Media Release from Australian Sports Commission, 10 March 2023
17-member Project Steering Group has been announced to guide and support the development of Australia’s first sector codesigned National Sport Participation Strategy.
The members represent a diverse cross section of Australia, bringing a wide range of lived and professional experience from national sporting organisations, government, community organisations and research.
The National Sport Participation Strategy aims to transform the way participation is connected, delivered and supported across the country and follows the launch of Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.
The group will provide ideas, critical thinking and advice to support the development of the strategy and met for the first time this week.
Universal design expert and Paralympian Michael Walker said sport participation needs to change to ensure it is reflective of Australia’s changing society.
“It is imperative in the planning that we do not leave anyone behind,” he said.
General Manager First Nations at Football Australia, Courtney Fewquandie describes sport participation as “an old house we keep adding new doors to.”
“There is no time better than now for sport and recreation development to outgrow and advance past exclusion barriers to participation. A project team with strong community ties and lived experience places us in the strongest position to lead and develop a strategy that mitigates exclusion.”
Golf Australia Strategy Manager Priya Khanna added: “We need to ensure the strategy isn’t something that sits on a shelf gathering dust. We want it to be adopted and applied by the sector with a clear approach to measure our progress.”
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is represented on the group by CEO Kieren Perkins OAM.
Almost 200 submissions were received to join the Project Steering Group and all those who applied will be invited to take part in consultation and engagement opportunities throughout the development of the strategy.
To stay up to date on the strategy work visit https://www.ausport.gov.au/national-sport-participation-strategy-2032
National Sport Participation Strategy Project Steering Group:
ABOUT THE ASC
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is the Australian Government agency responsible for supporting and investing in sport at all levels. Our role is to increase involvement in sport and enable continued international sporting success through leadership and development of a cohesive and effective sports sector, targeted financial support and the operation of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).