Sport Inclusion Australia’s Post

The Office of Sport's National Sport Strategy was launched this week, bringing with it a renewed focus on inclusion, participation growth, and the broader social impact of sport. These priorities are well aligned with other key government initiatives, such as the Australian Sports Commission Play Well and Win Well strategies, as well as State and Territory Sport and Recreation plans. But while the strategies are clear, the big question remains: How do we move from well-meaning policies to real, systemic change that benefits both participants and organisations? The sporting organisations that will not only survive but thrive in this new landscape are those that choose to lead with bold, innovative approaches. It’s no longer enough to simply follow along; to truly stand out, organisations must take the reins and drive these priorities forward. But what does that look like in practice? In my latest blog, I unpack five key characteristics of sport systems that are poised for success. These include adopting real-time participant feedback loops, breaking away from outdated performance-driven practices, embedding inclusion as a core principle, amplifying sport’s social impact, and leveraging a data-driven approach to decision making. Each of these shifts is critical for transforming rhetoric into results. If you're involved in the sporting world—whether at the community level or leading a national body—I encourage you to check out how these approaches can help your organisation thrive in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter! #Inclusion #SportLeadership #ParticipationGrowth #DataDrivenSport #SocialImpact #InnovationInSport #NationalSportStrategy #FromNowOn https://lnkd.in/gd3NyTVt

What is the cross government planning landscape telling us about their expectations of sport investment recipients? And how can funding applicants ensure they're aligned to government priorities to secure future investment? Some thoughts, here 👇

#PlayWell | “Sport is so important for young people’s physical, mental and social health. The group nature of team sport is particularly beneficial for social health outcomes such as reduced loneliness,” Dr Katherine Owen, University of Sydney.   Participation in sport builds a stronger Australia. We welcome this research from Dr Owen on the powerful role sport can play in connecting young people. Creating environments where participants can enjoy a lifelong involvement in sport is a key focus of the #PlayWell Strategy as we work to ensure everyone has a place in sport.   We know cost is also a barrier to participation and we look forward to working with Dr Owen and #PlayWell Leadership Group member Rochelle Eime on a project that will look at how to make community sport more affordable for all.   By working together we can increase the number of Australians involved in sport. Find out more about the work we are doing with the sector to help more Australians to #PlayWell 👉 https://lnkd.in/ggkkphUa

Sports Environment Alliance (SEA) CEO Jan Fitzgerald was recently invited to speak at the Vicsport CEO and Chairs Forum held on Wednesday 24 July. The forum brought together leaders from across the Victorian sporting landscape, with a broad agenda covering sport management, integrity and governance and inclusion. One highlight was the update provided by Richard McInnes from the Australian Sports Commission, who gave a comprehensive overview on the #PlayWell strategy, which has a key theme of everyone having a right to participate in sport. Jan participated in the Healthy Sport panel. As well as a general discussion on the role of SEA in supporting sport to reduce its environmental impact, Jan spoke on the connection between climate, sport and health. The all-pervasive nature of climate change means there is a real risk of impacts to athlete health, which can in turn lead to potential participation implications. By incrementally identifying and reducing environmental and climate impacts, sporting organisations can be part of the solution. It was great to connect with people from so many Victorian sports, and always a delight to see some of our SEA members and associate members, including Netball Victoria, Tennis Victoria, Little Athletics Victoria, MI Global Partners and My Sport Live. A big thank you to Lisa Hasker OAM (She/Her) and her team for inviting SEA to participate. The intersection of climate, environment and sport is an important one for us all. If this is something you’re wrestling with and would like to chat about what solutions you can implement, then please visit our website at https://lnkd.in/gRvU8SU or email us at [email protected]. We’d love to assist. #SEA_theChange #noplanetnoplay #FriendsofSEA #oneplanetteam #NoPlanetNoPlay #PlanetMatters #NoPlanetB #Sport #SportandClimate #ClimageChange #ClimateChangeMitigation #ClimateEducation #Sustainability #Sports #EnvironmentalStewardship #SEA #Partnership #CollectiveAction

🌍 The United Nations recently adopted the resolution “Sport as an Enabler of Sustainable Development”, reaffirming sport’s transformative power to foster equality, inclusion, and sustainability.   The resolution urges the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs to advance its work on sport for development and peace, including updating the 2018 UN Action Plan on Sport, and invites Member States to support these efforts. It highlights the role of sport in achieving the #SDGs by strengthening policies, evidence, and evaluation, ensuring no one is left behind.   This deeply aligns with our purpose at #CisalfaGroup: we believe in a world where wellbeing comes from sport. Sport drives healthier lives, unites communities, and creates a sustainable future.   This belief fuels our mission to spread the culture of sport in everyday life. #CisalfaWorld #WellbeingThroughSport

