Volleyball WA was once again thrilled to deliver coaching and community engagement initiatives in the Indian Ocean Territories—Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands—through a series of volleyball workshops and school sessions. This program was delivered on behalf of the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries (DLGSC), whose services in the IOT are supported through a partnership with the Australian Government and Commonwealth funding.

Returning for a second year, Mexican Olympian and AVSL Gold Medalist Jose Manuel Martinez (OLY) brought his expertise and energy back to the islands, continuing to build on the strong foundations laid over the past few years. From May 27 to June 6, Jose delivered a wide range of volleyball sessions that reached more than 450 participants. The workshops engaged students from pre-primary to Year 12, as well as adults, parents, school staff, local volleyball coaches, senior community groups, and government officials.

A key highlight of the visit was the specialised coaching sessions with the Christmas Island District High School representative teams, who are preparing to compete at the upcoming WA Country Week. After both teams secured gold medals in 2024, they are now striving to repeat their success.

Rhys Bird, PE teacher and head coach of the girls’ team, reflected on the impact of the visit:
“The girls’ volleyball team made significant improvements under Jose’s tutelage, and the boys’ team enjoyed the opportunity to challenge themselves against such a high-calibre player.”

He continued, “Jose shared a wealth of knowledge with our students and played a vital role in developing the skills and confidence of our Physical Education department. His primary school sessions have laid the groundwork for promoting volleyball as a sport and a viable pathway into our Country Week program.”

Volleyball WA extends its sincere thanks to the local partners who made this initiative possible: Christmas Island District High School, Cocos Islands District High School, the Shire of Christmas Island, the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and the Christmas Island Recreation Centre.