The Australian Government is committed to supporting sport in Australia from grassroots to elite including increasing participation in physical and recreational activities, achieving sporting excellence to enhance national pride and inspiration, safeguarding the integrity of sport and, supporting a thriving sport and recreation industry.

State and Territory governments develop and implement policies and programs with a focus on community sport and active recreation participation, sports facility and infrastructure development, and high performance sport and talent pathway development.

Local governments across Australia play a significant role in supporting community sport. This support includes facilitating a range of business development resources, providing funding to clubs and individuals, building and maintaining sports related infrastructure, and sponsoring the hosting of sports events.

Building a close working relationship with local government is an important step for all sporting and active recreation organisations, especially when planning for new facilities and services.

• Regional Sport Victoria (RSV). The peak body which supports nine independent organisations across regional Victoria. These nine organisations are classed as Regional Sports Assemblies (RSAs) and are charged with supporting the sport and recreation sector within their regional catchment. RSV and the nine RSAs work directly with 48 local government authorities in Victoria. RSV covers a population of over 1.45 million rural and regional Victorians and has a network of over 8,500 community based sport and recreation clubs.
• Working with local government: A guide for sport and recreation organisations, South Australian Office for Recreation and Sport, (2012). A key issue facing local government is ensuring that sport and recreation facilities will meet future needs while being affordable and fit-for-purpose.

Since the early 1980’s State and Territory governments have established their own institutes and academies of sport to assist their high performance athletes. A number of regional academies for sport, primarily servicing talented young athletes, have also been established in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.

The National Institute Network (NIN) comprises the Directors of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the eight State and Territory Institutes and Academies of Sport (SIS/SAS).

In 2014 an independent review of the NIN was commissioned by the AIS and the SIS/SAS. It recommended new governance arrangements inclusive of NIN and NSO interests to advance a more effective national high performance system with better aligned activity and shared accountability.

New governance arrangements were endorsed on 1 September 2015. The arrangements included incorporating the NIN, the NSO Performance Director forum, and a high performance summit.

• National Institute System Intergovernmental Agreement. Established in 2011 to provide a collaborative approach between the respective high performance agencies, with a principal focus on the delivery of the high performance plans of national sporting organisations.

In 2019 the National High Performance Sport Strategy (NHPSS) was announced. The NHPSS focuses on Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games outcomes and is a joint strategy of the NIN, NSOs, and other system partners. It positions Australia’s high performance Institutes and Academies, athletes and coaches under a national framework, strengthening relationships with communities, academic institutions, government, industry and the private sector, and embracing the common goal of National Pride and Inspiration through International Sporting Success.

State and local government authorities help to fund regional academies. They work cooperatively with SSOs to provide additional athlete support and training/competition opportunities for talented youth between the ages of 12 and 18 years.

In some states (NSW and Victoria) regional academy programs are funded through State governments. They have close working relationships with their respective State Institutes of Sport, but maintain their own governance structure.

National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) and National Sporting Organisations for People with Disability (NSODs) develop sport from community participation to high performance levels. NSO/Ds in most cases work closely with their respective State Sporting Organisations (SSOs) across Australian state and territory jurisdictions.

The Australian Sports Directory contains the names and contact details of NSO/Ds that are recognised by the ASC as the pre-eminent body for the development of their sport in Australia. Recognised NSO/D's may also receive funding for participation and/or high performance outcomes.

State Sporting Organisations (SSOs), sometimes also called State Sporting Associations (SSAs), are responsible for developing their sport from community participation to high performance levels in their respective jurisdiction.

They are normally required by state/territory governments to be affiliated with the recognised national governing body for the sport (NSO/NSOD) and to meet required governance standards. SSOs work closely with state/territory departments of sport and recreation, clubs in their jurisdiction, as well as the national body and other state sporting organisations in order to develop their respective sports.

State/territory departments of sport and recreation normally provide a list of recognised SSOs/SSAs, as well as relevant resources for organisations, on their websites.

The Confederation of Australian Sport (CAS) is an independent, not-for-profit industry voice committed to promoting the contribution of community sport and representing the interests of those organisations and peak bodies involved in community based sport and active recreation.

Community Sport Australia (CSA), previously known as the Australian State Sports Federation Alliance (ASSFA) is comprised of the State and Territory Sports Federations and collectively represents issues affecting community sport and active recreation in Australia. CSA communicates regularly and where appropriate provides a joint submission to Federal review and issues. CSA includes:

• QSport
• Sport NSW
• SportSA
• VicSport
• Sport West

Women Sport Australia is the peak national advocacy organisation for women in sport. Their mission is to advocate for:

• Gender pay equity and a living wage for all elite female athletes.
• Equal access to sporting facilities and amenities for women and girls both on and off the field.
• Equal media time and space for women’s and men’s sports.
• Champion role models in women’s sport.

