Sport Australia acknowledges every Australian has the fundamental right to enjoy the wonderful benefits of sport and physical activity. One of Sport Australia’s priorities in getting more Australians moving more often, is to increase ‘awareness and reach in areas which have a direct impact on physical activity and physical literacy levels’. This includes under-represented groups such as women, people with a disability, CALD, ATSI, and LGBTI+ people and the socio-economically disadvantaged.

Sport Australia currently provides leadership to the Australian sport sector to develop and implement policies, guidelines, programs and practices that encourage greater diversity and inclusion across sport. Sport Australia is committed to supporting national sporting organisations to establish sustainable inclusion frameworks that seek to increase diversity and inclusivity across their sports. By working on a clear strategy with targeted actions, NSOs (and their stakeholders) can ensure impactful activity is undertaken to improve inclusion for all in Australian sport.

Sport Inclusion Framework

In 2020-21 Sport Australia will develop an Inclusive Sport Framework for National Sporting Organisations (NSOs). The Framework will guide sporting organisations to embed a commitment to diversity and inclusion in everything they do including participation, planning, policy, practices, codes of behaviour and governance. It will encompass a broad and overarching diversity and inclusion statement and give reference to specific populations/attributes of diversity (cultural diversity, Indigenous, LGBTIQ+, disability).

The aim of this project is to produce comprehensive guidance that will:

• Present a guiding statement or ‘north star’ for diverse and inclusive sport
• Reflect current understanding of knowledge and good practice for the sport sector
• Present the value proposition of sports becoming more diverse and inclusive
• Provide guidance to sporting organisations on how to include all Australians in their sports
• Showcase existing inclusion tools, resources and successful case studies from around the sector

A comprehensive review of current research and practical knowledge on diversity and inclusion in sport has been conducted. In order to test and gather feedback on the draft framework, a sector survey will soon be distributed before a series of workshops and interviews with a range of stakeholders including state departments of sport and recreation (SDSRs), Community Sport Australia (CSA), National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), State Sporting Organisations (SSOs), clubs, social NFP sector and target populations within community sport. Written submissions will also be invited.

Proposed Timeline:

Oct 2019 – Project Scoping - complete

Nov 2019 – Mar 2020 – Review of literature - complete

Jul 2020 – Sector survey released

Aug 2020 – Survey data synthesised

Oct 2020 – Draft Framework and Statement produced

Nov – Sector workshops and interviews conducted

Feb 2021 - Sector workshops and interviews conducted (cont’)

Mar 2021 – Refine Framework with Community Review Group

Jun 2021 – Final Framework delivered

Sport Australia is partnering with several organisations to deliver this project, including Victoria University, Monash University, University of Melbourne and Inclusive Australia. We are also seeking the support of key stakeholders such as SDSRs and CSA. Collaboration will be key to this project being a success and Sport Australia wishes to utilise the experience within this group and existing resources, case studies and tools. Please indicate your interest in this project by nominating a suitable contact person from your organisation whom we can add to our project distribution list. Please email these details to Merrilee Barnes, Director – Inclusive Sport at merrilee.barnes@ausport.gov.au