Partnership looks to community sport and active recreation alignment

Sport Australia and Community Sport Australia (CSA) have committed to greater national and state collaboration, unified by goals to advocate for sport and build capability across the sporting industry.

Having recently met over two days, Sport Australia and Community Sport Australia have now committed to focus on opportunities to enhance their partnership and address issues affecting community sport and active recreation.

Sport Australia is Australia’s primary national sports administration and advisory agency, and CSA comprises state sport federations Sport NSW, the Western Australian Sports Federation, SportSA, Vicsport and QSport.

Sport Australia and Community Sport Australia committed to improved information and evidence sharing, agreeing it will benefit the sporting industry by creating greater alignment across all levels of sport.

The ongoing partnership will focus on:

• Sharing information and data that provides evidence of the value of sport to communities
• Collating resources for capability building, pursuing best practice and avoiding duplication
• Investigating how funding and other programs can deliver greater impact

Sport has the largest volunteer base of any industry in Australia, but both Sport Australia and Community Sport Australia recognised the ongoing recruitment and retention of volunteers as a critical issue for community sport.

The partnership between Sport Australia and Community Sport Australia complements existing partnerships with state and territory agencies of sport and recreation.

Image (from left):  Darren Simpson, Sport NSW; Rob Thompson, Western Australian Sports Federation; Leah Cassidy, SportSA; Kate Palmer, Sport Australia; Robin O’Neill; Sport Australia; Lisa Hasker; Vicsport and Peter Cummiskey; QSport.