Participation in Community Sport and Active Recreation (P.I.C.S.A.R)

The VicHealth funded PICSAR Program aims to increase participation in community sport and active recreation for people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic, Indigenous and new arrival communities.

Through PICSAR and Leisure Networks, VicHealth aims to build a sport and active recreation sector that has healthy policies and environments and strong communities and organisations. This in turn will lead to increased participation, skills and health.

 

Who is community sport and active recreation for?

It’s great for your health to be physically active. Regular physical activity not only protects against many illnesses, it also makes people mentally healthy, alert and resilient against the stresses of modern living.

Physically active communities are more likely to be healthier communities and active people are more likely to experience a better quality of life.

Increased participation is good for your community. It can:

• Decrease the social and economic cost of illness.
• Improve mental health and wellbeing in the community.
• Create involved, active communities – they are good places to live.

Sporting clubs across Victoria are continually looking for new members to join and play their sport while a wide variety of health and community agencies are looking for physical activity options for groups of people they work with. 

If your organisation…

• needs more members
• wants to provide physical activity opportunities
• has facilities that are underutilised
• wants to connect different groups in the community
• wants to be part of a healthier community

Or is involved with…

• local government
• a Primary Care Partnership
• the local pool
• a community health centre
• the local gym
• a neighbourhood house
• a sporting club
• a recreation organisation
• a school

Then Leisure Networks may be able to assist with the development of a project idea, make contact with suitable partners and help you source funding if required.

Starting a community sport and active recreation program

 

Working with others is necessary if you’re in the business of creating active communities. Through PICSAR, Leisure Networks can be the central point for creating and promoting partnerships that will increase the likelihood of a more active community. 

If you have identified a need in your community, contact Leisure Networks and talk to their Paul or Brooke about:

• groups in your community who could benefit from being more physically active
• the issues and barriers to participation faced by your target groups
• identifying organisations in your community you could link up with to increase physical activity rates

 

Tips for creating a great community sport and active recreation program

If you understand your target group and the barriers they face to participation, you’ll have a better chance of developing a successful program.

Click on a category below to download a pdf.  

• Culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• Youth
• Older adults
• Women

 

If you would like more information, or want to get any of these or one of your own initiatives happening, please contact Matt Kelly on 5224 9923 or matt@leisurenetworks.org  for assistance in engaging people within your community in physical activity.