Golf Programs Australia Inc. was founded in 2015 & its mandate is to offer quality & sustainable golf programs to disadvantaged individuals & groups within the Sunshine Coast community & beyond!

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The formation of Golf Programs Australia Inc. was the outcome of a vision to create a benevolent community focused organisation for marginalised groups on the Sunshine Coast. The G.P.A.I. Vision is to develop, promote & deliver sustainable golf programs & initiatives for the intellectually & physically disabled, the Isolated, youth at risk, the Aged and Indigenous Australians!

 

Golf Programs Australia Inc  

 

• Develops & Delivers golf programs and operates its GPAI Creative Store to Drive Inclusion & Break Isolation.

• Commits to providing all disadvantaged people in the community an opportunity to experience golf and the benefits the activity has to offer those living with isolation and or disabilities.

• Believes golf is a worthwhile & wholesome activity that enriches the lives of those who participate in the activity. Through its work, it aims to give all target groups & eligible participants a positive experience through this healthy activity.

 

Skills For Life

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‘Skills for Life’ is a principle that underpins Golf Programs Australia Inc.’s work and links directly to the organisation’s mission statement. It is based on the belief that all participants are able to develop personal and social skills while improving mental, Intellectual and physical health via participation in GPAI’s golf program initiatives,

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GPAI encourages participants to learn and practice the basic playing skills that will lead to the psychological and physical benefits associated with improvement, personal achievement and life-long participation in a non-contact activity with measurable improved health outcomes.

 

The activity places strong emphasis on standards of behaviour and, therefore, is an ideal medium through which all target groups and participants can develop six core personal skills – honesty, respect, co-operation, perseverance, concentration and self-motivation.

 

Through the application of ‘Skills for Life’ Golf Programs Australia Inc. is aiming to achieve the following outcomes:

 

• To provide participants with a basic knowledge of the activity.

• To provide participants with confidence and the ability to be able to handle themselves appropriately within a social setting.

• To provide participants with an understanding of the importance of adopting an active lifestyle.

 

G.P.A.I. founder & PGA Professional Darrell Dalton truly believes the activity has much to offer the isolated, disavantaged and those living with disabilities within the community that are more often than not, marginalised by the existing organisational and industry framework.

 

This framework includes golf clubs and golfing bodies that are predominately better equiped to promote the sport to those that are financially and physically fit, which in many cases results in less socially mobile groups and individuals being overlooked. While there are exceptions, there remains little doubt the existing golfing fraternity is better able to cater to those in the mainstream.

 

Darrell recognised the need to develop specialty golf pathways for organisations such as the Special Olympics, The Compass Institute, Treehouse Initiative & others and responded by forming a dedicated organisation to develop & deliver sustainable golf programs for this demographic.