Sport plays an important role in Queensland’s society and complements other industry sectors such as tourism, retail and hospitality.
The sport sector is defined by the competitive nature of the activity. A range of organisations provide services and facilities for individuals and groups, who participate under formal rules and are organised within institutions like football and athletics clubs.
Not-for-profit clubs, and associations managed by state or local government, also run sports activities including local fixtures.
Sport study and training can lead to employment in recreation centres, sporting associations and resorts. However, the volunteer nature of the sector means that jobs are generally on a part time or casual basis.
SPORT IN QUEENSLAND
Sector profile
Under the ANZSCO ABS classifications, occupations in the sport sector include Swimming Coach/Instructor, Sports Centre Manager, Lifeguard, Gymnastics Coach/Instructor, Tennis Coach, Sports Administrator, Sports Umpire, Sports Development Officer, Sportspersons, Other Sports Official, and other Sports Coaches and Instructors.
As at November 2012, Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials employment in Queensland had increased by 13.3 percent in the last year compared to 4.4 percent nationally. Queensland has a 24.3 percent share of the national employment of Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials (9,200 persons for Queensland).[1]
It is estimated other occupations outside this category account for another 2,500 employees in the sport sector.
Participation in sport
The following statistics on involvement in sport and physical activity are calculated using national data[ii] and applying Queensland’s 20 percent share of the national population:
– 369,000 (41%) were involved as a coach, instructor or teacher
– 180,000 (20%) were involved as a referee or umpire
– 306,000 (34%) were involved as a committee member or administrator
– 279,000 (31%) were involved as a scorer or timekeeper
– 72,000 (8%) were involved as a provider of medical support
– 540,000 (60%) were associated with school or junior sport
– 261,000 (29%) had two or more non-playing roles
– 369,000 (41%) had completed a qualification relevant to their role[v]
– 56% of coaches, instructors or teachers
– 49% of referees or umpires
– 16% of committee members or administrators
– 10% of scorers or timekeepers
– 13% of those involved in other non-playing roles[vi]
Value of sport to Queensland[vii]
The following information on occupational shortages, reasons for shortages, issues, and workforce responses is the result of the 2012 Skills Alliance Influence Your Industry’s Future workforce development survey. This information has also been consolidated in the 2012-2013 Skills Report.
Sport occupational shortages
Reasons for shortages
Overall the top 3 causes for gaps and shortages in the sector are[viii]:
Key issues
Sport Coaches/Instructors/Officials
Sports Coaches have been identified as an immediate occupational shortage. The reasons for this shortage are complex and relate to access to training (particularly for regional organisations), and recognition of training outcomes given the variety of training offered across sports and state/national bodies. Paid coaches are only one part of the workforce, with many coaches being volunteers, who generally require the same qualification as a paid coach.
The main issue relates to the range of sport coach training on offer, which can be confusing to some parts of the sector
Other issues include:
Sport Development Officers
Sport Administrators
Facility Managers
Swimming Instructors/Lifeguards
Volunteer Managers
Emerging trends
The top two emerging trends impacting on sport organisations are social media and new skills required.
Social media and use of technology for sport and recreation clubs are two areas where a large number of clubs are lacking in knowledge and information. Not only on how best to use them, but to use them at all in some instances.
In addition the changing demographics have meant the traditional membership base is ageing and clubs need to look at new ways to attract the younger generation. This is at the participation level as well as recruiting younger club volunteers.
