PROGRESS OF AUSTRALIANS

Participation in culture and leisure activities has the capacity to generate social interaction through organised sports and competitions. In addition, regular participation in physical activity is now seen as important in terms of an individual's health and wellbeing. Participation in culture and leisure activities can also enhance creativity within society, with music and the performing arts playing an important role in the cultural life of Australians. They provide a source of entertainment, employment and creative outlet for many professional and amateur musicians, actors, dancers, singers and designers.

Demographic change can have an impact on the types of culture and leisure activities undertaken within the population, reflecting the changing preferences for activities through an individual's life cycle. In turn, the ageing of the Australian population will affect the types of culture and leisure activities in which people participate. In particular, it is anticipated that the movement of the large baby boomer cohorts into retirement will have implications for the nature of, and demand for, future culture and leisure activities and related facilities (ABS 2001b).

This section looks at participation and attendance at culture and leisure activities by children, young adults, older people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, migrants, and within each of the states and territories.