The Future of Sport in Australia The Future of Sport in Australia ISBN: 978-1-74241-070-8 Online ISBN: 978-1-74241-071-5 Publications Approval Number: 5582 Paper-based publications © Commonwealth of Australia 2009 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca Internet sites © Commonwealth of Australia 2009 This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca Mr David Crawford Chairman Independent Sport Panel 15 October 2009 The Hon. Kate Ellis Minister for Sport Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Dear Minister Ellis On 28 August 2008 you announced the membership and Terms of Reference for the Independent Sport Panel to investigate reforms required to ensure the Australian sporting system remains prepared for future challenges at both the community and elite levels. It is my pleasure to forward the report of the Panel appointed to undertake this review. The report’s findings and recommendations are made after extensive consultation with key stakeholders and the general public. The recommendations are not part of an exhaustive wish list but are targeted at specific issues which the Panel believes need to be addressed to meet the challenges facing the Australian sporting system. In making the recommendations, the Panel acknowledges that some of the recommendations will require change to the sporting system as it currently stands. It is acknowledged that implementation of these recommendations will require the commitment of all levels of government and stakeholders. I sincerely thank the members of the Panel for their significant contribution to this review. They have given of their time and expertise without qualification. Yours sincerely David Crawford Chairman Independent Sport Panel i i Executive Overview TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER OF TRANSMISSION i EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW 1 1.1 DEFINING OUR NATIONAL SPORTS VISION 5 1.2 REFORMING THE AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION TO LEAD THE SPORTS SYSTEM 11 1.3 MERGING OUR INSTITUTES OF SPORT 16 1.4 BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF OUR NATIONAL SPORTING ORGANISATIONS 20 1.5 PUTTING SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BACK INTO EDUCATION 27 1.6 BUILDING COMMUNITY SPORT WITH PEOPLE AND PLACES 31 1.7 ENSURING AUSTRALIA’S SPORTS SYSTEM IS OPEN TO ALL 36 1.8 SUSTAINING THE FUNDING BASE FOR SPORT 46 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS 51 ASSESSMENT AND FINDINGS 57 2.1 NATIONAL SPORT POLICY FRAMEWORK 60 2.2 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 71 2.3 CULTURAL AND SOCIETAL IMPACTS 91 2.4 CAPACITY OF AUSTRALIA’S SPORTING ORGANISATIONS 101 2.5 INFRASTRUCTURE 111 2.6 EDUCATION AND SPORT 119 2.7 INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF SPORT 127 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 142 APPENDICES 147 Executive Overview iii Executive Overview Executive Overview Executive Overview The announcement by the Minister for Sport of the terms of reference for the Independent Sport Panel (the Panel) was a recognition by Government that it is now time to review all aspects of sport in Australia and to chart a new direction. The terms of reference are very broad. The Panel consulted widely and all relevant stakeholders were given the opportunity to participate. In all, the Panel met with or received submissions from over 650 organisations or individuals. Many issues were raised, many problems identified and many suggestions were provided. It is clear that there is much to be done. It is apparent that while significant gains were achieved in the way in which elite sport was administered post the 1976 Olympics, the world has changed. There is a need to address our goals and aspirations at both the elite and participatory level, taking account of economic and demographic changes, immigration and resultant new cultures, population shifts—rural to urban, and the changing nature of sport itself and physical activity. As the terms of reference are broad and noting the inclusion of preventative health issues, the Panel has included within the definition of sport, physical activity in a broad sense. The Panel formed the view that it is not possible to address all of, and make recommendations about, the multitude of issues that have been presented. It believes there are a limited number of fundamental issues, which if addressed, will make a difference and provide the basis to ensure the Australian sporting system remains prepared for future challenges at both the elite and community levels. There are eight chapters as part of this executive overview. Each chapter deals with a fundamental issue, contains a summary of what needs to be addressed and provides recommendations for going forward. The recommendations address the ’must do’ initiatives and are interdependent in the sense that chapters may include issues relating to continuing success at the elite or participatory level, social inclusion, preventative health, pathways or funding. The Panel believes that these matters need to be addressed if: • Australia is to continue to be successful at the elite level. • All Australians are able to participate in their sport(s) of choice. • The health and wellbeing of our population is improved. The Panel believes that if the right structure and governance is put in place, there is every chance for a successful future for Australian sport. Without the right structure and governance, success will not result. Executive Overview 3 The eight chapters are: • Defining our National Sports Vision • Reforming the Australian Sports Commission to Lead the Sports Systems • Merging our Institutes of Sport • Building the Capacity of our National Sporting Organisations • Putting Sport and Physical Activity Back into Education • Building Community Sport with People and Places • Ensuring Australia’s Sport System is Open to All • Sustaining the Funding Base for Sport. There is a summary after chapter eight listing all of the recommendations. The part of the report entitled ‘Assessment and Findings’ provides more details of the information considered by the Panel, the assessments made and the findings. The information in ‘Assessment and Findings’ contains many matters raised for future consideration. It is recognised that it is inappropriate to believe one size fits all. Accordingly, there will need to be judgement applied in particular circumstances in addressing these matters by those charged with the responsibility for implementation. It has become clear to the Panel and confirmed by many submissions, that without implementing these changes, Australia will fall further behind in our standing in elite sport: the health and wellbeing agenda for our population will not be progressed to the extent it should, and the general level of participation in sport and physical activity will continue its downward spiral. The Panel places on record its thanks and appreciation of the support received from the Sports Branch of the Department of Health and Ageing. 4 4 The Future of Sport in Australia Executive Overview CHAPTER 1.1 DEFINING OUR NATIONAL SPORTS VISION Australia does not have a national sports policy or vision. We have no agreed definition of success and what it is we want to achieve. We lack a national policy framework within which objectives for government funding can be set and evaluated. The Australian Government and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) have long affirmed the importance of high performance and community sports participation. More recently, the importance of sport’s contribution to the national health agenda and social inclusion has been emphasised. However, with no clearly defined ambitions, no measurable targets and no collection of supporting data, implementation has been poor. The absence of a definition of sporting success has led to a failure to collect meaningful data about the quality of Australia’s sport and recreation participation. This has inhibited an evidence-based approach to the development of sports policies and strategies. At the start of this review, the Panel asked some simple questions about the amount of money being spent by all Australian governments on sport, recreation and physical activity, and its impact. It was surprising to discover there is no current reliable information available to answer those threshold questions. The only data found was derived from 2000–01 Australian Bureau of Statistics material. It confirmed that approximately $2 billion was spent on sport at that time across the three tiers of government. Only 10 per cent came from the Australian Government, 40 per cent from state and territory governments, and the remaining 50 per cent from local government. State, territory and local government spending was predominantly directed to facilities and their upkeep.1 Olympic medal counts seem to be the one area where success is being defined and measured. No parallel ambition has been expressed for community sporting participation where outcomes are not even measured. 1 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Sport and Recreation Funding by Government, Australia, 2000–01, cat. no 4147.0. The Future of Sport in Australia Executive Overview 5 As well as submissions received by the Panel, attendees at each of the community forums around the country agreed that national success should not be solely assessed in terms of medal tallies. When determining our national sporting statement of success, elite performance in non- Olympic sports and the general health and fitness of Australians need also to be considered.