The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) in partnership with sector stakeholders is delivering the workshops with 150 people attending recent events held in South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria.

The workshops saw stakeholders from across the sport participation system come back together after attending similar events in May and June last year to help develop the strategy.

Launched last year, the Play Well Strategy focuses on creating great sporting environments and experiences where all Australians can come together to access the benefits of sport.

Attendees discussed the Play Well Implementation Plan which details the priority activities due to be completed this financial year which includes developing a physical literacy action plan to help drive lifelong involvement in sport and how to make community level sport more affordable for all.

Tennis NSW CEO Darren Simpson said alignment was critical when it comes to implementing the strategy.

“The roadshow enabled a range of sports to talk openly about the challenges in the sector, but more importantly work through how the Play Well Strategy can be the catalyst for new ideas, collaboration and alignment between all levels of sport as implementation kicks off,” he said.

DanceSport WA Chairman Peter Hegarty attended the Perth workshop.

He found meeting other administrators and sharing common problems such as modifying rules to get more people involved in sport helpful.

“We talked a lot about schools, that’s the young side of it…but how do we keep people of our age still playing sport?”

Mia Buswell from Water Polo WA added: “I think it’s important that sport has the conversation about the responsibility it has to the broader community because we know what it does for the people already involved and there’s just so many people who deserve the opportunity to experience that.”

The workshops are being developed and hosted in partnership with State and Territory governments. They will be held across Australia in September and October with Darwin next on the list.

Online sessions will also be held on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 October for those from rural and remote locations unable to attend the in-person sessions.

If you would like to attend these sessions contact playwell@ausport.gov.au

Upcoming Play Well workshop dates

Darwin, Northern Territory – Monday 23 September 
Canberra, ACT – Thursday 26 September 
Hobart, Tasmania – Tuesday 1 October 
Brisbane, Queensland – Thursday 10 October

Find out more about Play Well at Playwell | Playwell (ausport.gov.au)