The Outdoor Council of Australia (OCA) is the national peak body advocating for and representing organisations and individuals that employ outdoor adventure activities. The role of the OCA is to represent the views and needs of the outdoor sector to the community, industry and all levels of government. Further, the OCA advocates for policies, strategies and actions that support and encourage the outdoor recreation sector; promotes a philosophy and practice of sustainable interaction with the natural environment; encourages organisational development within the outdoor community that enhances the delivery of services; promotes best practices in standards and quality of leadership and training; and promotes the advancement of research on outdoor related issues and participation. OCA members include:

• Outdoors NSW
• Outdoors Queensland
• Outdoors SA
• Outdoors Victoria
• Outdoors WA
• Australian Camps Association
• Christian Venues Association
• Outdoor Education Australia
• Scouts Australia

There are several peak organisations for specific sport and recreation interests. These include:

• AUSactive
• Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP)
• Australian Athletes Alliance (AAA)
• Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association (ANZSLA)
• Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER)
• Australian Psychological Society (APS). The College of Sport and Exercise Psychologists is a subgroup of the Society.
• Australian Society for Sports History (ASSH)
• Australian Sports Professionals Association (ASPA)
• Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA)
• Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS)
• Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA)
• Parks & Leisure Australia (PLA)
• Sports Dietitians Australia (SDA)
• Sports Medicine Australia (SMA)
• Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ)

'Club sport' is a fundamental building block of the Australian sport sector and assists in underpinning participatory and elite performance pathways.

Sport and active recreation clubs make sport accessible to the Australian community. This provides a valuable contribution to Australian society including accrued benefits that contribute to health and well-being (physical, mental, social), inclusion, participation, volunteering, and community building and development outcomes.

While it has been estimated that there are over 70,000 registered not-for-profit sports clubs currently operating in Australia, ascertaining exactly how many clubs exist, including a definition of what constitutes a sports club, is difficult to quantify and confirm.

Schools play a very important role in making sport accessible to children and young people. The importance of school sport (and physical education) as a contributing factor to the overall activity level of children is emphasised in the literature, particularly among lower socio-economic groups. One of the significant barriers to participation in extra-curricular sport is ‘cost’ and this factor is somewhat eased in the school setting.

More information about the role and value of sport in schools can be found in the Sport in Education topic.

Since its establishment in 1981, School Sport Australia has been responsible for the development and promotion of school sport in Australia.

Sporting Schools is a national program available through Sport Australia to primary and secondary schools. It aims to engage more children in more sport based activity within schools and then convert their interest into club based settings. The goal is to help children foster a lifelong interest in sport; gain healthier minds and bodies; have fun; and, learn sport activities and games in a safe environment.

Funding is available to schools to engage quality coaches to deliver the sporting programs developed by the partners of Sporting Schools. These activities can be delivered to children before, during, and after school.

Tertiary education providers play an important role in delivering sport across the Australian sport sector.

UniSport Australia is the peak governing body of university sport in Australia. The forty-three member universities represents more than one million students. UniSport Australia is recognised by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).

Many Australian universities are recognised world-wide for excellence and innovation relating to sport, active recreation, and health research. Additionally, universities recognise the health and wellbeing benefits that sport can bring to students and staff.

Several universities have developed strategic plans that clearly identify priorties in becoming leading institutions for research, innovation, equity, and participation in sport. Examples include:

• Ahead of the Game Sports Strategy, Queensland University of Technology, (2023).
• Changing the Game: UOW Sports Strategy 2023-2028, University of Wollongong Australia, (2023).
• Griffith Sport Pride Strategic Plan 2023-2025, Griffith University Sport, (2023).
• Women in Sport Strategic Plan 2022-2026, Griffith University, (2022).
• Game On: UC Sport Strategy 2021-2026, University of Canberra, (2021).
• Sport Strategic Plan, University of Queensland, (2021).
• From Grassroots to Elite: Sport Strategy 2019-2023, Victoria University, (2019).

The fitness industry plays a significant role in the sport and active recreation sector in Australia with the AusPlay survey reporting that 35.2% of the adult population (15+) participate in fitness or gym (including Crossfit). [source: Fitness/Gym Report, Sport Australia AusPlay, updated October 2021].

