National research unit to help increase sport participation

A new national research unit has been established to build the evidence base needed to improve sport participation in Australia.

Led by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) – the Australian Government agency responsible for supporting and investing in sport at all levels – the three-year initiative brings together leading researchers from Deakin University, the University of Newcastle and the University of Sydney to deliver coordinated research on the barriers, benefits and enablers of sport participation.

The Play Well Research Unit (PWRU) is supported by $1.36 million in Australian Government funding through the ASC, as part of a broader $6.8 million investment in Play Well projects announced in the 2024–25 Federal Budget.

The initiative is further backed by $2.7 million in funding and in-kind contributions from the three universities reflecting strong collaboration across government and academia.

PWRU lead and director of sport programs at the ASC, Dr Lindsey Reece, says the unit is the first of its kind in Australia and aligns with Australia’s Sport Participation Strategy – Play Well.

“This is a significant step forward for sport in Australia, bringing together some of the brightest research minds in the country. Researchers will study topics such as the cost, value and benefits of sport, participation trends and sport in schools. This research will have a strong focus on evaluation and understanding how our findings impact policy, sport leadership and delivery,” she says.

The PWRU will include four Research Fellows with five PhD students set to join in the coming months.

The unit expects to release its first research in 2026.

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