Play Well Brings NSOs Together To Enhance Sport Engagement

Last week,”Play Well,” Australia’s comprehensive strategy for enhancing sport participation, brought together national sporting organisations (NSOs) and national sporting organisations for people with disabilities (NSODs), where participants engaged in focused discussions on how to seamlessly integrate this strategy into their operational frameworks.

The conference featured six sessions, all inspired by the themes of Play Well, and were headed by a keynote address from former Australian cricketer Reanna Browne.

Commenting on the conference, executive general manager of Sport and Community Capability at the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), Richard McInnes, said: “Our participation leaders are essential to bringing Play Well to life and taking the strategy from paper to the playing fields.”

“After spending a couple of days learning and collaborating, you can feel the energy and enthusiasm the network has for action in this space.

“They understand that having more people involved in sport and physical activity benefits the entire community,” McInnes said.

CEO of Disability Sports Australia, a participant in the PLN Executive Coaching Program, Ayden Shaw, highlighted the increased awareness of the significance of sport participation generated by the conference and network.

“Thanks to the ASC and the work of so many in this space, participation is being recognised as being just as important and essential to the sport system as high performance,” Shaw said.

Her insights prompted leaders to contemplate actionable steps they could take to foster a brighter future for their organisations and the broader sporting community.

Attendees were also treated to valuable updates from the inaugural participants of the peer-to-peer PLN Executive Coaching Program, shedding light on ongoing Play Well projects designed to ensure inclusivity in sport and provide a place for everyone.

This emphasis on participation reflects a critical shift in the approach towards sport in Australia, where the collective aim remains to create an environment that is not only inclusive but also promotes a healthier, more active population.

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