Current responses
In terms of what strategies sporting clubs have used to respond to these skills gaps, the top three responses were to:
Other responses included:
Future strategies needed
References
[1] ABS Labour Force Survey – Employment by Occupation Time Series for Queensland to November Quarter 2012
[ii] ABS6285.0 Involvement in Organised Sport and Physical Activity, April 2010
[iii] IBID
[iv] IBID
[v] IBID
[vi] IBID
[vii] The Value of Sport to Queensland, March 2012, prepared by PKF Corporate Advisory for QSport
[viii] Skills Alliance Influence Your Industry’s Future Survey, 2012-2013, March 2013
[ix] Sport Fitness and Recreation – 2013 Environmental Scan, DRAFT, Service Skills Australia
[x] Sport Fitness and Recreation – 2013 Environmental Scan, DRAFT, Service Skills Australia
A: Get involved in any way that you can. Volunteer, work casual or part time, anything where you will be meeting people who can help you find a full time job. Up to 60% of positions in the sports industry are filled by word of mouth.
Apply for a traineeship position is a further option, contact peak sporting organisations/associations to find out if they have a traineeship program/intake process.
A: It is not hard to find a coaching job if you are really keen, but is may be hard to get paid for it. Many clubs rely on volunteers. Volunteering is the best way to gain experience, meet people and get a start in coaching. If you have played for a local club ask if you can help out during training. Coaching and working with kids can be a valuable experience and down the track may lead to a paid job. Most coaching positions regardless of the sport will require at least a level one coaching accreditation. Talk to the club about their processes, most clubs will cover the cost of any training you may be required to undertake.
Sport can be part of your career, whether you are a professional athlete, play for a club, coach, umpire or play for fun. Being involved as a volunteer or paid worker in sport can give you a wide range of skills and experience. Examples of sports specific positions include:
Visiting the Myfuture website under the heading the Facts you can find out about the industry. To find information on a specific job in the industry go to the Myfuture’s tab the Facts, Work and Employment/Occupation search.
These links are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the Skills Alliance of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organisation or individual. The Skills Alliance bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external sites or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external sites for answers to questions regarding its content.
A list of all VET qualifications and registered training organisations can be found on the Australian government training website.
Certificate I in Sport and Recreation
Certificate II in Sport and Recreation
Certificate II in Sport Coaching
Certificate II in Sport Career Oriented Participation
Certificate III in Sport Career Oriented Participation
Certificate III in Sport and Recreation
Certificate III in Sport Coaching
Certificate III in Sports Trainer
Certificate IV in Sport and Recreation
Certificate IV in Sport Coaching
Certificate IV in Sport Development
Diploma of Sport (Development)
Diploma of Facility Management
Diploma of Sport & Recreation Administration
Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science
Bachelor of Psychological Science
Bachelor of Exercise and Movement Science / Bachelor of Behavioural Science – Psychology
No information sessions are running at the moment.
Volunteers in Sport – 25 November 2015 – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission
Junior Sport Framework – 10 November 2015 – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission
Market Segmentation – Parents – October 2015 – Australian Sports Commission
Sport Participation in Australia – 31 August 2015 – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 23 July 2015
Parkour popularity encourages Queensland councils to build dedicated parks – 31 August 2015, Jessica Hinchliffe and Terri Begley, ABC Grandstand Sport
Australian Sport Policy – Chris Hume, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – August 2015
Community Sport Officiating – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 23 July 2015
Digital strategy is lacking in Australian sport — Alex Mednis, Sports Business Insider, 28 July 2015
Sports Club Development – Chris Hume, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – July 2015
Sport for Community Development – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 18 June 2015
Go where women are: Insight on engaging women and girls in sport and exercise – Sport England, June 2015
School Sport – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 24 June 2015
Twelve Signs of A Good Youth Sports Program – Brooke De Lench – momsTEAM
Indigenous Australians and Sport – Chris Hume, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – May 2015
Cultural Diversity and the Role of Sport – Chris Hume, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – May 2015
Community Sport Coaching – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 15 May 2015
Childhood Obesity – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 15 May 2015
Engaging Parents in Sport – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 11 May 2015
