ABOUT
OUR MISSION
Simply put, we want to ‘Empower NSW flying communities to explore new horizons!’ and get more people into our great sport of flying, whilst helping them get better and safer at flying.
The NSWHPA will implement policies defined by the Sports Aviation Federation of Australia (SAFA) and promotes the sport through programs, competitions, fly-ins, participation rallies and training facilities to benefit NSW pilots in accordance with the SAFA Operations Manual and with the approval of the relevant State and Federal instrumentalities and land owners.
The NSWHPA is guided by the following values and principles:
- SAFETY: We prioritise safety and enable ongoing education and skill development.
- COMMUNITY: We foster community engagements among the NSW clubs, CFIs and pilots, to connect and share experiences and knowledge.
- INCLUSIVENESS: We strive to create an inclusive and diverse flying environment across pilot, CFIs and clubs, where everyone feels valued and respected.
- INNOVATION: We encourage development and creative ways to advance the sport.
- ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: We promote eco-friendly practices and work in collaborations with landowners to preserve the environment and minimize our impact to it.
- INTEGRITY: We conduct our voluntary organisation with honesty, transparency, and ethical behaviour.
Through our strategic initiatives, the NSWHPA aims to support our flying communities to grow the sport across all disciplines, improve safety and provide more flying opportunities:
- Strengthen the partnerships between clubs, CFIs and NSWHPA liaison officers.
- Provide quality advice and upskill clubs to gain operational excellence, improved diversity and to secure funding opportunities.
- Support CFIs to create a safe, inclusive and effective learning environment for pilots and promote the sport.
- Strengthen state government relationships to secure grants.
- Support clubs to improve site safety, secure new sites, and promote eco-friendly practices to preserve the environment.
- Provide consistent, transparent and open communication channels to key stakeholders.
- Provide opportunities to create and implement innovative initiatives.
HOW WE DO IT
How we are Empowering NSW flying communities to explore new horizons!
The NSW Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association executive committee meet monthly to review initiatives that are helping our NSW flying communities to ‘soar to new heights’. We are dedicated to uplift NSW clubs, CFIs and pilots by providing unmatched opportunities, education, and essential funding, ensuring the perpetual joy of recreational flying across our state.
This might be administering funds to a club who need financial help in maintaining a flying site. It might be helping create a flying and landing rights agreement with a landowner and club. Or it could be looking at ways to develop news sites or improve on existing ones with a local flying club. Not to mention applying for funding grants and helping to promote the sport just to name a few.
Our committee volunteer their precious time not just at these committee meetings but throughout the month in enabling all of these tasks and projects come to fruition.
Our activities include:
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Funding flying site maintenance
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Funding flying site improvements
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Funding new flying site developments
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Applying for state government grants
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Developing and administering funding guidelines for NSW pilots
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Developing flying/ landing right of use agreements
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Lodging and acquiring NSW National park consents
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Assessing and funding appropriate flying safety programs for NSW pilots
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Assessing and funding competitions for NSW pilots
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Assisting NSW clubs become affiliated with the SAFA and meet the NSW Department of Fair Trading requirements for an Incorporated Association
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Assisting NSW clubs govern and administer themselves
NSWHPA has currently adopted the Model Constitution under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 as issued by the NSW Department of Fair Trading. As part of our current governance audit, the CoM is considering putting to the membership some changes to our constitution which better reflect our operating processes and our relationship with the SAFA. Keep a lookout for these developments.
To access the latest Annual General Meeting minutes, the NSWHPA constitution, or our Funding guidelines simply click on the relevant box to find out more or to acquire a download.
2025/2026 NSWHPA committee
We are here to help, so if you need to get in contact with any of the committee, please get in contact with one of the team and we’ll do our best to help out.
We usually meet on the third Thursday of every month – while occasionally at an RSL at 7:00pm more recent meetings have been conducted using a teleconferencing system to save time and money.
NSWHPA Club, Women with Wings and Instructor Liaisons Officers
| Clubs / Roles | CLOs - 2025/26 |
|---|---|
| Women With Wings | Coralie Werbrouck |
| Newcastle Paragliding Club | Claire Dickinson |
| Flatlands Towing Club | Claire Dickinson |
| Blue Mountains Soaring Club | Claire Dickinson |
| Sydney Paragliding and Hang Gliding Club | Garry Taylor |
| FlyStanwell Inc | Edge Demir |
| Newcastle Hang Gliding Club | Tom Mc Donald |
| Sydney Hang Gliding Club | Tom Mc Donald |
| Illawarra Gliding Club | PICO Club |
| Northern Rivers HG & PG Club | Tony Dennis |
| Manilla Sky Sailors | Coralie Werbrouck |
| Mid North Coast Flyers | Coralie Werbrouck |
| Central Coast Sky Surfers | Claire Dickinson |
Latest AGM Documentation and Constitution
The President, Tom McDonald, will present the 2024 / 25 President’s Report at the NSWHPA AGM in November 2025.
The President and Treasurer reports can be accessed by clicking on the buttons below.
