Community engagement and sport? Building capacity to increase opportunities for community-based sport and physical activity

An ‘engagement through sport’ agenda has emerged in the last few years in Australia, expecting sport governing organizations to increase opportunities of inclusion in sport and physical activity in the community. However, it can be maintained that stagnant or declining physical activity must be addressed through a sound community development approach that transcends sport per se in favour of broader benefits and objectives of participation. This paper reports on the development of a community project in South Australia, run in collaboration between a tertiary education provider and sport, education, community, government and charity organizations. The project provides an example of good practice for efforts to increase physical activity among disadvantaged populations. In particular, it highlights that capacity-building strategies to form partnerships with organizations having access to an appropriate pool of volunteers can assist with increasing physical activity at the community level as well as contribute to broader community development outcomes.