Data changes coming for bowls participants
Bowls Australia will soon introduce updates to its participant data collection standards as the sport aligns more closely with the Australian Sports Commission’s Play Well Participation Data Charter.
The Charter aims to improve the consistency, quality and security of participation data across Australian sport. By strengthening how information is collected and managed, Bowls Australia and its Member States will be better positioned to support clubs, participants and the long-term growth of the sport.
Why These Changes Matter
With richer and more reliable data:
- Administrators gain clearer insights into member behaviour, event trends and service usage, helping inform future planning and decision-making.
- Clubs will be better equipped to understand their membership, develop targeted recruitment and retention strategies, and strengthen relationships with sponsors and government departments / agencies.
- Compliance and safeguarding processes become more effective. Accurate contact and identity information supports requirements such as Working With Children and Vulnerable Persons checks, safeguarding obligations and competition integrity monitoring.
- Database security is strengthened when accounts are complete, verified and protected with strong security practices such as two-factor authentication.
- Administrative tasks such as competition registrations, membership renewals and communications can be automated more efficiently, reducing manual workload and errors.
Benefits for Members
Improving data practices across the sport will deliver a clearer, safer and more seamless experience for participants, including:
- More consistent communication from Clubs, State and Territory Associations, and Bowls Australia
- Faster and smoother competition and event registrations
- Stronger safeguarding and compliance protections
- Better reporting that supports Clubs in securing grants and sponsorship
- A modern, secure platform that protects personal information
- Stronger data foundations that can support additional member benefits in the future
Changes to BowlsLink
Many of these updates will be implemented in the next BowlsLink system update scheduled for Monday 30 March 2026.
Key changes will include:
- Removal of secondary email and phone number fields
- Several existing optional fields becoming mandatory, including:
- Mobile number
- Year of Birth
- Address
- Introduction of a new Occupation field.
The Occupation field will use the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) list and may assist clubs and the sport in identifying potential volunteer skills within the bowls community.
Improved Data Accuracy
Address information will also be collected differently. Instead of a free-text field, members will select their address from an online address database. Members will simply begin typing and choose the correct address from a list of suggested options. This will significantly reduce typing errors and improve data accuracy.
What Members Need to Do
For existing members, no immediate action is required. However, the next time a member logs into their BowlsLink account, they may be asked to complete any mandatory fields that are currently missing.
For new members being created in the system, club administrators will need to ensure the required fields are completed as part of the BowlsLink profile setup.
Bowls Australia will also provide guidance for clubs and members in situations where a participant does not have an email address or mobile number, ensuring everyone can continue to access BowlsLink.
Protecting Member Information
Bowls Australia’s technology platform, BowlsLink, uses modern security standards to protect member information, including data encryption and two-factor authentication for administrators.
Looking Ahead
These updates represent the first of several improvements planned over the next 12 months to strengthen the quality, security and usefulness of participation data across the sport of bowls.
