A national collaboration to reshape the culture of community sport took centre stage at the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra on 13th May 2025, where sport leaders and experts convened for the Australian Sports Commission's PlayWell Co-Design Workshop. Among them was Jasmine Cappellucci, True Sport Manager at SportWest, who represented Western Australia as part of the Positive Environments Project Squad, a group appointed by the Australian Sports Commission to drive cultural transformation in grassroots sport. SportWest’s True Sport program, which champions values-driven participation and positive sporting environments, aligns seamlessly with the goals of the PlayWell strategy - making SportWest's involvement a natural fit for this transformative initiative.
Held in the Marathon Room of the AIS Visitor Centre, the workshop brought together stakeholders and sports leaders from across Australia to co-design tools and strategies that will support the rollout of the PlayWell Culture of Community Sport Framework.
About the PlayWell Project
PlayWell is Australia’s National Sport Participation Strategy, designed to foster safe, inclusive, and enjoyable sporting environments for all. One of its priority initiatives is the transformation of community sport culture - an effort to define and embed positive values, behaviours, and practices across grassroots sport.
The project aims to deliver:
- A clear purpose and set of values for community sport.
- A “Play Well Way” Culture Development Program.
- A practical Implementation Toolkit and training resources.
- A monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress.
The Canberra workshop focused on:
- Reviewing the draft Culture of Community Sport Framework.
- Discussing the Implementation Strategy.
- Collaboratively designing resources such as:
- A culture diagnostic tool for clubs.
- Reward and recognition guidance.
- Accountability process guidance.
- Training programs for participants.
- A mentor/champion toolkit.
Participants engaged in breakout sessions to define, outline, and begin developing content for these resources, ensuring they are fit-for-purpose and reflective of the diverse needs of community sport organisations.
As a member of the Positive Environments Project Squad, Jasmine Cappellucci is playing a key role in shaping the future of community sport. Her involvement reflects SportWest’s commitment to fostering environments where respect, fairness, belonging, wellbeing, and enjoyment are at the heart of every sporting experience. “It’s an honour to be selected to be part of the Australian Sports Commission’s Positive Environments Project Squad, contributing to a national movement that’s redefining what community sport can and should be. At SportWest, we’re proud to be leading the way through our True Sport program- ensuring that respect, fairness, belonging, wellbeing, and enjoyment are not just ideals, but everyday experiences for everyone involved in sport across Western Australia.”
Following the workshop, the next steps include finalising the Framework and Implementation Strategy, with a final Think Tank session scheduled for June. The outcomes of this collaborative process will inform national efforts to embed positive culture across community sport, ensuring sport remains a place where everyone can thrive.
