Entries invited for 2023 Australian Sport Recreation and Play Innovation Awards

Returning in July, the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention will again be hosting the Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Industry Innovation Awards – with entries for the Awards now open.

Aiming to celebrate and recognise individuals, government not-for-profits, commercial, play, recreation and sport sectors, on their innovations to get more people active in the community, the 2023 Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Categories for Awards are now inviting nominations in the following categories:

1. Programs and Activities
Innovative programs, activities and events that have been developed to encourage the community to be more active.

2. Sport and Inclusion
How sport can make a difference to an inclusive society and how inclusion can grow participation in play, recreation and community sport.

3. Social Value of Participation
Measuring the impact that participation has on the health, economic and community value of a community.

4. Marketing and Communications
The communication messages that innovatively activates the community for more people to be active, play, recreate and participate in community sport.

5. Young Innovator of the Year
A young person (under 25) who has developed a program, space, activity, technological solution or innovative partnership that is encouraging more people to be active.

6. Major Event Promotion
Providing community opportunities to grow participation by aligning a mass participation or a major spectator event.

7. Technology
Innovations in technology that support Business to Business (B2B) improvements for the industry or Business to Consumer (B2C) experiences.

8. Sport and Leisure Facility Design
Innovative design and management that creates an environment where more people are active (built and natural environments), whilst embracing the principles of sustainability.

9. Sports Surfaces
Innovative solutions that allow greater intensity and durability of natural, hybrid, synthetic or hard sports surfaces to allow for greater usage, whilst embracing the principles of sustainability.

10. Sport and Climate Change
Innovations that organisations have embraced that recognise the impact that sport can have on climate change and how they have focused on reducing their carbon footprint.

11. Playground Design
Designs and developments that allow and encourage more children to play, have fun and be active.

12. Community Sports Fundraising
Innovative and community fundraising projects which enable increased participation and community cohesion. Made possible by the Australian Sports Foundation.

13. Overall Winner Sport, Recreation and Play Industry Award for Innovation
This award will provide the prize for the National Sports & Physical Activity Convention Overall Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Award. The winner will be chosen from one of the above 12 category winners.

Commenting on the awards initiative, founder and Event Curator, Martin Sheppard stated “we are excited to announce these awards are open for 2023 and post-COVID, we are looking forward to celebrating with the industry the amazing work that the sector is doing. We are expecting our highest level of applications this year.”

Applications open now open and close at 5pm AEST on 30th May.

Awards are open to all Australian registered businesses and organisations.

Award applications will only be considered for projects created from January 2022 to February 2023.

Click here for more information on the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention via the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Image: The Brisbane Cycling Festival, overall winner of the 2022 Sport, Recreation and Play Industry Award for Innovation.