Welcome to the monthly Newsletter of Petanque Australia, the governing body for petanque in Australia. 

Winter arrives next month, and with it comes a change of pace for our pétanque community. Some players will pack away their boules and head to warmer places, while others will enjoy the cooler weather, with club games and a tournament or two still bringing us together.

If you’re in the mood for a friendly challenge, Canberra’s Singles Tournament on 21 June is a wonderful way to mark the Winter Solstice and connect with fellow players. 

For details and registration, use the link below:

Capital Petanque Club - Solstice Singles

Here are a few of the things happening over the next few months:

· Our Men’s World Championship team has begun its preparation program ahead of travelling to Thailand in mid-November, and we wish them every success as they prepare to represent us.

· Petanque Australia is finalising its reaccreditation with the Australian Sports Commission as a recognised National Sporting Organisation, an important step for the future of our sport.

· Our Working Groups are continuing valuable work on:

• reviewing our sports governance framework, policies and guidelines to help support a strong and sustainable future

• planning future National Championships, including their purpose, objectives and structure, so they continue to serve our sport well.

The next national event on the calendar is the 2026 PA Interstate Challenge, to be hosted by the Subiaco Club on 29 and 30 August.

State League teams are already well into their selection and preparation, and we look forward to seeing players from around the country come together for what promises to be a fantastic event.

Stay warm, stay connected, and keep enjoying your pétanque.

Regards,
Roger Maddern
President
Email: president@petanqueaustralia.org.au

Congratulations to Roland Peik of Novar Gardens Pétanque Club, who was recently accredited as a Level 4 Confederation Umpire.

Roland was presented with his certificate and upgraded licence by Peter Beaumont (left) and Brett Williams (right), the former and current Chairs of Petanque Australia's Umpires Commission.

Petanque Australia (PA) supports the use of images of children and young players to promote and encourage growth in the sport, however there are guidelines and rules to follow when using these images.

PA requires you to obtain parent/carer consent if taking and sharing images of players who are under 18 years of age for any reason, including club social media, livestreaming competitions or coaching-related activities.
 
Additionally, no players should be identified -‘tagged’- or images used for commercial activities, unless consent is given. 

The following Sport Integrity Australia Consent Form should be used to allow parents/carers to make informed choices on the taking and sharing of images. 

Sport Integrity Australia | Sporting Organisation Photography and Filming Consent Form

Further information on the topic can be found using the following links:

1.Sport Integrity Australia

Sport Integrity Australia | Photography and Filming of Children and Young People in Sport

2.Play by the Rules

Taking and Sharing Images at Sport | pbtr

3.ASC

Photographing and filming of children and young people at the AIS | ASC

In 2022, Petanque Australia (PA) affiliated with Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), the federal government body that is dedicated to keeping sport safe, fair and inclusive by addressing integrity threats such as doping, match-fixing, and member protection.

Protecting Sport Together | Sport Integrity Australia

PA’s adoption of SIA’s National Integrity Framework (NIF) policies means that all PA member clubs and leagues must adhere to the NIF policies.

There are five core policies which make up the National Integrity Framework:

- Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
- Member Protection Policy
- Competition Manipulation & Sports Gambling Policy
- Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy
- Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy.

In 2024, PA adopted SIA sport education requirements for all member leagues and clubs and approved the Petanque Australia Education Plan that sets out the required and recommended education program for all PA volunteers, players, umpires and coaches. 

The Petanque Australia Education Plan can be accessed by following this link: Petanque Australia Education Plan 2024  

The Petanque Australia Education Plan also sets out which PA volunteers, players, umpires and coaches need to complete SIA's Annual Update e-learning module each year.

All volunteers, players, umpires and coaches should check the Petanque Australia Education Plan e-learning requirements to see whether they need to complete SIA's 2026 Annual Update e-learning module this year.

Released in December each year, SIA's Annual Update e-learning module reflects current trends in anti-doping and broader integrity issues, including new prohibited substances, rule changes and other contemporary topics.  

You can complete the SIA's 2026 Annual Update e-learning module by following this link and clicking on "Course Catalogue" then "Annual Update 2026": SIA EDGE. 

As a Petanque Australia Licensed Player, your registered contact details are maintained by your Club. However, you can also check and update this information yourself!

Just go to the PA website - petanqueaustralia.org.au - and at the top right-hand side, you can see the Login icon. Click on this, and you’ll be asked for your username and password.

If you can’t remember these, click on the “Forgot Login details” text. Once logged on, click on Account next to the Log out text at the top right-hand side.

You can print your current Petanque Australia Licence – the Button under your photo.

If you click on Profile, you can update most of your contact details and change your password. You can even update your photo.

There’s a video tutorial on this and other things at: https://www.petanqueaustralia.org.au/club-information/training-videos

Licence fees are waived for new players at clubs until 30th June.

Fees for 2026/27 will remain at $40 for Adults and $10 for Juniors.

Simply submit your licence application as usual.

Starting July 1st, your newly licensed players can choose to renew their licence just like any returning players, allowing them to experience all the benefits of a PA Players Licence—insurance coverage, discount at the PA shop, participation in tournaments, state league competitions, and much more.

The PA Newsletter is sent to all PA-licensed players.  If you have friends or colleagues who are interested in petanque, they can also get the Newsletter by subscribing on the Subscribe page of the PA website.