ATTENDANCE AT CULTURAL, SPORTING AND COMMUNITY VENUES AND/OR EVENTS
Taking part with others in mutually enjoyed activities is a way of forming and maintaining relationships. It contributes to social connectedness and a sense of belonging, and can promote trust, cooperation and tolerance. Social participation can include attendance, even if attending alone, at any of a variety of cultural, sporting or community venues and events. Such activities provide important contexts for people to meet and share in the life of the wider community (ABS 2006).
The sport and physical recreation participation rate is substantially higher amongst those who had attended selected cultural venues and events (79%), sporting (84%) or community events (83%) when compared with the rate amongst those who did not attend any of those events or venues (43%, 62% and 59% respectively).
6.4 Participation in Sport and Physical Recreation, By attendance at culture, sport and community events |
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| | Participated | Did not participate | Total | Participation rate | Non-participation rate | Total |
| | '000 | '000 | '000 | % | % | % |
|
Attended any selected cultural venues and events in last 12 months | | | | | | |
| Attended | 11 403.3 | 2 941.1 | 14 344.4 | 79.5 | 20.5 | 100.0 |
| Did not attend | 1 055.4 | 1 388.3 | 2 443.7 | 43.2 | 56.8 | 100.0 |
| Total | 12 458.7 | 4 329.4 | 16 788.2 | 74.2 | 25.8 | 100.0 |
Attended any sporting events in last 12 months | | | | | | |
| Attended | 7 919.9 | 1 507.2 | 9 427.1 | 84.0 | 16.0 | 100.0 |
| Did not attend | 4 538.8 | 2 822.3 | 7 361.1 | 61.7 | 38.3 | 100.0 |
| Total | 12 458.7 | 4 329.4 | 16 788.2 | 74.2 | 25.8 | 100.0 |
Attended a community event in past 6 months | | | | | | |
| Attended | 8 997.5 | 1 892.9 | 10 890.4 | 82.6 | 17.4 | 100.0 |
| Did not attend | 3 461.2 | 2 436.6 | 5 897.8 | 58.7 | 41.3 | 100.0 |
| Total | 12 458.7 | 4 329.4 | 16 788.2 | 74.2 | 25.8 | 100.0 |
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A higher proportion of sport and physical recreation participants than non-participants attended each type of cultural, sporting and community venues and/or events. The difference is most striking for attendance at sporting and community events. Almost three quarters of participants (72%) attended a community event compared with less than half (44%) of non-participants, while 64% of participants attended a sporting event compared with 35% of non-participants. Nearly 92% of sport and physical recreation participants attended a cultural venue or event, compared with 68% of non-participants.
6.5 PARTICIPATION IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION, By attendance at selected cultural, sporting and community venues and/or events(a)