True Sport UWA Evaluation Results

The evaluation report was independently delivered by a research team from The University of Western Australia (School of Human Sciences), led by:

• Professor Michael Rosenberg
• Professor Ben Jackson
• Dr Aaron Simpson

These researchers specialise in health promotion, mental health, behavioural psychology, and evaluation of complex community programs.

Overview

The evaluation assessed the delivery, reach, outcomes, and sustainability of SportWest’s True Sport Program, drawing on:

• Sector‑wide surveys (Member Organisations & Advisory Group/SportWest staff)
• Qualitative interviews with SSA representatives
• Reach, delivery, and engagement metrics from 2023–2026

It examined the program as a whole and the first three initiatives launched to the sector: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Child Safeguarding, and Sideline Behaviour.
The Respectful Relationships and Cultural Education initiatives were still in early development or recently launched.

Key Findings

1. Sector Reach & Engagement

• 64 SSAs engaged in 2025, representing 1,000,306+ participants, members & volunteers across WA.
• 109 workshops/webinars delivered in 2025 (a 172% increase from 2024).
• Participation breakdown: 58% metro / 42% regional.
• 15,222 interactions with the Online Resource Hub (Oct 2023–Feb 2026):
  • Mental Health: 6,315
  • Child Safeguarding: 5,321
  • Sideline Behaviour: 8,379
• 194 eLearning starts, 81 completions.

2. Program Outcomes

Confidence, Knowledge & Attitudes

• 100% of Member Organisations agreed True Sport increased their confidence to address key issues.
• 97% agreed the program is valuable and beneficial to the WA sport sector.
• 100% of Advisory Group/SportWest staff agreed True Sport improves sport experiences in WA.

Organisational Capacity & Culture

• 50% of organisations have already updated policies; 24% expect to.
• SSAs reported improved governance, new working groups, and stronger internal processes.
• Staff upskilling contributed to internal “train‑the‑trainer” approaches.

Connection & Collaboration

• 91% of Member Organisations agreed True Sport strengthened connections with SportWest.
• Increased cross-sport collaboration and sector cohesion.

Sustainability Considerations

• Continued funding, staffing, and partnerships are essential.
• Smaller/volunteer‑run SSAs require simplified, phased support.

3. Strengths Identified

• High‑quality, WA‑specific, practical resources.
• Specialised support (critical incident, EAP/VAP, mediation) with tangible impact.
• Positive cultural shifts in confidence, conversations, and organisational integrity.

4. Challenges Identified

• Club‑level implementation gaps due to volunteer workload and resource volume.
• Demand for co‑branded or sport‑specific terminology and tools.
• SSAs need earlier visibility of workshops and campaigns.

5. Recommendations

• Strengthen club‑level implementation pathways.
• Develop customisable/co‑branded and AI‑enabled tools.
• Expand into new priority areas: adolescent behaviour, gambling harm, cultural safety, regional guidance.
• Establish consistent annual measurement and explore ROI modelling.
• Share case studies to support ongoing funding and sector awareness.

Overall Conclusion

The True Sport Program is highly effective, sector‑leading, and driving significant improvements in knowledge, confidence, organisational capability, and cohesion across WA sport.
The next phase will focus on deepening club‑level implementation, strengthening sustainability, and expanding into emerging areas of need. Continued resourcing and clear implementation pathways will be key to maximising long‑term impact.