Sporty technology – Chris Hume, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – April 2015
Sport Workforce Development – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 13 April 2015
Structure of Australian Sport – Chris Hume, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – April 2015
Economic Contribution of Sport – Chris Hume, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – April 2015
Getting involved: How do I recruit youth volunteers for my sport program? – SIRC Blog – 8 April 2015
Sport has the power to help develop the potential of individuals, communities and nations – Australasian Leisure Management – 6 April 2015
Sport for International Development – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 2 April 2015
Physical Activity Guidelines – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 1 April 2015
The value of sports volunteering transcends party politics – Join In – 25 March 2015
Play.Sport.Australia. new participation platform – AIS, Australian Sports Commission – 25 March 2015
The Top 20 sports played by Aussies young and old(er) – Roy Morgan Research – March 19 2015
Social Sport – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 19 March 2015
Yet another reason sport is good for you! – Roy Morgan Research – March 17 2015
What is Sport? – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – 5 March 2015
Women’s Sport – Ralph Richards, Clearinghouse for Sport, Australian Sports Commission – 25 February 2015 by
Working towards equality and eliminating discrimination in sport – Australasian Leisure Management – 4 March 2015
Research reveals the social value of a football club – Australasian Leisure Management – 3 March 2015
How to Coach, According to 5 Great Sports Coaches – Sarah Green, Harvard Business Review – 25 February 2015
What will community sport clubs be like in 20 years? – Australasian Leisure Management – 24 February 2015
Australian youngsters ‘can’t throw, can’t catch’ – Australasian Leisure Management – 2 February 2015
Gold Coast reaps benefits from world’s largest biennial masters games – Australasian Leisure Management – 11 January 2015
New Sporting Schools website launched – Australian Sports Commission – 19 November 2014
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) launched the new Sporting Schools website today, as part of an initiative to help strengthen the connection between schools and sport so that all Australian children can get active and experience the joy of sport.
$1.6 million Federal Government investment in sporting innovation – Australasian Leisure Management – 19 November 2014
The Australian Institute of Sport’s Competitive Innovation Fund has allocated $1.6 million in funding for 11 different projects which encourage innovation and collaboration in high performance sport.
Strategic alliances in sport tourism: National sport organisations and sport tour operators – Millicent Kennelly, Kristine Toohey – Sport Management Review, Volume 17, Issue 4, November 2014
This qualitative case study provides a sport-oriented perspective of sport tourism. It examines a strategic alliance between an Australian national sport organisation (NSO), the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), and a sport tour operator (STO), FanFirm.
Australian sports injury 2011-12 – Australian Institute of Health Welfare – report released in November 2014.
Junior Sport Framework – Clearinghouse for Sport – 12 November 2014
Sport participation during childhood offers many immediate and long-term benefits, including: the formation of positive physical activity behaviours; development of life-skills; progress toward physical literacy; better cognitive and social functioning. Policies and strategies that promote enjoyable and challenging junior sport experiences will encourage greater participation as well as target personal and social development outcomes.
School Sport – Clearinghouse for Sport – 30 September 2014
The benefits of participation in school sport in terms of physical fitness, health benefits, cognitive development, personal wellbeing and social integration are extensively reported. Because school sport is so closely linked with physical education (PE) and other in-school physical activity opportunities, the observed benefits are often attributed to several sources. The collective contribution of school sport and PE to a child’s daily physical activity may be substantial.
Weekend brawls at local Australian football and rugby league grand finals in Queensland and Western Australia would appear to highlight a need for enhanced security and alcohol management at community sports grounds when emotions run high during local footy finals.
Cricket attracts more than a million participants – Australasian Leisure Management – 16 September 2014
With the growing range of programs and opportunities to make the game accessible to players of all ages, genders and cultural backgrounds, cricket has established itself as Australia’s number one participation sport.
Global index shows slight rise in women in sport leadership roles – Australasian Leisure Management – 15 September 2014
The latest update to the Sydney Scoreboard, a global index for women in sport leadership, shows a slight increase in the 2014 proportion of women representation in sport’s leadership positions compared to 2010.
