AusPlay
Participation data for the sport sector

Summary of key national findings
October 2015 to September 2016 data

Release date,
December 2016
1

 AUSPLAY
THE SINGLE SOURCE DATA
CURRENCY FOR THE SPORT SECTOR
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) aims to make
Australian sport stronger.
The AusPlay Survey (AusPlay) is a key pillar of Play.Sport.Australia.
the ASC’s game plan to get more Australians participating in
organised sport more often.

2

 The ASC is helping sports to thrive in a rapidly changing environment. This starts with research and insights
into changing participation trends.
AusPlay is a national population tracking survey funded and led by the ASC. It will provide the sport sector with
vital insights, inform strategy and fills a major information gap left by the Australian Bureau of Statistics when
it stopped collecting sport and recreation data in 2014. AusPlay is an independent research project at the
population level which measures all types of activities in a consistent and comparable way.
Objectives

Methodology

AusPlay provides accurate and reliable information
on Australia’s participation trends in sport and
physical activity. The three main objectives of
AusPlay are to:

>> Overlapping dual sample frame design
(mobile and landline)

>> Provide insights to help sports grow participation
and track trends
>> Provide data that informs government investment,
policy and program delivery
>> Identify and describe links between sport
participation and other influential factors.

>> Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI),
continuous tracking all year long
>> 20,000 interviews conducted annually with
Australian adults aged 15 years and over*
>> More than 3,600 interviews conducted annually
with Australian parents/guardians of a child aged
0-14*

* The Australian Sports Commission produced this report based on data collected and generated by ORC International. From October 2015 to September 2016,
a total of 20,021 interviews were conducted amongst adults aged 15 years and over, and 3,849 interviews were conducted with parents/guardians of a child
aged 0-14

What is new here?
Adults’ and children’s sport and physical recreation participation data is being collected together for the
first time.
AusPlay will help us to better understand the relationship between the activity habits of children and
their parents.
Ausplay will deliver more detailed reporting, delivered faster (just three months after data collection)
and will be updated every six months. This will enable us to identify and monitor key trends over an
extended period of time.
Compared to previous national data tracking tools, AusPlay covers a larger breadth and depth of topics,
allowing for deeper analysis of issues.

3

 HOW ACTIVE ARE AUSTRALIANS?

AusPlay captures a wide variety
of activities and a distinction is
made between sport‑related
activities (e.g. team sports,
athletics, golf) versus non‑sport
related physical activities
(e.g. gym memberships,
bushwalking).
Over 17 million Australians aged
15 or over (87%) participated in
a sport or physical activity in the
last 12 months.

Adult participation by age
100%
88%
80%

60%

4

67%

68%

65%

65%

61%

71%

73%

72%

56%
46%

40%
39%

37%

20%

0%

While sport
remains an
important form of
activity throughout life,
non-sport related physical
activity becomes more
important as we age.

68%

15–17

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–64

65+

Adult age
Sport-related activity

Non-sport-related activity

 Nearly 3.2 million children (69%)
participated in some form of
organised sport or physical
activity outside of school hours*.

Child participation by age
100%
87%
76%

80%

77%

60%

40%
36%
20%
15%
0%

13%

12%

8%
0–4

5–8

9–11

12–14

Child age
Non-sport-related activity

Sport-related activity

Child participation by age

Adult men and women participate
at similar levels across the
life stages.
However girls 9-11 years old are
slightly more likely to participate
in sport or physical activity
(at least once a year) compared
to boys of the same age!

100%

92%
80%

80%

89%
87%

81%
80%
79%

79%
77%
60%

40%

41%
39%
37%

20%

0%

0–4

5–8

9–11

12–14

Age
Children

Boys

Girls

* AusPlay obtained information from parents about their child’s participation data. Information was not collected on children’s school activities or casual play
outside of school as parents would not be able to provide this information accurately.

5

 How often (frequency) and for how long (duration) are Australians getting active?

