Getting familiar with Purple Flag
Safe, diverse and vibrant night-time economies are a vital part of any thriving city.
Purple Flag celebrates precincts that achieve high standards of excellence in managing their night-time economy.
The frequently asked questions about Purple Flag document [Insert: hyperlink to FAQ document] is a great introduction to the program.
Deciding whether to apply for Purple Flag
Here are a series of questions to consider before applying for Purple Flag accreditation. Once you have answered these questions, you may decide that you would like to apply for Purple Flag.
- Does your precinct have a vibrant night-time economy with diverse options for restaurants, licensed venues, hotels, retail, cinema, culture and/or late-night entertainment?
- Is there a mix of functional and attractive spaces for people to visit?
- Is your precinct a unique place to visit?
- Are there sufficient transport options and public amenities operating after 6 pm?
- Is your precinct already involved with other night-time economy initiatives, such as the Uptown Acceleration program, Special Entertainment Precincts, Community Improvement Districts or Safer Cities Revitalisation and Place Programs?
- Is your precinct located in Greater Sydney? (Note: Purple Flag is being introduced in stages, with regional areas to be included in future phases.)
- Is your local Council supportive of a Purple Flag application for your precinct?
- Does your precinct have an established business group, such as a local business network, that has an existing working relationship with the local Council?
There are several steps involved in applying for and maintaining Purple Flag accreditation. This includes engaging with local stakeholders, forming a working group, undertaking a night-time assessment of your precinct and addressing areas for improvement.
Successful participation will require ongoing collaboration, data collection, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
- Do you have the time and resources, to support the application process?
- Are you aware of plans for improving the night-time economy in your precinct or local government area?
- If your precinct has actions and timelines for improving its night-time economy, do these align with the Purple Flag principles?
- Have you identified a dedicated individual who can lead the working group in your precinct? This role involves coordinating the working group and managing the application process.
- Have you thought about identifying and recruiting key people into the working group from local government, businesses, police, transport, infrastructure, and the development and community sectors within your precinct to become involved in Purple Flag?
For more guidance on forming a working group see the Program Guidelines: [Insert: hyperlink to Guidelines document].
- Is there a strong commitment and willingness from key people in your precinct to actively take part in the accreditation program?
To maintain your Purple Flag accreditation, you are required to undertake a renewal process every 2 years and submit a progress report every 12 months.
You must also hold regular working group meetings, engage with stakeholders including new businesses, and work towards areas for improvement in your precinct.
- Do you have the time and resources to maintain Purple Flag accreditation over time?
The application process
The Purple Flag application process involves 6 key steps. For a more detailed breakdown of the application process, see the Purple Flag Application Guidelines.
Registering your interest in applying
Register your interest to apply for Purple Flag accreditation by completing the Registration of Interest form. Download the form (DOCX 547.87KB) and email purpleflag@24houreconomy.nsw.gov.au with your completed form. Registrations of Interest are now open, full applications will open from February 2025.
When you register your interest, you will need to show that there is an established business group in your area that already has a working relationship with the Council. The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner (O24HEC) can send you a list of potential contacts in your local Council that you can invite to be part of your working group.
Once you register your interest, the O24HEC Purple Flag team will review the details you have provided to ensure your precinct meets the eligibility criteria for the program. You will receive an email from the O24HEC Purple Flag team within two weeks of registering your interest. This email will either confirm that you can continue with the application process, request more information or inform you that your precinct does not meet the eligibility criteria.
Setting up the working group
If your precinct is eligible to apply for the program, you can go ahead and formalise the details of the working group. For example, you may like to plan the frequency of meetings, the way the working group will align with existing plans and strategies and the timeframe for your application.
Developing the Purple Flag map
This map defines the boundary for your Purple Flag precinct. It includes buildings, walkways, businesses and transport options. The map is the first document you must complete to support your application. The lead and the members of the working group must carefully consider the evening and night-time environment in your precinct to prepare the map.
For more information on preparing your Purple Flag map, see:
- page 23 of the Guidelines
- mapping instructions
- video guide
Completing the precinct snapshot
The Purple Flag precinct snapshot explains the story of the precinct and provides details about who is involved with the application. It also asks you to provide data to show how your precinct is meeting the 5 Core Principles of Purple Flag.
For more information on preparing your Purple Flag Precinct snapshot refer to page 27 of the Guidelines here. Download and complete the precinct snapshot and assessment workbook [Insert: Snapshot document] and submit it as part of the final application.
Undertaking the self-assessment
The self-assessment is a street-level assessment of the precinct. The lead and members of the working group walk around the precinct at different times of the evening and night to complete the precinct snapshot and assessment workbook. This involves:
- rating the precinct against the criteria for each of the 5 Core Principles of Purple Flag
- comparing findings with the data you have provided in the precinct snapshot.
For more information on undertaking the self-assessment check page 28 of the Program Guidelines. Download and complete the [Insert: Precinct Snapshot and Assessment Workbook and submit it as part of your final application.
Submitting the application for assessment and accreditation
Once you have completed the steps above, you can submit your Purple Flag application.
Your application will have details of your Working Group, your Purple Flag map, and your precinct snapshot and assessment workbook [Hyperlink to document]
Your application will then be reviewed by Purple Flag assessors and an accreditation panel. For more information on the assessment process, see the section below.
The assessment process
Once your application has been submitted, it will be assessed by Purple Flag assessors and the accreditation panel.
The assessment process involves the following steps:
Desktop review
Purple Flag assessors will complete a desktop review of the application documents that your precinct has submitted.
Q&A session
The assessors and the working group will organise a time for a Q&A ahead of your assessment night. This is so that the assessors can clarify any queries before the street-level assessment.
Street-level assessment
On assessment night, Purple Flag assessors will walk through your precinct to complete a street-level assessment using the self-assessment report that you have provided in your application. During this walkthrough, you’ll have an opportunity to discuss your itinerary with the assessors.
Precinct snapshot and assessment workbook
A Purple Flag assessor will then complete their section of the precinct snapshot and assessment workbook and identify areas for improvement within the precinct.
Accreditation panel
The application, together with the assessment report and recommendations, will be considered by the accreditation panel. There are three decisions that the accreditation panel can make:
- Your precinct achieves Purple Flag accreditation
- More information is needed (accreditation deferred)
- Your precinct is not yet ready for Purple Flag accreditation.
If your precinct achieves Purple Flag accreditation, your working group will need to assign ongoing roles and responsibilities to make sure any suggestions for improvement are actioned and your precinct maintains accreditation.
The renewal process
To maintain Purple Flag accreditation, your precinct must complete a renewal process every two years. This process involves two key steps during the two-year period:
You will need to submit an interim progress report one year after your precinct achieves Purple Flag accreditation. This report demonstrates how you are addressing areas for improvement identified in your most recent assessment.
You will need to renew your Purple Flag accreditation after 2 years. This is a similar process to the original application, which includes an assessment.
You will also receive feedback from the assessors, which can help guide the actions of the working group in the time leading up to your renewal. For further details on the renewal process please refer to the Program Guidelines.
Prepare your application
Registrations of Interest are now open.
Full applications will open from February 2025.