We are refreshing the Active Ballarat Strategy, and we want to work with our community, clubs and associations, and community groups to shape inclusive, accessible sport and recreation opportunities that help people be more active, more often.

Since the strategy was first created in 2021, the way our community gets active has continued to evolve. More people are choosing informal and everyday ways to move - walking, riding, kicking the ball or throwing a frisbee. At the same time, our sporting clubs and associations are working hard to create more welcoming, inclusive and flexible opportunities for people of all ages, genders, backgrounds and abilities.

With this refresh, we're shifting our focus from 'where things get built' to how our spaces come alive - through fun, connection, casual participation, and community-led activity. The Active Ballarat strategy builds on the recently adopted Recreation Infrastructure Plan and brings the Active Women and Girls Strategy into a broader commitment to fair access and inclusive participation for everyone. This renewed focus recognises that not all residents engage with traditional organised sport and explores how we can support everyday activity, mental wellbeing and social inclusion.

Our goal is simple: to support more people to enjoy being active in ways that suit them - whether that's joining a team, kicking a ball in the park, strolling with a friend, trying something new, or relaxing in our city's amazing sporting facilities in a way that feels safe, accessible and welcoming.

Over the next month, we'll be asking the community, sporting clubs and associations, and community groups to share how they use and enjoy Ballarat's recreation spaces, what helps them feel included, and what would encourage them to be more active in their own way. Together we will shape a strategy that reflects the needs, strengths and energy of our growing and diverse community.

Your feedback during this first phase of the project, will be valuable in determining what our municipality needs to create more active opportunities for everyone. Thank you for your involvement. There are a variety of ways that the community can be involved:

• Community Survey: Have your say - complete the survey online or grab a hard copy and tell us what gets you out and about in Ballarat.
• Club & Association Survey: We encourage clubs and associations to share their perspectives by completing the survey below.
• Visit us for a chat at the Begonia Festival and the Let's Chat Expo. Details for both sessions are in the project's Timeline on this page.
• Community group presentations: If your organisation would like to learn more and have a say in how we activate recreation across Ballarat, reach out to us for a conversation or book a presentation with our team.
• Follow the project: Click the Follow button at the top of the page and keep up to date with everything Active Ballarat!

Once we have gathered your survey insights, we will continue to have a deeper conversation with our community and stakeholders, including our sporting clubs and associations. Together we will help refresh the Active Ballarat strategy, so it reflects the needs and experiences of our growing community.