Entries open for 2024 Australian Sport Recreation and Play Innovation Awards

Returning in June, the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention will again be hosting the Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Industry Innovation Awards - with entries now being invited.

The Awards aim 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.

Nominations are now being invited 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. Inclusion Program/Initiative of the Year
Recognises outstanding efforts by individuals or organisations in delivering programs/initiatives that champion inclusion and active participation across diverse communities. This could include initiatives that have advocated for gender equality, involved LGBTQIA+ communities, supported people with disabilities, empowered indigenous populations, reached out to culturally diverse and multicultural communities and encouraged participation among other underrepresented communities. 

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

4. 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.

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

6. Places and Spaces Design
Innovative design, solutions and management that creates an environment where more people are active (indoor and outdoor environments, with natural, synthetic and built forms), whilst embracing the principles of sustainability. Supported by Theca Rubner

7. 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.

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

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 are now open and close on 17th May.

Awards are open to all Australian registered businesses and organisations.

Click here for more information and to nominate for the Awards. 

Click here for more information on the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention, being held on 27th and 28th June 2024 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, via the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Image: The Bambigi initiative, a learn-to-swim charity organisation set up by teenager Piper Stewart (second from right), won first in the Young Innovator category before then securing the top award at the Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Industry Innovation Awards.