Ice Factor Program

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:59): I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates the Ice Factor Foundation on reaching the significant milestone of its 20^th anniversary in 2025;

2. Recognises that the Ice Factor program was established in 2005 to assist schools in their efforts to keep at-risk students at school by providing students with a focus through which they can develop vocational and life skills in a team environment;

3. Notes that the Ice Factor program is the only high school ice hockey program in Australia, and trains students to skate and play ice hockey in a special program which includes life skills, team building and leadership training;

4. Acknowledges the Ice Factor Foundation Co-Founder and Director, Marie Shaw KC, its patron Her Excellency the Governor of South Australia, Frances Adamson AC, board members, participating schools, coaches and volunteers for their hard work and commitment to supporting at-risk students and disadvantaged young people and for helping them to avoid homelessness, drug addiction and crime; and

5. Commends the Ice Factor Foundation for its contributions to making life-changing differences in supporting young people in South Australia to develop personal leadership, resilience and responsibility in all aspects of their lives.

It is a great pleasure to move this motion and acknowledge the remarkable milestone of Ice Factor celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2025. This is a significant achievement and it speaks volumes about the dedication and impact of this life-changing program. Young people from various backgrounds face enormous challenges to cope with the demand of schools, family and peer pressures and other challenges that our complex society gives them.

The Ice Factor program was established in 2005 to assist schools in their efforts to keep at-risk students at school as most show a high probability of leaving prematurely. Ice Factor provides these students with focus through which they can develop vocational and life skills in a team. These life skills are developed around the formation of the ice hockey team and are discussed in a university tutorial style fashion at the beginning of each training session.

Ice Factor is the only high school ice hockey program in Australia; it is really unique. The pilot program ran for only eight weeks and had 15 students. Now, 20 years later, there are 20 public high schools across South Australia participating in a weekly term-time program and two more will be seeking to join this year. This equals over 350 students a season going through the Ice Factor program.

Over the last 20 years, Ice Factor has helped thousands of students at risk—those who are disadvantaged or disengaged students, with the support of IceArenA professional coaches and staff. The Ice Factor program is centred on the development of an ice hockey team, beginning at learning to skate all the way to competing as a team against other schools, with an end-of-term tournament held at the IceArenA.

I acknowledge the contributions of the Ice Factor Foundation Co-Founder and Director, Marie Shaw KC, who, through her outstanding services, has committed the last 20 years to ensuring the ongoing success of the program along with partner schools, sponsors and board members. Through her diligent work—and many honourable members in this place would be familiar with Marie's long list of accomplishments in the legal system—Marie Shaw KC has seen countless children in court following a trial of neglect and dysfunction. She realised that there was an opportunity to help these disadvantaged children after seeing the positive impact the sport has had on her own adolescent daughter. I have met her family over the years and I really commend Marie Shaw for her own compassion towards bringing out the best potential in every young person; I think that is to be highly commended.

I also recognise the patron of the Ice Factor Foundation, Her Excellency Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia. The Governor holds a celebration of the Ice Factor program at Government House each year. This function recognises the students and celebrates those participants in the program, with numerous awards handed out to students.

Every second year the Ice Factor Spectacular is held at the Hilton Hotel to raise money for the program. Over 500 guests usually attend such an evening where a fashion parade is put on, with the Ice Factor students modelling clothes from a range of clothing stores across Adelaide. The sponsorships they attract for this gala dinner from the business sector are enormous. I have attended many of those gala fundraising dinners in the past and also donated Parliament House vouchers, for example, as a prize towards the fundraising efforts.

I wish to thank the current and previous board members and volunteers for their hard work and commitment to supporting at-risk and disadvantaged young people. I think what they are doing is important. When participants actually take part in Ice Factor, it becomes a turning point for many of the students. It takes them off the pathway of homelessness, drug addiction and crime and helps these young people to build self-esteem and confidence and allows them to press a reset button to change their directions and goals for the future. This ought to be acknowledged.

