08/05/2026
From QWA
Dear QWA Affiliated Club
We have all had a busy start to the year, and with the next round of Club Challenges coming up shortly we would like to remind you that as a QWA Affiliated Club you are entitled to 4 free Youth memberships for NEW lifters in the year of your current affiliation. You will find the application form here:
Youth Free QWA Membership โ Queensland Weightlifting
As you prepare for upcoming events or general club use do you need to update your signage in relation to Photography permission requirements? You will find a downloadable poster here: club collateral โ Queensland Weightlifting
Now would also be a good time to check that your volunteers all have current Blue Cards. To apply for a renewal or new Blue card they can go to: Apply for a blue card or exemption card | Your rights, crime and the law | Queensland Government
The AWF has now changed their list of Accredited AWF coaches to just include those with a current membership of a State Weightlifting Association. Australian Weightlifting Federation > EDUCATION > COACHES > ACCREDITED COACHES This may mean that you have coaches that do not appear on this list any longer. To check their credentials you will need to ask to see a copy of their accreditation certificate. A reminder that only AWF accredited coaches can be in the competition field-of-play area at State events.
Additionally do you have volunteers attached to your club that would be interested in accessing base level Club Level Referee education? The QWA thanks to Queensland Government funding is able to provide for a limited number of free memberships that will allow these volunteers to access the online training requirement. Email the QWA office if you would like to organise this.
We can now arrange supply and delivery of your purchase of your very own QWA banner through the QWA Shop for display in your club or home gym. https://qwashop.org/collections/all/products/qwa-affiliated-club-banner
The Staff Support Personnel for National Masters are all busy working at getting our 77 athletes ready for the Nationals in Adelaide in June.
Head Coach: Jemma Cowper
Team Leader: Erika Yamasaki (Oly)
Assistant Coaches (State Level ref):
Ben Trousdell
Dale Donoghue
Bonney Douglas
Assistant Coaches (Club Level ref):
Alasdair Macdonald
Cooper Lydement
Fraser Harrison
Two pre-National squad training sessions have been scheduled to manage this large cohort.
Rebels Weightlifting Club
17 Neumann Road, Capalaba QLD 4157
Date: Saturday 23rd May 2026
Time: 9:30am
Facilitators: Erika Yamasaki & Fraser Harrison
Sunshine Coast Weightlifting Club
22 Crusher Park Drive, Nambour QLD 4560
Date: Saturday 30th May 2026
Time: 10am
Facilitators: Jemma Cowper & Dale Donoghue
We wish them and all the Queensland athletes all the very best with their preparations. Please remind your athletes that they need to wear a QWA representative lifting suit at the event, and will require either a QWA t-shirt or polo shirt at a minimum. No club t-shirts can be worn to presentation or medal ceremonies. They will find our remaining available stocks in the QWA Shop: All โ Queensland Weightlifting
We have a QWA Management Committee scheduled for next week. One of the items on the Agenda is the setting of the date for our AGM - likely to be in conjunction with the State U12/U15 & Youth Championships in Nambour 26-28th June 2026. It will be discussed at this meeting how we are going to go about ensuring we meet our, and the Governments, gender equity targets for the incoming MC. At present we only have one female on the MC - Jacqui Kami who is working furiously behind the scenes to ensure we have our new 2026-2030 Strategic Plan ready for release at the AGM. Clubs - do you know of any of your female members that have skills in marketing & sponsorship, policy formation, website management, digital technology that would be interested in joining the volunteer MC for the 2026-2027 term? Contact us now with any leads you have in this area.
The first QWA StrongKids Workshop is set to run 16th May:
๐๏ธ WANT TO RUN KIDS CLASSES THAT DEVELOP ATHLETES?
Our StrongKids Workshop gives you a practical, proven framework to confidently run kids' classes in your gym or coaching environment, no matter what sport or discipline you come from.
You'll walk away knowing:
โข How to structure sessions that build real physical foundations
โข What kids at every stage actually need to move, learn and grow
โข How to make your classes engaging, safe and developmentally sound
This workshop is for:
โข Gym owners and personal trainers wanting to run kids classes
โข Coaches from any sport looking to develop better athletes
โข Teachers and community sport volunteers
โข Parents who want to actively support their child's physical development for sport
TICKETS:
โข Non-member: $220 for the day
โข QWA member: $30 for the day
Not a member yet? Join as a non-athlete member for just $51 (usually $180/year) and attend for $30. That's $81 all up โ saving you $139 โ and you keep your membership for the whole year.
๐ Join as a member here: Queensland Weightlifting โ Join Today
๐ Workshop details and registration: Link - QWA Member OR
Strongkids Workshop - Non QWA MEMBER Rate โ Queensland Weightlifting
Reminder: Entries for the State U12/U15 & Youth Championships 26-28 June 2026* in Nambour. Entries need to be made online CALENDAR and entries close 24th May. You will find Youth qualifying information here: Qualifying for Events โ Queensland Weightlifting
*Please note that it will depend on entry numbers whether the event begins on Friday 26th - this can only be confirmed after close of entries.
Technical Officials - we are hoping to secure the attendance of enough International level referees to have a Jury at this event for upgrades to National level referee, and of course State level upgrades can also be conducted at this time. Check if you have reached the minimum requirements for either of these by logging in to your AWF account and retrieving your Technical Official activity report, then express your EOI by email to the QWA.
Orders for QWA Representative lifting suits for National U15 & Youth need to be submitted by 30th May 2026 to allow for the long lead time needed by the supplier. Email [email protected] to place your order as pre-orders are the only method to ensure that athletes for this event are able to access a suit that is in their preferred size. Athletes intending on competing at National Junior & Seniors could also get super organised and order their suits at this time also.
Let me know if you need any additional information, or have any questions.
Warm regards
Deb:)
QWA Banner: Vinyl with plastic eyelets 122.5cm x 183.5cm Only able to be purchased by currently affiliated QWA Clubs or current QWA members. Cost includes postage to your address via standard post/freight. Allow 4 weeks for production and delivery.