🏀Exciting news from Sal’s NBL! The second annual Inclusive Round is on the horizon, showcasing the league's commitment to inclusivity and diversity. 🌟 Partnering with Special Olympics NZ and other organizations, this event promises to shine a spotlight on the power of embracing all individuals, regardless of ability. 🔮**Prediction:** With the success and positive reception of the first Inclusive Round, I predict that the second edition will further solidify the Sal’s NBL as a leader in promoting inclusivity within the sports community. 🌈In a world where inclusivity is more important than ever, initiatives like the Inclusive Round are crucial in creating a supportive and welcoming environment for all participants. 🧠This event not only celebrates diversity but also challenges traditional stereotypes and encourages conversations that can lead to meaningful change. ⛹️♂️As the Inclusive Round gains momentum, I foresee other sports leagues and organizations taking note and implementing similar initiatives to promote inclusivity in their own communities. 🙌Kudos to Sal’s NBL, Special Olympics NZ, and all organizations involved for championing inclusivity and making a difference in the lives of individuals of all abilities. #Inclusivity #Diversity #Empowerment #SalNBL #SpecialOlympicsNZ #SportsCommunity #InclusiveRound

🌟 Making a Difference with Laureus Sport for Good Model City Programme in London! 🌟 I'm incredibly proud to be part of the Laureus Sport for Good Model City Programme here in London, where we've teamed up to create positive, long-lasting change in our communities. The Model Cities initiative is all about bringing local stakeholders together and empowering them to tackle the unique challenges facing specific parts of our city. It's a powerful bottom-up approach that actively involves the community in decision-making processes. I've seen firsthand the impact of the three coalitions in Haringey, Barking and Hounslow which comprises individuals from diverse sectors including local authorities, education institutions, youth groups, sports organizations, and community groups. What sets these coalitions apart is their focus on local strategy development, sustainability planning and the mentoring and capacity building of local leaders. These elements are integral to its mission and a key area of the support we at Nicky Affleck Consultancy Ltd have led on. By working closely with diverse sectors including local authorities, education institutions, youth groups, sports organizations, and community groups, we've identified the unique needs of each community and tailored the approach accordingly to develop local strategies. Sustainability planning has been a crucial part of our support. We're not just looking for short-term solutions; we're committed to ensuring that the positive changes we make are sustainable for the long term and these three coalitions are established entities with the ability to continue operating and delivering meaningful work in their local communities. And of course, financial independence planning has been essential for the sustainability of the programmes we are implementing. By helping communities build financial resilience, we're ensuring they can continue to thrive beyond our involvement. The most rewarding of all, would need to be the mentoring of local leaders, where I have seen individuals within the community step up and take ownership of the initiatives, taking on roles in working groups and leadership groups and driving change from within. If you're curious to learn more about our journey and the impact we're making, I encourage you to check out the full case study on our website. https://lnkd.in/e4uy5EvW Thank you Laureus and the three London coalitions for continuing to team up with us! Emily Neilan Barking Sports 4 Change Active Change Haringey Generations Active Hounslow #LaureusSportForGood #ModelCityProgramme #CommunityImpact #ConsultingJourney #LondonStrong #SportforGood #SportforDevelopment 💪🌍

With viewing figures for women's sport in the UK soaring by 131% year-on-year, there's an undeniable surge in popularity. Investment in women's sport is not a new concept, but it's on the brink of a monumental breakthrough. Brands that recognise this shift and proactively align themselves with the rising tide will reap the rewards of a dynamic and expanding market. By embracing the commercial potential of women's sport, brands can access a realm of untapped opportunities. For one, you have that lower price point. So you have brands who maybe would never be able to dream of sponsoring a men's UCI Continental Team but they may have the budget to be a title sponsor to a  women's team at UCI Continental level.  https://lnkd.in/eCHTt674 We are now looking to the 2025 season and have sponsorship opportunities available for FinishLineRacing

Fortaleza Esporte Clube Mission and Values is to provide joy and pride to our loyal fans, practicing sustainable and innovative management. The Role of Mission and Values. Unifying Force: A clear mission and shared values create a sense of unity among players, staff, and fans, fostering a strong club culture. Decision Making: These guidelines provide a framework for making decisions, ensuring they align with the club's overall objectives. Public Image: A well-defined mission and values help shape the club's public image and reputation. Player Recruitment: Attracting players who share the club's values can strengthen team cohesion and performance. Staff Alignment: Mission and values serve as a guide for hiring and retaining employees who fit the club's culture. Community Engagement: A strong connection to the community is often built around shared values and a clear sense of purpose. Fortaleza Esporte Clube

Everyone is probably sick of it, but I’m really passionate about driving more people into playing golf. Sometimes I feel privileged to have been able to have the opportunity to develop the regeneration of new members over the past few years - supporting Get Into Golf initiatives and investing a lot of time in bringing to life a depleted junior section. It’s not only created a buzz in the club, a change in the demographic of members and put our name on the local map for building back a ladies section and junior section, but we’ve also been used in Scottish Golf case studies, videos and supported the creation of marketing templates and survey strategies to help other Scottish clubs recreate a similar result. But what happens if, by creating these new members, it challenges the clubs ways of working and approaches to equality? What if it’s glaringly obvious that there is a lack of strategy to support these initiatives? Equality in sport is a huge topic and I’m not professing to be an expert, just a conscious observer of the challenges in a very small silo. We need the support of our governing bodies in the UK to set our golf clubs up for success. The initiatives are great but I’ve come to the realisation that they are tactical. There needs to be a more strategic approach to support the clubs, to ensure they are setting themselves up for success and their members. I’d love to hear of any examples of where this has been done well in sport. Where a whole club gets taken on a journey of change to ensure the best outcome for existing, new and prospective members 🤞🏻⛳️