YST chief executive Steve Grainger (pictured) was invited to speak at Australia’s leading sports forum, Our Sporting Future (OSF), at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The conference, jointly hosted by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the Standing Committee on Recreation and Sport (SCORS), provided delegates with an in-depth analysis of the business of sport, with real examples of successful sports business models.

Participants had the opportunity to examine the sustainability of sport and how it can meet any current and future challenges.

Grainger admitted he was delighted to be asked to speak in Australia and claimed it was a sign how highly regarded Britain’s current sporting infrastructure is.

Grainger said: "In 1995, the Youth Sport Trust was established with a mission to create a world-leading PE and sport system that reached every young person in the country.

"Through the creation of a school sport network, which now consists of more than 500 sports colleges, 450 school sport partnerships and an incredible army of dedicated people working across the network, the last 15 years have witnessed significant progress - resulting in more opportunities than ever before for young people to participate, perform and lead in sport.

"Many of the issues facing PE and sport in Australia are those that we faced in the UK back in 1995 and it was a pleasure to be able to share our achievements over the last 15 years.

"Australians are famous for being an incredibly successful sporting nation so for them to come to us for advice and guidance on how we are delivering PE and school sport shows just how far we have come in this country."

Wenda Donaldson, acting director for Community Sport at the ASC, said: "Listening to Steve’s presentation and having the invaluable opportunity to spend time with him afterwards, has led to an invigoration of new ideas and ways in which the Australian sporting system can learn from the UK."

Jeffrey Emmel, national executive director of Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation Inc, said: "Australia can learn a great deal from the Youth Sport Trust journey.

"The multi-levels of engagement and organisation and the use of schools as strategic hubs for action was impressive."

Andy Turnbull, chief executive officer of Sports Hydrant Pty Ltd, added: "I was particularly interested to hear of the desire to create a genuine people legacy.

"Historically, too much emphasis has been placed on the physical legacy of major events and it was refreshing to hear of the legacy initiatives to deliver more people into sport over the next few years through the education system."

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