Australian Athletics has unveiled its 2026–2036 strategic plan, setting an ambitious vision to grow the sport, strengthen its foundations and inspire more Australians to embrace athletics in all its forms.
Under the vision “Unleashing the Power of Athletics,” the strategy aims to build a stronger, more connected and sustainable sport, from grassroots participation through to international high-performance success. The strategy sets out an ambitious blueprint to unlock the sports full potential, reaching new audiences, creating opportunities for participation and building a lasting legacy for future generations.
Read the full strategy HERE.
The strategy is built around three strategic pillars:
A central focus is creating a connected pathway for life, bringing together Little Athletics Australia, community and elite athletics to make participation more accessible and provide opportunities for Australians to remain involved throughout their lives.
The strategy also recognises the critical role of volunteers, officials, coaches and State and Territory Member Associations, committing to collaboration and engagement, across the national athletics community.
Importantly the strategy looks beyond traditional athletics participation, recognising the opportunity to connect with the millions of Australians who run and walk, which make the sport amongst the largest participation sports in the nation.
Five key enablers will underpin delivery: strong governance and integrity, investment in people and culture, financial resilience, commercial ambition, and technology and digital innovation.
Australian Athletics aims to deliver a sport that is more inclusive, commercially sustainable and internationally competitive, while creating opportunities for more Australians to experience the benefits of athletics.
While Brisbane 2032 presents a unique opportunity to showcase athletics on home soil, the strategy looks well beyond that timeline, with a focus on building a stronger, more sustainable sport for generations to come.
The strategy builds on the Athletics in Australia National Participation Plan that was launched earlier in the year, reinforcing a shared commitment to growing participation and strengthening athletics at every level.
Read more on the plan HERE.
Australian Athletics President Jane Flemming:
“This strategy is more than a roadmap for the next decade.
“It is a statement of who we are, where we are going and the role athletics can play in the lives of Australians.
We have an extraordinary opportunity ahead of us, and the decisions we make today will shape the future of athletics for generations to come.
“Our ambition is to build a sport that is stronger at every level, from the youngest child discovering athletics for the first time to our athletes representing Australia on the world stage, to the local casual runner who enjoys the social connections of our sport.”
Australian Athletics CEO Simon Hollingsworth:
“Athletics is accessible to all Australians, and our new vision captures the unique features of the sport. With a clear strategy for growth, we are positioning athletics for long-term sustainable success.
“We want to continue producing world-class athletes to 2032 and beyond, but our ambition goes much further. We want to connect with more Australians, embrace innovation and create new opportunities for people to engage with athletics, whether that is at the track, on the road or in their local community.
“We now have a clear blueprint and ambition. The focus now is on bringing our people, partners and athletics community together to deliver it.”
By Luke Dennehy, Australian Athletics
Posted 10/11/2026
