Athletics Australia Unveils 2026-2036 Strategic Plan
The ten-year roadmap integrates grassroots Little Athletics, recreational running and elite national team pathways under one framework.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Running
Australian Athletics has launched a ten-year strategic plan titled 'Unleashing the Power of Athletics' covering 2026 to 2036. The plan builds on the Athletics in Australia National Participation Plan released earlier in 2026.
Why it matters
The plan formalises alignment between Australian Athletics, state and territory member associations and local community club networks. It seeks to move informal fitness participants into club members, event competitors and long-term stakeholders through a unified pathway.
The strategy runs for ten years from 2026 to 2036 and is organised around three pillars and five delivery enablers. Specific participation figures and funding commitments were not included in the source material.
The players
Australian Athletics
The national governing body for athletics in Australia, responsible for elite pathways, grassroots programs and member associations across the country.
The details
The plan is organised around three pillars: High Performance, Core of Athletics and Beyond the Track. Its five delivery enablers are governance and integrity, workforce investment, financial resilience, commercial sponsorship ambition and technology infrastructure. The High Performance pillar includes sports science and sports medicine integration for elite athlete pipelines.
Timeline
Earlier in 2026: Athletics in Australia National Participation Plan released.
2026-2036: Ten-year strategic plan period.
2032: Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, a target for the plan's athlete pipeline.
Season Trajectory
The plan extends the Athletics in Australia National Participation Plan released earlier in 2026 into a ten-year operational roadmap. It positions the sport's grassroots, recreational and elite pathways to build towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Runners and athletics clubs across Australia may see changes to how grassroots Little Athletics, recreational running and competitive pathways connect as the plan is implemented. The source does not specify timing for specific programme changes.
The takeaway
The plan shows how a national sporting body can link everyday fitness participation to elite performance through a single long-term framework. Readers interested in running can watch how grassroots and club pathways develop over the coming decade.
Further reading
Explore more on Running to see how the sport's grassroots and recreational pathways are developing across the country.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ministry of Sport.
