National Participation and Engagement Plan development underway

Hockey Australia, in partnership with Sport Australia and the Member Associations, have commenced the development of the National Participation & Engagement Plan (NPEP) 2021-2022. It will replace the existing plan which expires at the end of this year. The NPEP will provide a vision and practical guidance to assist the collective hockey community to grow the game.

The intention of the NPEP is to meet the challenges in hockey - the same or similar challenges that are experienced across community sport in general.

The plan will:
1. Introduce the Sport Australia Participation Drivers.
2. Provide innovative, supportive and collaborative measures critical in assisting all hockey communities in recovering from the COVID-19 experience.
3. Offer hockey the best opportunity to position itself to grow the game in all areas during the life of the subsequent plan, commencing in 2023.
4. Be finalised and ready for publication in December this year.

The plan will be a meaningful document for all hockey communities. The strategies will have operational functions that can be implemented at the grassroots level with additional support provided by the State/Territory and national bodies.

Roles and responsibilities of Hockey Australia, Member Associations and local Associations and Clubs will be defined, providing clarity to all within the broader hockey community of their strategic and operational functions.

There will be broad consultation with Member Associations and most importantly, identified Associations and Clubs. The meaningful consultation with internal stakeholders will contribute to the NPEP becoming the primary resource for local Clubs and Associations in implementing programs focusing on recruitment and retention of participants in collaboration with their State/Territory body.

The NPEP will be an Association/Club friendly plan providing direction, support and comfort to members, participants and volunteers that they are on track in providing a positive experience for those accessing our sport. The NPEP is constructed on the most up to date evidenced based research around community sport and narrows in on the more hockey specific challenges.

Engagement with the hockey family is paramount in growing the game. Meaningful consultation with internal and external stakeholders will set a solid foundation to achieve a plan that will be a tool to sustain engagement at all levels within the sport.