About Sport

The Australian Government is committed to supporting sport, particularly at the community level, and increasing Australians' participation in physical and recreational activities to promote physical and mental health.

This commitment encourages greater participation in sport by all Australians and contributes to a competitive and clean Australian sports sector, based on the pursuit of excellence, integrity and leadership.

The Australian Government aims to meet this commitment by:

  • Developing the Australian sports system to enhance grassroots participation and excellence in high performance; and establishing a best practice anti-doping framework.
  • The major activities and key directions of the Department in 2010-11 are:
    • Support the implementation of the Government's new policy approach to sport, including the development of the National Sport and Activity Recreation Policy Framework;
    • Work to improve rates of participation in sport and physical activity, including efforts to improve water and snow safety;
    • Support sport and recreation infrastructure and facilities;
    • Ensure national anti-doping efforts continue to reflect the World Anti-Doping Program, the internationally accepted framework for anti-doping;
    • Increase the active participation of Indigenous Australians in sport and physical recreation activities;
    • Deliver the Government's Illicit Drugs in Sport program in conjunction with key stakeholder organisations;
    • Support sport agencies, the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Sport Anti-Doping Authority, in improving Australia's sporting competitiveness and integrity; and
    • Membership and secretariat support for Sport and Recreation Ministers Meetings, and the Standing Committee on Recreation and Sport.