We’re backing more places to play

The new Places to Play Plan is Australia’s first National Community Sport Infrastructure Plan, developed by the Australian Sports Commission in partnership with a range of sector stakeholders including Sport and Recreation Victoria.

It’s a new national strategy that aims to bring governments, sport and recreation organisations, and communities together around a common goal when it comes to developing community sport and active recreation infrastructure.

The goal is to inspire and co-ordinate a nationally aligned approach to the planning, design, investment, delivery, management and use of community sport and active recreation infrastructure, one that places participation at the centre of decision-making.

The Places to Play Plan presents a 10-year vision, to be rolled out over three phases:

• Years 1 - 3 (2026-2029) –Collaboration, knowledge sharing, capability building and more equitable use through participation first thinking
• Years 4 - 6 (2030-2032) – System reform, embedding the change and modernisation
• Years 7 - 10 (2033- 2036) - Building on momentum and growing strategic capability.

It’s the first time a national strategy has been developed that maps out future directions on the development of the nation’s facilities.

The Plan creates a foundation to optimise the use of existing facilities, better plan new inclusive flexible facilities, encourages modified and social sport and recreation opportunities for the whole community, and open up schools to the community.

An Active Places Network will also provide a forum for all stakeholders to work together to achieve these shared objectives.

The Plan complements our initiatives that seek to make sport and active recreation more available, equitable and accessible including through Active Victoria 2022-26, the Local Sports Infrastructure Fund, the Outcomes, Principles and Priorities resource, Design for Everyone Guide, Fair Access Policy and the Lighting Outdoor Sports Facilities for Active Recreation guide.

With more than 12,000 sports clubs, 10,000 community facilities and almost 790,000 volunteers – community sport and active recreation is booming in Victoria.

That’s what Places to Play is all about – a new blueprint to get even more people active, connect communities, build the inclusive facilities we need, while boosting local economies and creating more jobs, from umpires to CEOs.

We’re proud to have worked closely with the Australian Sports Commission and a range of partners and stakeholders that make up the Victorian and national community sports system to develop the plan.

To find out more read the Places to Play Plan