Play Well Participation Data Charter

Collecting diversity data offers valuable insights into an organisations current community and supports informed decision-making. It enables organisations to track progress toward diversity and inclusion goals, and to design targeted strategies that promote equity and belonging. By analysing this data, organisations can identify gaps, take meaningful action, and create environments where all participants can thrive.  

To be eligible for assessment on Criterion 2 of the Play Well Investment Framework, NSO/Ds must capture and report on the Diversity Characteristics (First Nations, Gender, LGBTQ+, CALD, Disability and Age) across each of the different Cohorts (Board, Staff, Participants, Coaches and Officials) with at least 3 and ideally 5 Diversity characteristics. The Play Well Data Charter (PDC) can be used as a guide to do this. 

When implementing these questions, it is important to state the purpose for collecting data to the target audience. This could be included on registration pages or within the Terms & Conditions statement of your registration process. An example of a statement for purpose is below, this can be tailored to the needs of your organisation. ​ 

Example 1: ​ 

Our sport has specific pathways available for the (insert community) community. The information provided can help us develop these pathways and communicate better with our participants about upcoming opportunities.​ 

Example 2: ​ 

We’re committed to creating a fair, inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. To do this well, we need to understand who is participating or wants to participate in our sport. By sharing your information, you’ll help us see where some groups might be missing or underrepresented. This understanding will guide our decisions and help us focus on the areas that need support. Ultimately, it will help us build and maintain a sport where everyone feels valued, respected and included.​ 

Further examples can be found on page 18 of the PDC  

The participant categorisation section of the data charter is used to show how a participant base can be segmented into different cohorts. It is not designed to replace membership types but rather can be used as a guide to understand how the membership types fit into the overall cohorts and start conversations around how membership/participant categories are defined.  

For example:​ 

• A 'Come and Try Program membership' fits into a ‘Program participant ‘​ 
• An 'Under 18 competitive Winter Registration', fits into a ‘Full active participant’​ 
• A 2-day Event Pass fits into ‘Event participant’​ 

Data, its collection, interpretation and translation are all integral in achieve the Play Well vision ‘everyone has a place in sport’. Therefore, it was identified that aligned participation standards must be prioritised through a focused effort to create a connected and collaborative sport sector where stakeholders are aligned in data capture.  ​ 

This document is written for the broader Australian Sporting eco-system including community clubs, State and National Sporting organisations, Local and State Government and private entities delivering sport, physical activity and recreation that are capturing participant data.  ​Essentially any organisation delivering and leading sport experiences can align with the best practice guideline provided here.

The questions in the Participation Data Charter have been designed in consultation with industry experts for relevant communities and are based on current best practice. The more consistent we are across the sector the more valuable all our data will be.

The data is captured by a sport through their registration system, funded NSO/Ds report on this data to the ASC for Play Well Investment purposes. The ASC does not own the data. ​

The options reflect the top 10 languages spoken in Australia as per 2021 census. 

LGBTQ+ data is ok to collect from any age in line with any general data collection privacy rules/laws for people under 18. Essentially, treat is the same as any info that you might be asking someone (or their parents/guardians).  

Like any data collection for people under 18 or over 18, if you can’t answer the question as to why you need that data then don’t ask it. If deemed something you want to know, it needs to be stated very clearly why you need/want the data and that parents/guardians are consenting to that data. 

This is best practice and should be kept where possible. If a binary gender is required in the system, a separate question or a pop up after to state preferred gender with all options is ideal.