Group announced to steer Australia’s first sector codesigned National Sport Participation Strategy

Representing a diverse cross section of Australia, a 17-member Project Steering Group has been announced to guide and support the development of Australia’s first sector codesigned National Sport Participation Strategy.

The members bring a wide range of lived and professional experience from national sporting organisations, government, community organisations and research.

The National Sport Participation Strategy aims to transform the way participation is connected, delivered and supported across the country and follows the launch of Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.

The group will provide ideas, critical thinking and advice to support the development of the strategy and met for the first time this week.

Universal design expert and Paralympian Michael Walker said sport participation needs to change to ensure it is reflective of Australia’s changing society noting “It is imperative in the planning that we do not leave anyone behind.”

General Manager First Nations at Football Australia, Courtney Fewquandie describes sport participation as “an old house we keep adding new doors to.

“There is no time better than now for sport and recreation development to outgrow and advance past exclusion barriers to participation. A project team with strong community ties and lived experience places us in the strongest position to lead and develop a strategy that mitigates exclusion.”

Golf Australia Strategy Manager Priya Khanna added “we need to ensure the strategy isn’t something that sits on a shelf gathering dust. We want it to be adopted and applied by the sector with a clear approach to measure our progress.”

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is represented on the group by Chief Executive Kieren Perkins.

Almost 200 submissions were received to join the Project Steering Group and all those who applied will be invited to take part in consultation and engagement opportunities throughout the development of the strategy.

To stay up to date on the strategy work visit www.ausport.gov.au/national-sport-participation-strategy-2032

National Sport Participation Strategy Project Steering Group:

• Pierre Comis, Chief Executive Special Olympics Australia

• Jacara Egan, First Nations Wellbeing and Healing, Headspace / AFLW coach

• Courtney Fewquandie, General Manager First Nations Football Australia

• Matt Fulton, Chief Executive SportWest

• Dr Phil Hamdorf, Chair Disability Sport Australia / Chair Skate Australia

• Assmaah Helal, Head of Operations, Creating Chances

• Stuart Hodge, Chief Executive Sport NSW

• Priya Khanna, Strategy Manager Golf Australia

• Cathy Kiss AM, Community Recreation and Aquatics Planning Manager, City of Melbourne

• Meghan Mayman, General Manager Regional Sport Victoria

• Shaun McEachin, National Lead Sport Development, Squash Australia

• Richard McInnes, Chief Executive Water Polo Australia

• Sunil Menon, Head of Community, Melbourne City Football Club

• Kieren Perkins OAM, Chief Executive ASC

• Professor Tracy Taylor, Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation, RMIT University

• Maia Tua-Davidson, National Manager Welcoming Clubs, Welcoming Australia

• Michael Walker, Principal Advisor Universal Design, Victorian Health Building Authority / Paralympian

Image. Credit ASC