netball World Cup on the back of the Matilda’s moment. We want to have our Diamond’s moment.
Maddy Proud, Australian Diamond and Co-captain of the NSW Swifts
A Netball World Cup in Sydney will be a dream come true. I think it's a huge opportunity for netball to grow even more and to be able to inspire the next generation of women and men is really exciting.
Jamie Lee Price, Australian Diamond and co-captain of the GIANTS