Sport Australia released the first results from AusPlay on 8 December 2016 for data collected from October 2015 to September 2016. This release filled a major data gap for the sport sector, which had been without national participation estimates since 2014 when the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) ceased all sport and recreation data collection.

From the second release onwards Sport Australia will follow a regular cycle of calendar and financial year reporting. Sport Australia has committed to report data every six months.

Release dates:

• Release 2: 26 April 2017 for data collected January 2016 – December 2016
• Release 3: 16 November 2017 for data collected July 2016 – June 2017
• Release 4: 30 April 2018 for data collected January 2017 – December 2017
• Release 5: 31 October 2018 for data collected July 2017 – June 2018
• Release 6: 30 April 2019 for data collected January 2018 – December 2018
• Release 7: 31 October 2019 for data collected July 2018 – June 2019
• Release 8: 30 April 2020 (re-issued 24 June 2020) for data collected January 2019 – December 2019
• Release 9: Results released on 30 October 2020 for data collected July 2019 – June 2020
• Release 10: Results released on 30 April 2021 for data collected January 2020 – December 2020
• Release 11: Results released on 29 October 2021 for data collected July 2020 – June 2021
• Release 12: Results released on 29 April 2022 for data collected January 2021 - December 2021
• Release 13: To be released in late October 2022 for data collected July 2021 – June 2022

The first three releases have overlapping data and therefore time series comparisons cannot be made. Time series comparisons are possible from release 4 onwards by using two discrete data collection periods e.g. the 2016 and 2017 calendar years. However, users of AusPlay data should also be aware of some methodological changes made to the survey in 2019 that may impact time series comparisons. Any comparison of results within AusPlay that cross the 1 July 2019 data collection point should take these methodological changes into account. More information about the changes is provided on the AusPlay methodology page.

A tool to test whether the difference between estimates is statistically significant is available for download below. If you have any questions about the tool or would like assistance with it please send an email to ausplay@sportaus.gov.au.

• AusPlay Estimate Reliability Checker

Sport Australia is working closely with its stakeholders to make the most of the AusPlay results for the benefit of the sport sector and all Australians. AusPlay results are updated every six months.

Please note that the impact of the coronavirus on participation rates will continue to be revealed in future releases. AusPlay has continued during the pandemic and with additional questions to better understand how participation behaviours have changed.

An online portal for AusPlay has been developed by Sport Australia so that State/territory Agencies of Sport and Recreation (STASRs) and National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) can interrogate the AusPlay data in an interactive table format. STASRs and all Sport Australia funded NSOs have each been allocated one login to the online portal and this login has been provided to each organisation’s nominated AusPlay champion.

If you are your organisation’s AusPlay champion you can access the online portal using your username and password. If you are not your organisation’s AusPlay champion but would like to see who is, please download the document below.

Sport Australia updates the national, state/territory and sport data in the online portal every six months when new AusPlay results are released.

Please note:

• Given the wealth of information in the online portal, it’s possible that you may notice some data discrepancies. If you notice anything that needs addressing and/or would like some assistance with interpreting the data please send an email to the address below.

Online portal resources

• List of AusPlay champions (restricted access to NSOs and STASRs)
• AusPlay portal user guide (Release 1)
• AusPlay Estimate Reliability Checker

If you have any questions about the online portal please contact your AusPlay champion or the Insights team at Sport Australia via ausplay@sportaus.gov.au.

A number of non-Sport Australia researchers have published papers based on their own analyses of AusPlay raw data.

• Gender inclusive sporting environments: the proportion of women in non-player roles over recent years (2021), Eime, R., Charity, M., Foley, B.C. et al. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 13, 58
• Sport participation settings: where and ‘how’ do Australians play sport? (2020), Eime, R., Harvey, J. & Charity, M. BMC Public Health 20, 1344.
• Participation in physical activity by Australian adults with a disability (2019), Hassett, L., Cole, J., Shields, N., Sherrington, C.