Adult participation by frequency
100%
87%

85%

83%

80%

11.6 million Australians (59%)
aged 15 or over are participating
in sport or non-sport related
physical activity three or more
times per week.

79%
70%
59%

60%
47%
38%

40%

29%
23%
20%

7+ per week

6+ per week

5+ per week

4+ per week

3+ per week

2+ per week

1+ per week

Frequency
Adults

Women

Child participation by frequency
100%

80%
69%

66%

62%

60%

54%

40%

19%

20%

11%

7%

2%
7+ per week

6+ per week

5+ per week

4+ per week

1+ per week

1+ per month

1+ per fortnight

Frequency
Children

6

4%

0%
1+ per year

These findings highlight
the critical role of sport and
physical activity programs
in schools to maintain
satisfactory activity levels of
Australian children.

33%

3+ per week

2.5 million Australian children
(54%) aged 0 to 14 are active
at least once a week through
organised sport/physical activity
outside of school hours. Only 19%
or 0.9 million children are active at
least three times per week.

Men

2+ per week

1+ per fortnight

1+ per month

1+ per year

0%

Boys

Girls

 Adults and children median duration of activities
140
120

120

Minutes

100
80
60

60
45
40
20
0

80
70
60

60
60

60

60

63

60

60

60

53

53

50

45

45

55–64

65+

30

0–4

5–8

9–11

12–14

15–17

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

Age
Sport-related activity

Non-sport-related activity

Adult participation by frequency
100%

80%
65%

63%

60%

60%
53%

57%
51%
40%

43%

47%
41%

32%
25%

29%

20%

18%
20%
6%
6+ per week

4+ per week

3+ per week

2+ per week

1+ per week

1+ per fortnight

1+ per month

9%
5+ per week

13%
0%

15%
4%
7+ per week

68%

1+ per year

Australian adults tend
to play sports for longer
durations than non-sport related
physical activities. However they
participate in non-sport related
physical activities more often
than sport.

80

75

Frequency
Sport-related activity

Non-sport-related activity

7

 WHAT DRIVES AUSTRALIANS TO BE ACTIVE?
Australians identify a wider range of motivations for playing sports compared to non-sport
related physical activities.

Adult top 10 motivations for participation

Physical health or fitness
is the strongest motivation
for non‑sport related
physical activity.
And whilst this is also the
lead motivation for playing
sport, people are significantly
more likely to also play sport
for the fun/enjoyment and
social aspects.

Physical health or
fitness

63%
20%

Fun/enjoyment
11%

Social reasons

78%

55%

32%

15%
11%

Psychological/
mental health/therapy
To lose weight/
keep weight off/tone

17%

7%

Performance or 1%
competition
5%
Hobby

Way of getting around
To be outdoors/
to enjoy nature
Walk the dog

1%
5%
9%
5%
5%
3%

1%

12%

0%

50%
Sport-related activity

100%
Non-sport-related activity

Adult top 5 motivations for participation by gender

Women are more likely to
participate in sport or physical
activity for physical and mental
health reasons and to lose or
maintain weight than men.
Men are more motivated by fun/
enjoyment and social reasons
than women.

81%
76%

Physical health or
fitness
39%

Fun/enjoyment

50%

24%
28%

Social reasons
To lose weight/
keep weight off/tone

12%

Psychological/
mental  health/therapy

12%
0%

19%

20%
50%

100%
Men

8

Women

 Adult top 5 barriers to participation by life-stage
100%

For adults up to middle-age,
time pressure is by far the main
barrier to participating in sport
or physical activity. Poor health
or injury then also becomes a
main factor.

80%

60%

53%

57%

53%

48%
38%

40%
28%
20%

19%
10%
10%

0%

15–17

36%

34%
11%
9%

15%

8%
6%

7%

6%

18–24

25–34

30%
7%
6%
4%

9%
5%

7%
4%
35–44

18%
16%
5%
3%

2%
45–54

55–64

65+

Age
Too lazy

Increasing age/too old

Poor health or injury

The main barrier to young
children‘s participation in
organised out of school hours
sport or physical activity is their
parents’ perception that they are
too young to start playing.

