QSport Joins Industry Leaders at NSC25
As momentum builds around the role of sport in shaping healthier, more inclusive communities, QSport joined leading minds and organisations from across Australia and the globe at the 2025 National Sports and Physical Activity Convention (NSC25) in Melbourne.
Held in late June, the convention theme of Sports Impact on Society brought together policy makers, academics, peak bodies, thought leaders and industry professionals from across the ecosystem to explore how sport can drive lasting societal change—economically, socially, and culturally.
From sport management to the use of AI, digital innovation, and sports technology, the convention focused on promoting forward-thinking practices that challenge the status quo and help shape a more active and inclusive future. QSport was proud to be an industry partner of the convention again in 2025.
QSport’s Operations Manager Vic Long said the event was an opportunity to strengthen the alignment of Queensland’s priorities with global trends. “There’s a growing global consensus that sport is not an ‘extra’—it’s essential infrastructure for a thriving society,” Long said. “Sport is a powerful driver of community wellbeing, social connection and economic resilience.”
Among the keynote speakers was Naomi Shearon from Sport England, who presented England’s strategy for leveraging the social value of sport and physical activity.
Shearon highlighted findings from a 2022/23 report, which revealed that every £1 invested in sport and physical activity generated £4.20 in social value—benefiting individuals, communities, and the wider economy. The report also estimated the total annual social value of sport and physical activity in England at £107.2 billion.
Despite these significant returns, substantial challenges remain. Inequalities in adult participation continue to carry an estimated annual cost of £15.6 billion, underscoring the need for more inclusive and equitable approaches.
Professor Larissa Davies from Manchester Metropolitan University presented examples of her work to develop and apply Social Return on Investment (SROI) frameworks—an established tool for capturing the full societal impact of sport.
The SROI framework assigns value to outcomes that matter most to people, such as improved mental wellbeing, enhanced social inclusion, and reduced healthcare costs. It plays a vital role in shaping policy, guiding investment, and supporting evidence-based decision-making across the sport and physical activity sector.
This year, the convention was co-located with the IPA Asia Pacific Play Conference, which saw the launch of the PLAY32 Position Paper. The paper aligns with Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy, advocating for children’s play and voice to be placed at the heart of future planning and impact.
Little Athletics Queensland CEO Christopher Davis said they are proud to be a founding supporter of this movement. “Without play, we don’t have kids who grow up to enjoy moving their bodies and participate in sport and a lifetime of physical activity.” Davis said. “Brisbane 2032 provides an amazing opportunity to shift the narrative, and we would love more organisations to get involved in calling for play and children’s voice to be a legacy of the greatest global event coming to our home state.”
Click here to read the position paper.