LINKS TO OTHER DIMENSIONS OF PROGRESS

Many leisure activities have a positive impact on health by providing relaxation and physical activity and by extending social networks. Participation in sports and leisure activities is seen as a crucial element in strategies aimed at maintaining and improving the physical and mental health of Australians. Participation can also support the development of social cohesion, integrate communities in positive ways and build social capital. People can become socially connected through arts and sporting activities, and this can further develop their skills and contribute to the cultural identity of the community. The amount of time available to participate in culture and leisure activities may be impacted by the amount of time spent in paid work. Culture and leisure are growth industries, and becoming an increasingly important sector of the economy.

The idea of leisure as those activities enjoyed in an individual's 'free time' - in terms of freedom from obligations or duty and in terms of the ways in which the time is spent - also includes activities with negative social implications. A range of criminal activities (such as graffiti and vandalism) and activities that can be clearly linked to negative social outcomes (e.g. gambling and drug use) remain leisure choices for some Australians.

See also the sections linked below.