PA Foundation Accreditation courses
If you are looking to upskill coaches to a foundation level, Pickleball Australia are willing to run a course in your area with the proviso of a minimum of eight people who wish to do gain accreditation. Your club/region would need to provide the pickleball courts, and if possible, a room to conduct some theory components of the course. The cost of the course is $600 per person. Included on completion of the course for each participant is a one-year coaching membership to Pickleball Australia, personal accident insurance, professional indemnity and a coaching shirt (total value: $349). If you have a group of eight or more wishing to do a Foundation course, please feel free to contact me to confirm details.Further information is available on the Pickleball Australia website at https://www.pickleballaus.org/foundation-coaching-course.
Pickleball Australia are also looking for people who wish to be coach educators (paid position). If you are interested, please contact grace.schmidt@pickleballaus.org.
Our PAQ community
Pickleball Queensland is growing rapidly and now has 7949 members (as of 17 August 2026). PAQ also has fifty-one clubs and nineteen Business affiliates. “Pickleball is often described as the fastest-growing sport in the world”. But I wonder if that is what people are looking for. I think people are looking for connection. One of the reasons Pickleball creates such strong connections is that everyone starts somewhere. Beginners remember what it felt like to be new, so experienced players are often quick to encourage, partner with and support others. The game naturally brings together people of different ages, backgrounds, occupations and abilities in a way few sports can.” (Quote from the article, “More than just a game” by Simon Moore). Thank you to all the volunteers who allow us to be able to enjoy our sport, our new connections and communities.
I wanted to share an article with you from the Yeppoon Pickleball Club submitted by one of their members, Karen Latinovic, that highlights their community.
It’s More Than Just Pickleball!
In a little seaside regional town of Yeppoon with a population of 20,000 Pickleball first hit the courts in July 2020. Fast forward 6 years and we now have 18 world class pickleball courts and an amazing community of players who are supportive, caring and totally addicted to Pickleball and making this club amazing.
Like every other club in Australia, it takes lots of amazing volunteers to achieve what we have built structurally, along with 5 years running the QPT and 4 years of our 10-day Pickleball Festival. Putting this all aside, we are often reminded what this is all about and sometimes what our biggest achievements are such as friendship, community, belonging and amazing comradeship. This was all witnessed at the latest couple of tournaments in Mackay and on our home ground during Minor League Pickleball (MiLP)
We all got into Pickleball for one reason or another and have our own story about how it has affected our lives. There are lots of feel-good stories but one is a standout to our club. Ashanti Ray started playing pickleball via the organisation 360 Church that helps young underprivileged teenagers. Ashanti was hooked from Day 1 and we have had the pleasure of watching him grow from a shy young teenager into a confident happy young man. Ashanti had a hard life as he grew up in foster homes from the age of 3 and now lives independently with access to help if he needs it until he reaches the age of 25. As a community and through a few kind-hearted individuals, we have supported Ashanti to keep him playing helping in whatever way we can. However, Ashanti is fiercely independent which is a good thing as well. Ashanti plays competitively and has come away with medals at our club championships and club tournaments. He recently played in a MiLP team winning Gold and a Golden Ticket to the Sunshine Coast next round. The smile on his face after this win was contagious.
Once again, the beautiful volunteers from Yeppoon are stepping up to raise money to get him down there for this event.
Should you wish to share your good news stories from your clubs, could you please send your article through to kerrie.richards@pickleballqueensland.org.
Blue Card requirements for Junior only sessions
PAQ has recently sought clarification from Queensland Blue Card Services regarding Blue Card requirements for sporting clubs that have junior participants. Blue Card Services has advised that simply having junior members or having juniors participate in general mixed-age club activities does not, by itself, mean that all management committee members require Blue Cards.
However, the position may change where a club provides activities or services specifically for juniors. For example, where a club conducts junior-only coaching or another activity specifically for children, the club may be providing a regulated child-related service. Where the club’s management committee is responsible for decision-making in relation to that service, committee members may be required to hold a Blue Card, even if they do not personally work with or have direct contact with children.
This requirement is separate from the requirement for coaches, officials or volunteers working directly with children to hold Blue Cards where applicable.
We therefore encourage any affiliated club that conducts junior-specific activities — including junior-only coaching programs — to review its arrangements and ensure that both the people delivering those activities and relevant management committee members meet the applicable Blue Card requirements.
As individual circumstances can differ, clubs that are uncertain about their obligations should seek clarification directly from Queensland Blue Card Services.
PAQ is providing this information to help clubs remain aware of their safeguarding and compliance responsibilities.
Thanks again
Kerrie Richards
