Tasmania records best ever activity levels

Recently released Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that Tasmania has achieved its best ever results in participation levels for sport, recreation and physical activity durring 2011/12.

The statistics show that 26.5% of Tasmanians aged 15 and over took part physical activity for exercise, recreation or sport at least three times weekly in 2011/12.

This places Tasmania second among Australia's states and territories, equal with Western Australia, for regular participation, ranking below only the Australian Capital Territory (33.6%).

This represents Tasmania's highest ever ranking and is the first time in the history of sport and recreation surveys that Tasmania has achieved a regular participation rate that is above the national average - 25.6%.

The Tasmanian rate of participation five or more times per week is 15.5%, which is also above the national average of 13.1%.

As well as ranking above the national average, Tasmania is ranked a clear second among Australia's states and territories for participation five or more times per week in 2011-12, ranking below only the Australian Capital Territory (17.8%) and ahead of NSW who ranked third at 13.8%.

Tasmanian Minister for Sport and Recreation Michelle O'Byrne said it was an outstanding result, stating "changing societal attitudes have played a role in the result, in that research has shown that Australians are now very health conscious.

"However, Tasmania has performed exceptionally well relative to other states and I believe a whole-of-Tasmanian community effort and approach has created the improvement.

"The effort has involved the State Government and its various agencies – Sport and Recreation Tasmania and the Premier's Physical Activity Council; the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources; Department of Education; Department of Health and Human Services as well as of course local government, the state sporting organisations in Tasmania and their affiliate clubs.

"The State Government has invested strongly over the last five years in the sport and recreation sector, through funding for sport and recreation infrastructure to the tune of around $35 million, which doesn't include the $15 million for Blundstone arena.

"In addition, the State Government has provided millions of dollars to the state's sporting organisations to assist them to grow the capacity of their sport. This funding has helped state sporting organisations to: train and accredit coaches and officials; implement modern governance practices; deliver quality participation programs; develop well run clubs; undertake good strategic planning processes; attract, retain and empower volunteers; and ensure that sport is played in a safe, inclusive and fair environment.

"These are the key capacity-building activities that grow participation in sport and help place state sporting organisations on a sustainable footing.

"The investment in infrastructure has also included the provision of funding, through the Trails and Bikeways program, to cater for the fast growing participation rates in unstructured physical activity such as walking, running and cycling and we are delighted to be able to reintroduce the program in this budget.

"This program has operated largely in partnership with local government and it's very important to recognise the huge role that local government in Tasmania plays in providing, administering and maintaining essential sport and recreation infrastructure in the state.

"I have no doubt the Trails and Bikeways program has made a huge contribution to improved participation levels and with its reintroduction will again make a major difference in terms of providing places and environments for people to be physically active and to cater for the increasing number of people who want to go for a run, walk or ride their bike at a time that suits them somewhere that is convenient.

"DIER has also pursued active transport measures, which have seen bike lanes placed on several new roads in the state, and the health department has played an important role in pushing a preventative health message.

"PPAC, through the Find 30 message, has adopted a vigorous social marketing campaign that we know through research has had a strong cut-through with the Tasmanian community.

"The significant investment in the sport and recreation sector is repaid many times over in benefits to the community. Research through the University of Tasmania has demonstrated that every $1 invested in sport and physical recreation returns over $4 in benefits to Tasmania, including savings of over $60 million per annum to Tasmania's health system."

Click here to access the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.