ABOUT US

WE'RE HANDBALL WEST

About the organisation

Handball West is the official governing body for handball in Western Australia.

We coordinate state competitions, support local clubs, and promote the sport across the region.

Our work includes organising training programs, running social games, and participating in local, national, and international tournaments in both indoor handball and beach handball.

Through our efforts, we aim to grow the sport in WA, strengthen our community, and create opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels.

Our origin story

How Handball West came to be

What would later become Handball West originated back in the early 2000s.

This was at a time when Handball was gaining momentum in Australia, following the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. A small group of passionate WA Handballers saw the need for a formal structure to allow the sport to take root in WA.

Informal meetups and shared enthusiasm evolved into something more. A coordinated effort to build a sustainable handball community in Western Australia was born.

The vision was simple:

  • Build an organisation that could offer regular competitions. 
  • Provide coaching pathways for the sport.
  • Become a welcoming entry point for all players and newcomers curious about the sport.

This collaboration laid the foundation for Handball's long‑term development in WA. It also led to the official establishment of Handball West in 2005.

Handball Clubs in WA

UWA Handball Club

The UWA Handball Club, established in 2009, currently the only active handball club in Western Australia, strives to provide opportunities for students, alumni, and the general public to engage in indoor handball in Perth

Keen to start your own club?

In the past, there were several other handball clubs across WA, including at Murdoch, Curtin, Joondalup, and Albany, and we would love to see the growth of handball in WA again. If you are interested in starting or helping run a handball club, please reach out to us

get in touch

Why play handball

A little introduction to the sport we love

Handball is one of the world’s most popular and exciting team sports, played at the highest level across Europe, especially in Germany, France, Spain, the Nordic countries, and the nations of the former Yugoslavia, as well as in regions such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South America. As a traditional Olympic sport, handball is rapidly growing in Australia, and with the Brisbane 2032 Olympics approaching, the country will need a new generation of players. Even newcomers have a real chance to progress quickly and potentially compete on the Olympic stage.

A national initiative supported by the Australian Sports Commission is now working to establish Handball Hubs in every major city, including Perth, making this the perfect time to get involved. UWA Handball Club is currently the only handball club in Western Australia, and our community is one of the most diverse in the country, with players from more than 30 nations, including AUS, GER, FRA, ESP, POL, NED, COL, SVK, CZE, HUN, CRO, SYR, EGY, SUI, BRA, MON, MRI, MKD, POR, HKG, CHI, ….

Our athletes have represented Australia at World Championships, Olympic qualifiers, and major international tournaments. We are multiple Australia champions in beach handball; our women’s team finished 2nd in 2024 Australian National Handball Championships, 3rd in 2018 Australian and Oceania Club Championships; our men’s team finished 2nd in 2015 Australian National Handball Championships.

Handball in WA offers a welcoming community, a pathway to elite competition, and the chance to be part of a growing Olympic sport. Whether you’re here to play socially, stay active, or chase highlevel opportunities, there’s a place for you on the court.