CHILDREN'S PARTICIPATION IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
PURPOSE
To collect information on children's participation in sport and physical activities within Australia.
DESCRIPTION
The Children's Participation in Sport and Physical Activities survey was collected as part of the Population Survey Monitor (PSM). The PSM covered all usual residents aged 18 years and over in private dwellings in both urban and rural areas of all States and Territories of Australia. However, persons living in remote and sparsely settled areas were excluded from the collection. All persons living in non-private dwellings were also excluded.
Questions about children’s participation in sport and physical activities were asked in the four quarterly surveys from September 1996 to May 1997. Interviews were conducted in approximately 12,000 private dwellings in total, over the four quarters. In each household surveyed, one randomly selected person aged 18 years and over was asked about participation in sport and physical activities by any children in the household aged 5 to 14 years.
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Data were collected quarterly (every three months), but published annually, ceasing in 1996-97.
DATA ITEMS
Information on this topic was collected in conjunction with the survey on Participation in sport and physical activities. Thus, the data items listed below may be analysed alongside data about the activities, demographic, family and labour force characteristics of household members aged 15 years and over.
Number of children
The total number of children aged 5-14 in Australia.
School attendance
Records, for each child aged 5 to 14 years:
Whether attending school
Current year of school
Sport or physical activity during school hours
Whether, in the last 12 months, school student had regularly taken part in sporting or physical activities during school hours as part of the school’s program
Time spent on such activities in the last two weeks
Sport or physical activity organised by the school outside school hours
Whether, in the last 12 months, school student had regularly taken part in any sporting or physical activities, before or after school hours, which were organised by the school
Main five school sports played
Time spent, in total, on these sports in the last two weeks
Sport or physical activity organised by a club or association
Whether, in the last 12 months, child took part in any sporting or physical activities organised by a club or association
Main five such activities undertaken
Which of those five activities were undertaken in the last two weeks
Time spent on each of those activities in the last two weeks
Non-organised sport or physical activity
Whether, in the last two weeks, child took part in any sporting or physical activities with friends, family or others which were not organised by a school or club
Main five such activities undertaken
Time spent on each of those activities in the last two weeks
Non-participation
Whether there were any sports or physical activities in which child would like to participate that were not available
Main five such activities
Geographic area
Australia, States, Territories, Metropolitan or Rest of State.
Demographic characteristics
In addition to the demographic, family and labour force characteristics of household members aged 15 and over (collected in the Participation in sport and physical activities survey), demographic characteristics of children for which information is available are:
Age
Sex
Country of birth
HISTORICAL DATA
A smaller number of slightly different data items on participation by children aged 5 to 14 years were collected in August 1993 and between August 1994 and May 1996.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Australian Bureau of Statistics 1998, Participation in Sport and Physical Activities, Australia, 1996-97, Cat. No. 4177.0, ABS, Canberra. Price $18.00. Children’s data were also published for 1995-96.
Other
National Sport and Recreation Industry Database and Directory (NSRIDD).
CONTACT
In the first instance, refer to To obtain data or further information in the Introduction to this directory.
Sport and Recreation Contact Officer
National Centre for Culture and Recreation Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
GPO Box 2272
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Telephone: Adelaide 08 8237 7399
Facsimile: Adelaide 08 8237 7366
Email: nccrs@abs.gov.au
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