2017 National Sports Convention to expand with Football Conference and Community Sport Think Tank

For sport participation to grow, the industry needs to change not only the way it looks at sport, but to also be more innovative in delivering programs to activate people through collaboration, planning and development.

This new approach to sport will be the main focus of the 2017 National Sports Convention (NSC), a series of sport and recreation management events to be held in Melbourne from 19th to 21st July.

Having previously been held in Sydney, the fourth edition of the National Sports Convention has been expanded to three days to include the NSC Conference Program; a two-day industry exhibition; the National Football Conference; the Community Sport Think Tank; the Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Awards and Industry Best Practice Tours.

Commenting on the success of the 2016 and NSC, and looking forward to 2016, Martin Sheppard, Managing Director - Smart Connection Consultancy and creator of the event, explained “we feel very humble with the praise we received earlier this year and how the key peak bodies for community recreation and sport have embraced the National Sports Convention and want to work with us to make this event Australia’s and New Zealand’s major focus that everyone should attend.

“With the support of VicHealth, the Australian Sports Commission, Sport New Zealand, Vicsport and our other collaborators we aim to bring together the best in Australia and key people from around the globe to share stories and learnings so that we can really make a difference.”

Looking forward to the event, Hans Westerbeek, Professor of Sport Business at Victoria University adds “Victoria University is Australia’s leading sports university so it is important that we are a key partner in delivering Australia’s leading community sports conference.

“The importance of this conference goes beyond the standard industry gathering where professionals meet around listening to some high-profile keynote speakers – the purpose of this conference is to engage in debate about the future of community sport, and its relation to the wider sport industry.

“Few conferences offer the wide range of topics and bring theory and best practice together in the way that the National Sports Convention does.”

The organisers are presently seeking additional collaborations with peak bodies, to ensure that the program, expo and networking opportunities are valuable to every delegate, presenter and exhibitor. Any collaborators who are interested should contact the organisers.

The event is also backed by Aquatics and Recreation Victoria while Australasian Leisure Management is the media partner for the National Sports Convention.

The NSC is being held from at Pullman Albert Park, Melbourne.

Click here for event details in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Lower image shows winners of the 2016 Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Industry Awards.

24th June 2016 - GREATER SHEPPARTON INITIATIVE WINS TOP HONOUR AT INAUGURAL SPORT, RECREATION & PLAY INDUSTRY AWARDS

23rd June 2016 - SPORTS AND PLAY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION GETS INDUSTRY LAUNCH AT NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION

15th June 2016 - MASSIVE INDUSTRY COLLABORATION AT NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION 2016 

3rd January 2016 - EXPANDED NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION TO EXPLORE SOLUTIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED FOR PARTICIPATION

18th February 2015 - VICTORIA UNIVERSITY TEAMS UP WITH REAL MADRID TO DELIVER MASTERS PROGRAM IN SPORT MANAGEMENT