Don’t like sport/physical activity

Not enough time/too many other commitments

Children top 5 barriers to participation by life-stage
100%
84%
80%

60%

40%

31%

20%

0%

5%
2%
1%
0–4

14%

15%
15%

9%

9%
3%

6%
5–8

9–11

15%
11%
5%
1%
12–14

Age
Can’t afford it/can’t afforfd transport

Doesn’t like physical activity

Not enough time/too many other commitments

Wrong age/too old/too young

9

 HOW DO AUSTRALIANS GET ACTIVE?
Adult participation through an organisation/venue is important across all life stages
although decreases with age. Self-organised based participation becomes more important
as we get older.

Adult participation by age
100%
83%
80%
70%
66%
59%

60%

50%
43%
40%

42%

38%

41%
40%

30%
23%

20%

18%
10%

0%

15–17

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–64

65+

Age
Organisation/venue based participation (all or some activities were done through an organisation/venue)
Not organisation/venue based (“self-organised”, no activities were done through an organisation/venue)

Sport clubs are the primary
avenue for children to be active
(except for children aged 0–4,
who are more likely to be active
through other organisations).

Child participation by age
100%

80%
64%
60%

60%

50%
40%
30%

28%

26%
20%

20%
9%
0%

0–4

5–8

9–11

12–14

Age
Active through sport clubs or association
Active but all through other providers

10

 Sport clubs are not the main
choice for participation in sport
or physical activity in Australia for
adults aged 18 years and over.

Adult participation by age
100%

80%

60%

53%
42%

44%

40%

34%

30%

28%
22%

20%

0%

40%

15–17

18–24

25–34

20%

35–44

29%

26%

16%

14%

15%

45–54

55–64

65+

Age
Active through sport clubs or association
Active but all through other providers

Child participation in club sport by age

While sport clubs are the main
avenue for both girls and boys,
throughout childhood boys
(50%) are more likely to be
active through club sport than
girls (33%).

100%

80%
70%
59%

60%

68%

57%
51%

38%

40%

20%

0%

11%
7%
0–4

5–8

9–11

12–14

Age
Boys

Girls

11

 HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENT ON BEING ACTIVE?
More than $10.7 billion was spent by Australians
on fees for participation in sport or physical activity
over the past year.

$2.3 billion for children and
$8.4 billion for adults.

56% of adult ‘players’ and 95% of children ‘players’ have paid for participation in sport or physical activity in
the last 12 months. This amounts to a total of 9.6 million adults and 3 million children paying for participation.

So where is this money being spent?
Adults expenditure by organisation
Gym/fitness centre/
leisure centre

41%

Sports club or
association

27%

Private studios

11%

Recreation club or
association
Individual personal
trainer or coach
Educational institution

4%

3%

1%

Other types of
organisations combined

13%
0%

50%

Children expenditure by organisation
Sports club or
association

38%

Private studios

19%

Gym/fitness centre/
leisure centre

13%

Recreation club or
association
Educational institution
Individual personal
trainer or coach

9%

4%

3%

Other types of
organisations combined

15%
0%

12

50%

 TECHNOLOGIES ARE BEING USED TO KEEP ACTIVE
Adults use of technology by age
100%

The use of technology for sport
or physical activity is popular
with 39% of the Australian adult
‘playing’ population.

80%

Its popularity is highest amongst
younger adults, particularly
younger women.

60%

40%

Apps for tracking
activity and wearable
technology are the
most common types of
technology used by
participants.

