67 The ASC has continued to strategically promote the value of sport to local and global media. The 2016–17 year included the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games. The ASC generated proactive media in the lead-up to the Games, including information and media factsheets detailing the funding and support provided to sports during the four-year Olympic and Paralympic cycle. A press conference after the Olympic and Paralympic Games attracted extensive national coverage as the ASC recommitted to the principles of its high performance strategy. The AIS Sport Performance Awards celebrated the outstanding achievements of Australia’s leading athletes, teams, coaches and administrators. The ABC continued as media partner for the event and broadcast the awards live on ABC radio. ABC Grandstand hosted and promoted the public voting site for the ASPAs, which attracted almost 21,000 votes — a rise of 18 per cent on the previous event. Other key events and issues that received strong media coverage included: the launch of AusPlay, the ASC’s comprehensive national survey to assess the sport and physical activity trends of Australians; the appointment of the ASC new CEO, Ms Kate Palmer, in December; the launch of the National Sport Plan consultation period by Minister Hunt, at the AIS in May. The ASC continues to use social media effectively to promote participation and high performance initiatives, celebrate Australian sporting success and engage with the Australian public. The ASC maintained ASC and AIS accounts whilst diversifying communication through the use of accounts for Sporting Schools, Play.Sport.Australia. and Experience AIS, the account for the commercial operations at the AIS campus in Bruce. The ASC has grown its commercial revenue in 2016–17 including an increase in value-in-kind sponsorship revenue and gains in revenue from commercial activities across the site. ASC staff continued working towards the goal of introducing a national sports lottery aimed at providing the ASC with an additional, substantial source of non-government revenue. A number of key sponsors committed to new agreements with the ASC. In July 2016 the ASC expanded its relationship with apparel sponsor, 2XU, to include co-branded sporting wear for commercial sale and provision of staff uniforms across the commission enhancing the corporate identity of the ASC. The growth of non-government revenue sources will remain a focus for the ASC in 2017–18. A number of key initiatives were implemented during 2016–17 to maintain a positive working environment for ASC staff. The Flexible Workplace Agreement (FWA) program, trialled initially in the Corporate Operations Division, was expanded organisation-wide with 105 staff using a FWA during 2016–17. February 2017 saw the launch of the Sponsorship of Talent program which aims to develop and foster a network of sponsor relationships between ASC leaders and high-potential employees to advance females in the ASC and the sport sector. The program intake included 14 female ASC level six staff members and futures programs may be expanded following feedback from the initial program.