AUSactive (formerly Fitness Australia), the peak health and fitness industry association, reports that there are over 6,400 ‘fitness businesses’ in Australia, with 35,000 employees, contributing AU$3billion to the Australian economy. [source: Strategic Plan 2020-21, Fitness Australia, 2020].

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the principal authority of the Olympic Movement. Acting as a catalyst for collaboration between all parties of the Olympic family—including National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the International Sports Federations (IFs), the athletes, the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs), Olympic broadcast partners, and United Nations agencies—the IOC seeks to lead and influence success through a wide range of program and projects.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. Its primary responsibilities are to support our 200 plus members develop Para sport and advocate social inclusion, ensure the successful delivery and organisation of the Paralympic Games and act as the international federation for 10 Para sports.

The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) is an umbrella organisation for international sports federations and other international sport and event related organisations. Their mission is to serve and represent the common interests of all International Federations and coordinate the efforts of all those that aspire to become IOC recognised and, eventually, wish to enter the Olympic and Paralympic Programs.

International Study of 12 sports Federations: Country Profiles, Jeroen Scheerder, Annick Willem, Elien Claes, Sandrine Billiet, University of Leuven, Belgium, (2015). The 12 international sports systems compared are: Germany, France, England, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Lithuania, Slovenia, Spain, Canada, and Australia.

SPLISS is an international network of research cooperation that coordinates, develops, and shares expertise in innovative high performance sport policy research in cooperation with policy makers, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), international (sport) organisations, and researchers worldwide. The SPLISS project has so far published two major reports:

• Tokyo 2020: Evaluation of the Elite Sport expenditures and success in 14 nations, De Bosscher, V., Shibli, S., et.al., SPLISS, (2021). In the run up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games held in 2021, the SPLISS consortium invited nations with an interest in elite sport development systems to take part in an exercise to quantify their nationally coordinated expenditure on elite sport. Fourteen nations (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brazil, Canada) accepted the Pillar 1-Light challenge and when we allow for Belgium being divided into two autonomous provinces of Flanders and Wallonia, we have up to 15 data points with which to make comparisons across the sample.
• Successful elite sport policies : an international comparison of the sports policy factors leading to international sporting success (SPLISS 2.0) in 15 nations. De Bosscher, V., Meyer and Meyer Sport, (2015). This book deals with the strategic policy planning process that underpins the development of successful national elite sport development systems. Drawing on various international competitiveness studies, it examines how nations develop and implement policies that are based on the critical success factors that may lead to competitive advantage in world sport. An international group of researchers joined forces to develop theories, methods and a model on the Sports Policy factors Leading to International Sporting Success (SPLISS). The book presents the results of the large-scale international SPLISS-project. In this project the research team identified, compared and contrasted elite sport policies and strategies in place for the Olympic Games and other events in 15 distinct nations. With input from 58 researchers and 33 policy makers worldwide and the views of over 3000 elite athletes, 1300 high performance coaches and 240 performance directors, this work is the largest benchmarking study of national elite sport policies ever conducted.
• The global sporting arms race: an international comparative study on sports policy factors leading to international sporting success. De Bosscher, V., Meyer and Meyer Sport, (2008). This volume draws on research involving more than 1,400 athletes, coaches, and performance directors at the highest levels and seeks to evaluate and compare over 100 factors that lead to international sporting success. An international comparison of elite sports systems and policies in six nations (Belgium, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom) provides a basis for measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of sport management systems and identifies for investigation possible factors leading to international sporting success. Key concepts are funding, integrated policy development, participation rates, talent identification and development systems, long term athlete development including post career support, training facilities, coaching provision and coach development, intyernational competition and sports science research. [book held by the Clearinghouse for Sport, GV713.B67]

• Elite sport and sport-for-all: Bridging the two cultures?, Richard Bailey and Margaret Talbot (eds.), Routledge, (2015).
• More than sunshine and vegemite: success the Australian way, Ferguson J, Halstead Press, (2006).
• Australian sport - better by design: the evolution of Australian sport policy, Stewart B, Routledge, (2004).
• Australia's sporting success: the inside story, Bloomfield J, University of NSW Press, (2003). John Bloomfield is a former Chairman of the Australian Institute of Sport.
• Quest for excellence: the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Daly J.A, Australian Government Publishing Service, (1991). John Daly is a former Board Member of the AIS.