53%
50%
48%

52%
48%
44%

52%
50%
48%

49%
48%
47%

42%
40%
28%
29%

39%

20%
17%

28%

20%

15%
0%

15–17

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–64

65+

Age
Adults

Men

Women

Types of technology used
Apps for tracking activity or training

17%

Wearable technology such as Fitbit,
watches, heart rate monitors

14%

Websites (not including social media
sites) or online tools

9%

Play music/listen to headphones

8%

Free social media site such as Running
Mums Australia or Urban Rec

4%

Watching video sessions of physical
activities/fitness/exercise

2%

Apps for music

1%

Apps for maps and GPS training

1%
0%

20%

13

 MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES FOR AUSTRALIANS
These tables show the top activities (at least once a year) for different groups of the population (adults,
children, gender) and various criteria (through an organisation/venue, club sport).
Adults
Top 20 activities

Population
estimate

Per cent of
population

Population
estimate

Per cent of
population

8,397,408

42.6%

Walking (recreational)

3,189,754

32.8%

Fitness/gym

6,317,614

32.1%

Fitness/gym

2,785,040

28.6%

Athletics, track and field*

3,115,027

15.8%

Athletics, track and field*

1,728,674

17.8%

Swimming

2,852,924

14.5%

Cycling

1,387,756

14.3%

Cycling

2,302,614

11.7%

Swimming

1,261,924

13.0%

Football

1,141,027

5.8%

Football

884,972

9.1%

Bush walking

1,058,061

5.4%

Golf

836,606

8.6%

Golf

1,022,127

5.2%

Cricket

571,010

5.9%

Tennis

946,790

4.8%

Tennis

537,917

5.5%

Yoga

866,679

4.4%

Bush walking

520,642

5.3%

Basketball

667,006

3.4%

Cricket

643,919

3.3%

Netball

630,638

3.2%

Population
estimate

Per cent of
population

Surfing

528,058

2.7%

Walking (recreational)

5,207,654

52.3%

Australian football

496,829

2.5%

Fitness/gym

3,532,574

35.4%

Pilates

489,731

2.5%

Swimming

1,591,001

16.0%

Fishing (recreational)

412,049

2.1%

Athletics, track and field*

1,386,353

13.9%

Touch football

402,756

2.0%

Cycling

914,858

9.2%

Canoeing/kayaking

312,664

1.6%

Yoga

742,136

7.4%

Dancing (recreational)

269,798

1.4%

Netball

562,698

5.6%

Bush walking

537,419

5.4%

Adults through
organisation/venue
Top 10 activities

Population
estimate

Per cent of
population

Pilates

441,642

4.4%

Tennis

408,873

4.1%

Walking (recreational)

Fitness/gym

5,045,386

25.6%

1,593,531

8.1%

Golf

888,794

4.5%

Football

825,866

4.2%

Yoga

654,830

3.3%

Tennis

611,815

3.1%

Netball

583,736

3.0%

Athletics, track and field

537,454

2.7%

Cricket

463,042

2.3%

Basketball

461,233

2.3%

Swimming

14

Adult men
Top 10 activities

Adult women
Top 10 activities

Recreational
walking is the
most popular physical
activity for Australians
overall followed by fitness/gym
activities.
However, fitness/gym activity
is by far the most preferred
activity involving some type
of organisation or with
access to a venue.

*Athletics, track and field
includes jogging and running

 Children organised out of
school hours
Top 20 activities

Population
estimate

Per cent of
population

Population
estimate

Per cent of
population

1,378,967

30.0%

Swimming

668,045

28.3%

Football

674,094

14.7%

Football

538,304

22.8%

Australian football

366,462

8.0%

Australian football

320,650

13.6%

Gymnastics

341,200

7.4%

Cricket

236,465

10.0%

Netball

332,018

7.2%

Basketball

189,627

8.0%

Dancing (recreational)

329,003

7.2%

Tennis

172,395

7.3%

Basketball

300,622

6.5%

Rugby league

121,387

5.1%

Tennis

280,239

6.1%

Karate

97,422

4.1%

Cricket

256,930

5.6%

Athletics, track and field

91,927

3.9%

Athletics, track and field

203,873

4.4%

Gymnastics

77,386

3.3%

Rugby league

126,754

2.8%

Karate

121,877

2.6%

Population
estimate

population

Swimming

710,922

31.7%

Netball

324,177

14.5%

Dancing (recreational)

