ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ADULTS' PARTICIPATION IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

The ABS (2008g) National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2008 (cat. no. 4714.0) was conducted throughout Australia, including remote areas, from August 2008 to April 2009. It collected information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's (aged 15 years and over) participation in sport and physical activities during the 12 months prior to interview.

3.3 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, Participation in sport and physical activity(a) - By age and sex - 2008
	NUMBER ('000)			PARTICIPATION RATE (%)
Age group (years)	Males	Females	Persons	Males	Females	Persons
15 - 24	27.5	18.6	46.1	52.8	35.9	44.4
25 - 34	13.7	8.0	21.7	41.3	21.8	31.1
35 - 44	10.1	8.1	18.3	34.4	23.6	28.6
45 and over	7.4	5.1	12.5	18.0	10.6	14.0
Total	58.8	39.8	98.6	37.7	23.3	30.1
(a) Relates to persons aged 15 years and over who participated in sport or physical activities during the 12 months prior to interview.
Source: Unpublished data. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, Australia, 2008.

Nearly one third (30% or 99,000) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults reported that they had participated in sport or physical activities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men had higher participation (38% or 59,000) in sport and physical activities than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (23% or 40,000). The participation rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults taking part in sport and physical recreation decreased with age for both men and women. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men aged between 15 to 24 years had a participation rate of 53%, which decreased to 18% for men aged 45 years and over. Of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aged 15 to 24 years, 36% took part in sport and physical activities, while this participation rate decreased to 11% for women aged 45 years and over.

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