It is also a great pleasure for me to acknowledge the other contributors. Particularly, I want to commend Sami Mantere, the Director of Ice Factor programs, for his outstanding efforts. Originally from Finland, Sami has been instrumental in the development and success of Ice Factor programs over many years. He has been a familiar face that welcomed me every time I attended an opening or closing ceremony of Ice Factor competitions. I have seen his commitment and dedication to motivating young players and teams.

Another special mention goes to Bob Battersby, my good friend. He does not hold any official positions as such. He is a very humble man, but I know that he is one of those unsung heroes working behind the scenes to support Ice Factor. He informed me that the Ice Factor program was an initiative of the SA Ice Sports Federation at the time when Marie was a board member. Bob became an adviser to the SA Ice Sports Federation for many years, primarily on business modelling and providing assistance in dealing with government.

However, something I did not know about Bob was that his skating background was in figure skating, not ice hockey. He was a judge in later years. He told me that his own personal background and passion had influenced his ongoing commitment to Ice Factor. He is involved in so many different capacities when his assistance is called on. This included working as a volunteer with the council for the welfare of overseas students and early exposure in Australia and overseas in assisting those in need.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Bob Battersby, along with all the other volunteers for their ongoing support and contributions to Ice Factor. The success of the program is clear in the achievement of participants. Twenty-two students have represented South Australia in the national ice hockey championships. Seven students have played in the top Australian ice hockey leagues, both men and women, six have represented Australia in the Ice Hockey World Championships, one has represented Australia in the Youth Olympics, and three have gone on to play in the AFL.

So many of these Ice Factor students have overcome their own barriers and challenges in life and they are able to use these particular youth programs to channel their energy for education and volunteering within the program as mentors or coaches.

In addition to all of this, born out of Ice Factor Foundation was the first ever Australian Indigenous ice hockey team, the Kaurna Boomerangs, and the only Indigenous ice hockey program in the Southern Hemisphere—that is to be congratulated. The Boomerangs are recognised by the leading ice hockey body, the International Ice Hockey Federation. They have competed in an Indigenous exchange event in both Canada and Australia.

The Ice Hockey Foundation welcomes all students from participating schools, embracing diversity and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Whether they are Indigenous, refugees or students with disabilities, such as autism or spinal injuries, every student is given the chance to become a leader within their team and achieve success both on and off the ice.

Success can look different for each participant. All aspire to graduate from high school. Some wish to find a trade or others seek to go to university or perhaps find a career in sports. Some even start their own business. Success can be found in a student who was unable to read or write then being able to write and create their own story, or perhaps students who lack motor skills due to disability being able to excel on the ice hockey rink.

Breaking down barriers and providing strategies and skills to combat anxiety, the Ice Factor program truly helps kids learn how to live with purpose and dignity. One of the participating schools reports that the Ice Factor program has been integrated into the school curriculum, allowing students to earn SACE credits. In 2019, participating students at the school earned SACE credits with a 100 per cent pass rate and 75 per cent of the students achieved a B grade or higher.

The curriculum focuses on skill development, game play, tactics, teamwork, relationships, leadership and communication skills. It also emphasises positive education and the PERMA model (Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Achievement model) to improve the wellbeing of all participants.

One of the key reasons why ice hockey is good for all these young people, as opposed to other sports programs offered in high school, is that when they all start they are really bad at sport. They do not have to be good at sports at all. Some may already have experience of football, cricket or basketball in their background, but with Ice Factor they all start at the bottom and they all learn to skate and they are all at the same level. This evens the playing field and allows the focus to be on building both life and ice hockey skills concurrently as a team.

The Ice Factor program not only teaches students how to play ice hockey but also instils in them the values of perseverance, teamwork and resilience. These are essential life skills that can help them navigate challenges both on and off the ice, ultimately preparing them for a brighter future.

Once again, it is a great opportunity to be able to move this motion to congratulate the Ice Factor Foundation for reaching its significant milestone of its 20^th anniversary. Congratulations to Marie Shaw, the board members and the team for 20 years of fostering an inclusive and productive space for students to become successful and engaged members of society. I wish the Ice Factor Foundation continuous success and growth in the future. With those remarks, I commend the motion.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.