Collective Leisure wins Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Award 2024
Photograph of the Innovation Award Trophy.
Collective Leisure made history at the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention 2024 by becoming the first certified social enterprise to win an Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Award.
This award recognises individuals, government, not for profits, the commercial sector, play sector, recreation and sports for their innovations to get more people active in the community. Collective Leisure is a pioneering organisation, receiving the trophy and recognition in front of 1,000 peers at the NSC Oration on the 27th June 2024.
Award category:
Program & Activities: Liverpool Seniors Well-being and Social Group
Innovative programs, activities and events that have been developed to encourage the community to be more active and increase participation.
Collective Leisure's Liverpool Seniors Well-being and Social Group has been lauded for its innovative programs, activities, and events to encourage community activity and increase participation. This initiative is particularly critical as the number of older people living in South Western Sydney is expected to increase by 74% over the next 15 years (SWSPHN 2023). Initiatives like these are essential to support social connectedness and reduce isolation, especially given that in 2022, just over 1 in 6 (16%) Australians were experiencing social loneliness (AIHW 2024
The Liverpool Seniors Well-being and Social Group has been recognised for it’s positive impact on the community and innovative approach to reduce social isolation through a thrice weekly program that provides free physical activity and well-being programs for seniors in the Liverpool LGA with an in-built social catch-up after every class.
The project exemplifies social procurement with broader social outcomes achieved, such as providing employment for youth from refugee backgrounds and reducing social isolation and loneliness for seniors. David Burns noted, “Thank you to our client and partner, Liverpool City Council as well as our collaborators, South Western Sydney Local Health District and HEALTHSTIN, and our dedicated instructors. This achievement would not have been possible without your support and commitment."
Collective Leisure delivers the program on behalf of Liverpool City Council with a range partners including South Western Sydney Local Health District.