NSC announces winners of 2025 Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Awards

The National Sports & Physical Activity Convention (NSC) has announced the winners of the 2025 Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Awards held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on 26th June 2025.

The awards recognise outstanding initiatives that have significantly contributed to increasing physical activity and promoting inclusivity across Australia.

NSC Chief Executive Martin Sheppard noted “these awards are more than just accolades – they represent the values that drive our industry forward: inclusion, sustainability, innovation, and impact. We congratulate all of this year’s winners and finalists for their outstanding contributions to building healthier and more active communities across Australia.”

Award Winners and their Innovations:

Inclusion Program/Initiative of the Year: Moriarty Foundation – John Moriarty Football (JMF)
JMF engages over 2,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children through football, fostering health, education, and cultural connections. The program operates in 17 remote communities, offering free sessions multiple times a week, and provides scholarships for talented youth.

Marketing & Communications: Belgravia Leisure – Move It CBR!
This campaign revitalised community engagement in Canberra by offering free outdoor exercise classes, training sessions with Paralympians, and water polo demonstrations, encouraging residents to incorporate regular physical activity into their routines.

Technology Innovation: Clubland Australia
Clubland developed digital clubhouses to streamline operations for community sports clubs, addressing challenges like declining participation and communication gaps. The platform offers integrated tools for administration and community engagement.

Indoor Sport & Leisure Facility Design: Blacktown City Council – Blacktown Exercise Sports & Technology Hub (BEST)
BEST is a state-of-the-art facility that combines sports, health, education, and recreation. It features inclusive spaces designed for all ages and abilities, promoting community well-being through innovative design inspired by diverse cultural narratives.

Outdoor Sport & Leisure Facility Design: Penrith City Council – Gipps Street Recreation Precinct
This precinct offers a variety of outdoor amenities, including sports fields, walking trails, and play areas, designed to encourage active lifestyles and community interaction in a sustainable environment.

Playground Design: City of Swan – Ballajura Intergenerational Playspace (Weitj Park)
Weitj Park is an inclusive playspace that caters to all generations, featuring equipment and areas that promote physical activity, social interaction, and community engagement across age groups.

Sport and Climate Change: Polytan – Poligras Paris GT Zero
Polytan introduced the world's first climate-positive hockey turf, Poligras Paris GT Zero, setting a new standard for sustainable sports surfaces by reducing carbon footprints and promoting environmental responsibility.

Overall Innovation Award: Moriarty Foundation – John Moriarty Football
Recognised for its comprehensive impact, JMF received the Overall Innovation Award for its exceptional contribution to community engagement, cultural connection, and the promotion of physical activity among Indigenous youth.

The NSC congratulates all winners and finalists for their dedication to fostering active, inclusive, and sustainable communities through innovative practices.

This year, the National Sports & Physical Activity Convention (NSC) returned to Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre on 25th – 26th June 2025. The organisers worked with its 50+ collaborators to curate a program with international and Australian experts, providing the most comprehensive program on community sport recreation and sports facilities in Australia. The event also featured 80+ Exhibitors and seven Activation Areas.

Image from left. Beau Newell (DISA), Paul Kamphuis (Polytan Asia Pacific), Neil Gibson (Blacktown City Council), Nick Cox (Belgravia Leisure), Lauren Mowen (Clubland Australia), Tracey Holmes (collecting on behalf of Moriarty Foundation). Credit: NSC