• Australian Sports Commission Act 1989
• Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Sports anti-siphoning laws in Australia)
• Major Sporting Events (Indicia and Images) Protection Act 2014
• National Sports Tribunal Act 2019
• Olympic Insignia Protection Act 1987
• Sport Integrity Australia Act 2020
• Sport Integrity Australia Regulations 2020

• AusPlay Survey (AusPlay) is a large scale national population tracking survey funded and led by the Australian Sports Commission that tracks Australian sport and physical activity participation behaviours to help inform investment, policy and sport delivery. New data is released twice a year in April and October.
• The Future of Australian Sport. The ASC commissioned the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to identify the six megatrends likely to shape the Australian sports sector over the next 30 years. The 'Future of Australian Sport' online resource includes the report, a video, and a podcast that outline the methodology and findings of the research.
• Intergenerational review of Australian sport 2017, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for the Australian Sports Commission, (2017). This review focused on the overall sports sector, with a particular emphasis on participation in sport and community level sport. While the synergies between participation and high performance sporting outcomes are recognised as being important to any discussion about the value of sport, the ASC’s high performance strategy is reviewed as part of the Olympic cycle. A separate, deeper analysis of the high performance sports system, including the AIS strategy and future direction of the AIS campus, commenced prior to the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games. This analysis includes an evaluation of individual sports' abilities to contribute to high performance outcomes. The outcomes of this analysis will complement this review.
• Sports funding: federal balancing act, Dr Rhonda Jolly, Social Policy Section, Parliamentary Library, (June 2013). Detailed description of the history of Australian sport policy including policies and government funding.
• Organisation of sport in Australia, Wikipedia, (accessed 17 June 2021). The organisation of sport in Australia has been largely determined and shaped by Australian governments at all levels, that is the Australian Government, the State and Territory Governments, and local governments.

• Q&A with Patrick Hunt – Reflections on Basketball, Coaching and the AIS, Patrick Hunt, Consultant, AIS Performance Coaching and Leadership; Greg Blood, AIS Emeritus Historian, Australian Institute of Sport, (20 July 2017).
• Q&A with Craig Purdam – Reflections on 35 Years at the AIS, Prof. Craig Purdam, Head of Physical Therapies; Greg Blood, AIS Emeritus Historian, Australian Institute of Sport, (16 May 2017).
• Gold Winning Policy – Insights from an International Comparative Study on Elite Sport Climate and Policies, Prof. Hans Westerbeek, Dean, College of Sport and Exercise Science and the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University; Dr Camilla Brockett, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport, (12 February 2014).
• Reflections on High Performance Sport Systems, William T Endicott, Consultant to AIS Performance Coaching and Leadership, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport (29 May 2013)
• An audience with the Hon Bob Ellicott QC, The Hon Bob Ellicott QC, former Federal Minister for Home Affairs and the Capital Territory (1977–1981) with responsibility for sport. (9 April 2013)
• 30th Anniversary Series, Greg Blood reflects, Reflection on the development of the AIS and ASC over three periods of time, Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport (8 December 2011)
• Reflecting on the AIS 1987-2000, Dr Ross Smith, former Acting AIS Director (1987-1990), Head of AIS Sports Medicine and Science (1990-2000). Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport (8 September 2011)
• Don Talbot Reflects on the AIS and the development of Australian Sport, Don Talbot, AO, inaugural Director of the AIS (1980–1983) and Australian Swimming Head Coach (1989–2001), Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport (29 March 2011)
• Reflecting on the development of the AIS Track and Field program, Craig Hilliard, Senior Coach AIS Track and Field program, Australian Institute of Sport Smart Talk seminar series, Canberra, (28 February 2011)
• Reflecting on the development of AIS Physiology Services and Research, Professor David Pyne, Senior Physiologist, AIS Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport Smart Talk seminar series, Canberra, (21 February 2011)
• Insider’s view of UK Sport’s Elite Sport Performance Research in Training (ESPIRIT) Project, Dale Bickham, researcher with Queen Mary University of London working in partnership with the UK Sport’s ESPIRIT Project, Australian Institute of Sport Smart Talk seminar series, Canberra, (14 February 2011)
• Australian Coaches international tour of elite sporting organisations, Presenters: Patrick Hunt (AIS Elite Performance); Neil Craig (AFL); Jimmy Owens (Sprint Canoe); Shaun Stephens (Triathlon); Katrina Powell (Hockey); Paul Goriss (Basketball); Sue Gaudion (Netball); Hui Tong (Diving), Australian Institute of Sport Smart Talk seminar series, Canberra, (08 February 2011)
• The last of the amateurs: Australian sport during the 1950's and 1960's, Greg Blood, Information Services, National Sport Information Centre Smart Talk Seminar Series, Australian Institute of Sport (7 April 2008)