308,082

13.8%

Gymnastics

263,813

11.8%

Football

135,790

6.1%

Athletics, track and field

111,946

5.0%

Basketball

110,995

5.0%

Tennis

107,844

4.8%

Dance Sport

86,222

3.8%

Australian football

45,812

2.0%

Swimming

Dance Sport

106,901

2.3%

Hockey

76,922

1.7%

Touch football

76,039

1.7%

Lifesaving surf

65,986

1.4%

Fitness/gym

59,282

1.3%

Rugby union

57,429

1.2%

Taekwondo

49,261

1.1%

Martial arts

47,279

1.0%

Swimming
is the activity
of choice for a
large proportion of
Australian children,
ahead of football
in second.

Children organised out of
school hours – Boys
Top 10 activities

Children organised out of
school hours – Girls
Top 10 activities

Per cent of

15

 Club sport (Adults and Children combined)
Top 10 activities

Population estimate

Per cent of population

Per cent of club sport
population

1,086,986

4.5%

18.8%

Golf

685,732

2.8%

11.9%

Australian football

635,627

2.6%

11.0%

Netball

625,721

2.6%

10.8%

Tennis

585,751

2.4%

10.1%

Cricket

562,669

2.3%

9.7%

Basketball

532,311

2.2%

9.2%

Swimming

267,890

1.1%

4.6%

Rugby league

247,883

1.0%

4.3%

Athletics, track and field

238,084

1.0%

4.1%

Football

For sports played
in sport clubs
however, football is
the top sport among
adults and children
combined.

16

 Club sport (Adults)
Top 10 activities

Population estimate

Per cent of population

Per cent of club sport
population

Golf

666,349

3.4%

17.3%

Football

535,075

2.7%

13.9%

Tennis

394,713

2.0%

10.2%

Cricket

359,501

1.8%

9.3%

Netball

354,161

1.8%

9.2%

Australian football

307,087

1.6%

8.0%

Basketball

280,728

1.4%

7.3%

Bowls

195,479

1.0%

5.1%

Rugby league

131,934

0.7%

3.4%

Hockey

117,537

0.6%

3.0%

Club sport (Children)
Top 10 activities

Population
estimate

Per cent of
population

Per cent of club
sport population

551,911

12.0%

28.8%

Australian football

328,540

7.1%

17.2%

Netball

271,559

5.9%

14.2%

Basketball

251,583

5.5%

13.1%

Cricket

203,168

4.4%

10.6%

Tennis

192,167

4.2%

10.0%

Swimming

191,038

4.2%

10.0%

Athletics, track and field

124,541

2.7%

6.5%

Rugby league

115,949

2.5%

6.1%

Gymnastics

109,802

2.4%

5.7%

Football

Golf’s high ranking in club
sport overall is underpinned
by a very high proportion of adult
participation.
Football takes the biggest slice of overall
club participation due to its popularity
among both adults and children.
Swimming and to a lesser extent
athletics rank highly in club sports
thanks to club participation of
children.

17

 WHERE TO FROM HERE?
More information about AusPlay can be accessed via the
ASC’s website ausport.gov.au
Starting in 2017, the ASC will release six-monthly updates of
AusPlay trend data:
>> in April every year, using data from the previous calendar year
January to December
>> in October every year, using data from the previous financial year
July to June.

What else does the ASC plan to do with the data and
findings from the AusPlay survey?
The ASC will work with the following groups to leverage the data
generated through AusPlay and other current and past research:
>> national sporting organisations
>> state departments of sport and recreation
>> other areas of government that have an interest in data and
findings from AusPlay.
Sport participation data from AusPlay will also feed directly into the
ASC’s annual participation investment model.

Further questions about AusPlay can be directed to ASC’s Sport Market Insights via email
AusPlay@ausport.gov.au or visiting ausport.gov.au.

18

  .F 'Jq -



I. .. . 

93333! 


 

 ausport.gov.au

8 ausplay@ausport.gov.au

0 /p aysportaustra ia

lausport