2018 Sport, Recreation and Play Industry Innovation Award finalists announced

To be presented at the National Sports Convention next week, the category finalists for the 2018 Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Awards have been announced.

The Awards, which recognise individuals, not-for-profits, commercial, recreation and sports sectors and will be presented in the Sport and Recreation Expo at the Victoria University Theatre in Melbourne at 6 pm on Tuesday 17th July as part of a networking event.

A key part of the ever expanding National Sports Convention, the Innovation Awards aim at recognising and celebrating Innovation that has promoted and encouraged more people to play, recreate and participate in sport.

As National Sports Convention convenor, Martin Sheppard explains “as an industry sector, we all acknowledge that there is a need to encourage more people to be active and provide them with opportunities to play, recreate, keep fit, and participate at all levels.

“Over the past few years we have seen the growth of new programs, events and more accessible facilities but little growth in formal participation numbers in physical activity in Australia.

The National Sports Convention 2018 has engaged more than a dozen collaborators and over 125 global and Australian organisations who are coming together to encourage the industry to be more innovative in the way it plans, funds, and provides active recreation and community opportunities. On target to achieve over 900 delegates the NSC is the largest community sport convention in the southern hemisphere.

Each category winner will receive a trophy and $500 cash Award. The winners of each category will then be judged for the Overall Innovations Award and has the opportunity to be 2018 winner and receive a $1,000 Award.

The finalists in each category are:

1. Programs, Activities and Events:
Programs, activities and events that have been developed to encourage the community to be more active in large numbers:
• Disability Sport and Recreation, Victoria - Robert Rose Foundation Victorian Wheelchair Football League, Victoria  
• Hobart Hurricanes Hurricanes Inclusion Cup inclusive cricket pathway program, Tasmania 
• Cumberland Council 2018 World Traditional Games, NSW  

2. Sports Surfaces
Innovative solutions that encourage field designs which results in greater usage:
• Blacktown City Council Rugby League Field, NSW  
• Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands Sydney, Centennial Park Sports Centre upgrade, NSW  

3. Technological Solutions and Products
Technology that make the playing or administration of sport easier, more enjoyable or to enhance performance
• Sportility Sponsorship and affordable sports uniforms, NSW  
• RevolutioniseSPORT Australian Sailing Digital Transformation, NSW  
• Tennis Australia Book a Court System, Victoria  

4. Playgrounds
Designs and developments that encourage more children to play, have fun and be active:
• Early Education Inc Tumbalong Lights inclusive Playground, NSW  
• City of Nedlands/3 Rotary Clubs the Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space, Western Australia  
• Play for All Australia Belrose Inclusive Play Spaces, NSW  

5. Marketing and Communication
Packaging and communication of an opportunity in a manner that has encouraged more people to be active:
• Sportility sports sponsorship alignment, Western Australia  
• VicHealth This Girl Can - Victoria  
• Water Polo Queensland Social Channels update, Queensland  

6. Facility Design and Development
Innovative design and management that creates and environment where more people are active,, built and natural environments  :
• Botanical Gardens and Centennial Parklands - Moore Park Golf Driving Range Upgrade, NSW  
• City of Coburn Design and Development of Cockburn Aquatic and Recreation Centre, Western Australia  
• Disabled Winter Sport Australia Howmans Gap Falls Creek Universal Access Alpine Lodge, Victoria  

The finalists have been assessed and all finalists have been invited to the Awards with the trophies being presented from 6pm on Tuesday 17th July.

As part of the National Sports Convention Sport and Recreation Expo the final three short listed applicants will all be provided with an opportunity to display their innovation as part of the industry Expo so that the rest of the industry can appreciate their innovations.

For more information on the National Sports Convention click here to view details in the Australasian Leisure Management Industry Calendar. 

Lower image shows the Jo Wheatley All Abilities Play Space.

5th July 2018 - NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION TO LINK TRADE, EDUCATION AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

18th June 2018 - MULTIPLE NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION STRANDS TO ADDRESS INCREASING YOUTH PARTICIPATION 

15th June 2018 - HOWMANS GAP ALPINE ACCESSIBLE ACCOMMODATION CENTRE GETS OFFICIAL OPENING

30th May 2018 - KNOWLEDGE SHARING A KEY THEME AT 2018 NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION

11th May 2018 - SPORTS COMMISSION WELCOMES FUNDING TO GET AUSTRALIANS ACTIVE

9th May 2018 - FEDERAL BUDGET BACKS SPORT AND ACTIVITY, DISAPPOINTS ARTS AND TOURISM 

22nd April 2018 - VICHEALTH CAMPAIGN LOOKS TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO WOMEN’S ACTIVITY

19th March 2018 - PROGRAMS AND REGISTRATIONS LAUNCH FOR 2018 NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION

14th March 2018 - NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION EXPANDS WITH NATIONAL AQUATIC AND RECREATION INFRASTRUCTURE CONFERENCE

16th January 2018 - SPORTS COMMISSION’S OUR SPORTING FUTURE CONFERENCE TO COMBINE WITH NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION 

2nd November 2017 - SPORTING CONFERENCES CONVERGE ON THE GOLD COAST 

2nd October 2017 - SPORTS COMMISSION’S OUR SPORTING FUTURE CONFERENCE RETURNS TO GOLD COAST 

25th August 2017 - INDUSTRY AWARDS RECOGNISE THE BEST IN LEISURE COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING 

13th July 2017 - NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION BRINGS SPORT AND RECREATION LEADERS AND PROFESSIONALS TOGETHER

27th June 2017 - NATIONAL SPORTS PLAN VICTORIAN FORUM TO BE HELD AT NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION 

5th June 2017 - MOORE PARK GOLF LAUNCHES WORLD-CLASS DRIVING RANGE INNOVATION

1st May 2017 - NOMINATIONS INVITED FOR NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION AWARDS

5th April 2017 - NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION TO FEATURE CASE STUDIES ON GROWING PARTICIPATION

1st March 2017 - KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION 

16th January 2017 - NEW PARTNERS BACK 2017 NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION 

1st January 2017 - MOTIVATING PEOPLE TO BE ACTIVE AND PLAY SPORT 

8th December 2016 - LANDMARK STUDY FINDS SPORT STRUGGLING TO KEEP YOUTH ENGAGED

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