More people joining triathalon groups in Australia – Australasian Leisure Management – 13 September 2014
This week’s announcement that Australia will once again host an event in the International Triathlon Union’s World Triathlon Series, is seen as having huge significance for the sport at a time when its participation numbers are growing.
The challenge of growing youth participation in sport – Sport England – August 2014
Sport Participation in Australia – Dr Ralph Richards, Senior Research Consultant, NSIC/Clearinghouse, Australian Sports Commission – August 2014
There is now compelling evidence that increased levels of physical activity can bring wide-ranging health benefits that impact upon the population. These benefits can extend beyond physical health to include other benefits, such as mental health, personal wellbeing, and social cohesion. Sport can make an important contribution to the amount of regular physical activity an individual engages in.
Beyond Glasgow, Gold Coast can transform the Commonwealth Games – Australasian Leisure Management – 25 August 2014
Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan has claimed that the Gold Coast will “make” the Commonwealth Games and boost its future when it hosts the Games in 2018.
Volunteers the backbone of Australian sport – Australasian Leisure Management – 21 August 2014
A new study confirms that Australia’s 2.3 million sporting volunteers are the backbone of Australian sporting organisations, highlighting that sport would be unable to function or even exist without them.
Sport England launches new model to show the economic value of sport to local communities – Sport England – 1 August 2014
All local authorities in England can now show how sport benefits their economy thanks to a new modelling tool launched by Sport England
What business and sport can learn from each other – Leap Performance – July 2014
There are some things sport does better than business and other areas in which business excels. Elite performing teams adopt the best from both worlds whether in sport or business. Here are a few key points about what business and sport can learn from each other.
In picking winners, sport funding rules can fail people with disabilities – The Conversation – 16 July 2014
The Australian Sports Commission has announced the funding of national sport organisations and individual sports for 2014-15. Overall Olympic funding enjoyed an increase of about A$750,000. Paralympic sport suffered a $250,000 decrease.
Present and Future Impacts of Nanotechnology in Sports – sporttechie – 15 July 2014
How will nanotechnology boost athlete performance?
Ever wanted to walk on water? Five new aquatic sports for thrill seekers – theguardian – 15 July 2014
From jet powered hover boards to inflatable catapults, we take a look at five bizarre new watersports that send you flying.
Getting engagement beyond game day: how sports organisations should do it – Business Review Weekly – 31 March 2014
Sporting organisations, ranging from clubs to high profile teams and venues, are undergoing rapid evolution and pressure to change the way they do things.
Community Sport Coaching – Australian Sports Commission – 4 July 2014
The effective delivery of community sport programs relies upon the recruitment, engagement, and ongoing development of coaches. Coaches play a central role in organising sports participants, teaching sports skills and strategies, as well as improving athlete fitness and motivation to train and compete.
WHY SPORT MATTERS: Sport for development in Australia, the Pacific and Asia – Sport Matters – 18 June 2014
Features case studies from a host of Australian organisations using sport to contribute to outcomes in health, gender equality, social inclusion, children & youth, and people with disabilities. It also includes the latest sport for development research from the Pacific.
Call for government action to limit ‘deeply concerning’ level of fast food ads at children’s sports grounds – ABC News – 10 June 2014
Children who take part in rugby league, athletics or cricket are exposed to high levels of fast food and sugary drink advertising in New South Wales, a new study shows.
Is sport more safe, fair and inclusive than it used to be? – 7 June 2014
Sport has a unique place in our culture and brings out the best and worst in people. Peter Downs explains how the national program Play by the Rules helps in making sport more safe, fair and inclusive.
#ProudToPlay: Celebrating equality for all athletes – 3 June 2014
Support a world where every athlete can be Proud to Play.
Mums in sport: who’s left holding the baby? – Anna Carroll, The Brisbane Times – 10 May 2014
We must address the normal experience of women being pregnant and caring for children in the abnormal environment of sport.
CUMULATIVE LIST OF PERSPECTIVES ON SPORT ARTICLES (2008 – 2013) – ABS