Wrestling Australia Announce Partnership with Playbk Sports

Wrestling Australia has announced a partnership with digital product builder Playbk Sports to develop a bespoke digital learning platform aimed at expanding grassroots participation and coaching capability across the country.

Scheduled for an initial launch in September, the initiative will deliver introductory coaching and officiating courses tailored for teachers, schools, volunteers, and club communities, establishing vital pathways outside traditional club environments.

The collaboration addresses structural growth challenges for smaller footprint sports by leveraging scalable technology to remove geographical barriers and provide consistent education nationwide. Content development is being managed collaboratively by Playbk Sports, sports consultant Mike McLaughlin from McLaughlin Sports Consultancy, and community coaches, ensuring contemporary digital design aligns with practical grassroots expertise.

Commenting on the partnership, Playbk Sports co-founder and COO, Damian Hecker, said: “for sports with a smaller footprint, digital learning provides a way to reach further than has often been possible in the past.”

“Schools are where many young Australians experience a sport for the first time.

“By providing teachers with accessible education, we can help sports like wrestling reach new audiences and create stronger connections between schools and community clubs.

“Digital learning removes geographical barriers, supports volunteers and gives sports the ability to build capability at scale.

“Ultimately, it is about giving more young people the chance to experience a sport they may not otherwise have discovered,” Hecker 

Highlighting the implications of the agreement, and noting that the platform reinforces recent governance enhancements while positioning the organisation for long-term growth. Wrestling Australia president, David Barns, added: “as a volunteer-run National Sporting Organisation, we have to think carefully about how we build capability and support our members.”

“This partnership gives Wrestling Australia a digital platform that provides coaches, officials and teachers with access to consistent learning at a time and place that works for them.

“It complements our existing education programs and helps us reach communities that have traditionally been difficult to service.

“Importantly, this initiative builds on the governance improvements Wrestling Australia has made in recent years and creates a resource that will continue to evolve with the sport.

“As we look ahead to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, it also gives wrestling a practical way to build awareness and participation ahead of a home Olympic Games,” Barns said.

The platform will expand following its initial rollout to include comprehensive educational resources, creating a connected digital learning journey designed to support wrestling’s multi-discipline footprint as momentum builds toward the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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