Northern Territory Government releases new sport and active recreation plan

The 2021-25 Northern Territory Sport and Active Recreation Strategic Plan has been released which includes the establishment of 10 new community sports officer roles and the renaming of the Northern Territory Institute of Sport to the Territory Sports Academy with a renewed focus on providing specialised services to support local and regional clubs.

With sport recognised as playing an integral role in connecting communities and engaging with children and families, the new officers will be spread out across the Territory in the Tiwi Islands, West Daly, East and West Arnhem, Katherine, Roper Gulf, Tennant Creek, Hermannsburg and Alice Springs.

The Sports Officers will be responsible for boosting young people’s participation in sport across the Territory, as well as engaging with local and regional councils, peak sporting bodies and schools to provide a year round scheduled calendar of sport and recreation activities in the community

In 2020-21, the Territory Government invested more than $39 million to support the sport and active recreation sector.

Further, the new strategic plan will also include:

• The development of a 10-year sport and active recreation infrastructure master plan to identify and prioritise facility requirements across the NT.

• The renaming of the Northern Territory Institute of Sport to the Territory Sports Academy with a renewed focus on providing specialised services to support local and regional clubs. This will help them identify emerging talent, particularly in regional and remote communities where juniors are entering the development pathways.

• Developing a Memorandum of Understanding with Charles Darwin University to leverage their Health and Human Sciences research, psychology and exercise and sport science services.

• Prioritisation of investment in and recognition of coach, official and volunteer development programs from grassroots to elite levels, including the development of a Sport Volunteer Strategy.

Northern Territory Minister for Sport, Kate Worden notes “building strong, healthy communities is an important part of the social and economic fabric of the Territory – keeping kids engaged and Territorians active.

“We will have 10 dedicated remote sport officers in communities across the Territory. It is important we keep Territorians engaged and active.

“This Government is focused on supporting and developing the sport and active recreation sector because it is important to provide Territorians with meaningful ways to engage in regular physical activity – this is exactly what this new plan does.”

To view the strategic plan visit nt.gov.au/sport-and-active-recreation/nt-sport-and-active-recreation-strategic-plan-2021-25