National physical activity network (NPAN)
Overview
A longstanding officer-led physical activity policy network is the (Australian) National Physical Activity Network (NPAN) which has been running for up to 25 years. NPAN is a community of practice consisting of state, territory and federal government representatives tasked with increasing population levels of physical activity.
NPAN was formed at the turn of the century, as a formal network to oversee distribution of federal government physical activity-related grant funding and promote information-sharing. Most jurisdictions had already developed interagency physical activity task forces consisting of various structures and NPAN members were primarily health, sport or jurisdictional interagency task force representatives.1 Physical activity policy officers from New Zealand would also periodically participate through online teleconferences and/or annual face-to-face meetings linked to key physical activity related conferences.
Background and rationale
Australia, like many countries, often faces a disconnect between physical activity research, and policy decisions and outcomes. Researchers have long called for stronger links with policymakers to better translate evidence into policy and implementation. Conversely, there has been an ongoing lack of consideration and subsequent incorporation of public policy evidence within policy development proposals by physical activity academics. Policy networks provide an opportunity to improve linkages between researchers and policy makers to enhance knowledge mobilisation and promote evidence informed physical activity policy development. Enhanced stakeholder collaboration is especially important in the absence of an overarching national physical activity action plan to help guide research and policy prioritisation.
Investment and funding
NPAN’s formal financial reporting purposes ceased in 2013. Rather than disband, members valued the information exchange opportunities enough to reconstitute the group as an informal community of practice. NPAN has continued to meet quarterly online through videoconferencing and continues to share coordination and secretariat services provided on a voluntary basis.
Outcomes and impact
NPAN members have instigated various processes to promote knowledge mobilisation between policy officers and academics. Examples include NPAN meetings held within sector conferences; inviting presentations from leading academics to inform current policy issues; and proactively seeking NPAN consultation and/or representation as part of academic-led work such as national physical activity guideline development. Academics in turn, have used NPAN as a source of physical activity policy information and advice.
Enablers and lessons learned
Opportunities to reflect on policymaking processes are difficult to prioritise within government, where policy is often driven by political cycles or in response to particular challenges. Reflection and evaluation of policy challenges and successes provide important opportunities to capture and learn from experience. Each NPAN meeting provides an opportunity for members to highlight relevant current initiatives and policy challenges in a supportive, informal community of practice environment.
Further information
Formal evaluation of NPAN member related physical activity policy development processes has been undertaken and provide key lessons when similar future opportunities arise.2–4
References
- McCue P. NSW Premier’s council for active living. New South Wales Public Health Bulletin. 2010; 21(6):128.
- Harris M, McCue P. Pop-up cycleways: how a Covid-19 policy window changed the relationship between urban planning, transport and health in Sydney, Australia. Journal of the American Planning Association. 2023;89(2):240–252.
- Harris P, Kent J, Sainsbury P, et al. Creating ‘healthy built environment’ legislation in Australia; a policy analysis. Health Promotion International. 2018;33(6):1090–1100.
- Nau T, Smith B, Bellew W, Reece L, Gelius P, Bauman A. Toward whole-of-system action to promote for physical activity: A cross-sectoral analysis of physical activity policy in Australia. J Phys Act Health. 2019;16:1029–38.
Last updated12 May 2026