About us
Background
The sport and recreation industry, from service deliverers to government decision-makers, need access to high quality information about the latest trends and issues in Australia's sport and active recreation industry so that it can support successful decision-making and set future directions.
The CASRO Research Group (CRG) is a sub-committee of the Committee of Australian Sport and Recreation Officials (CASRO). The CRG provides a coordinated and collaborative approach to national sport and recreation data collection and analysis.
Objective
The CRG's role is to improve the range and quality of information about sport and recreation including data and research on physical activity trends, sport and recreation participation, economic impacts and social benefits. This information should provide a basis for informed decision-making by industry and governments in the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and programs.
Membership
The CRG consists of representatives from each of the following:
- Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
- Australian Sports Commission
- State and Territory Departments of Sport and Recreation
The CRG acknowledges the contribution that can be made to its operations by key representatives of industry groups, data collection agencies and eminent researchers. These groups or individuals will be consulted with and/or invited to meetings on an as needs basis.
Roles
- Provide advice and regular reports to CASRO on sport and recreation statistics, research and priorities.
- Ensure easy access to statistics and research, release publications, and provide information online.
- Advise governments and industry on the availability and use of data for advocacy, policy development, and program implementation and review.
- Encourage co-ordination and collaboration of research work related to sport and recreation, through information sharing and partnerships with key stakeholders.
- Foster and commission research into quantitative and qualitative social and economic impacts/benefits of sport, recreation and physical activity by:
-
- fostering partnerships to facilitate strategic research;
- engaging in think tanks or other forums which have a shared objective to increase community physical activity levels;
- acting as a clearing house to facilitate member access to information and programs developed by national and international organisations and ensure research is not initiated in areas where other bodies are already active; and
- establishing partnerships between states/territories on key research areas.
Current priorities
The CRG has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Bureau of Statistics, through the National Centre for Culture and Recreation Statistics, to provide information on:
- Children's and adults' participation in sport and recreation;
- Barriers and motivators to participation;
- Attendance at sporting events;
- Involvement in organised sport;
- Economic impacts / contribution to GDP through sport;
- Volunteer (coaches, officials, administrators) involvement in sport; and
- Indigenous sports participation.
