Sport, Fitness and Recreation

Sport and Recreation IRC

• Sport and Recreation IRC Skills Forecast
• IRC membership
• Skills IQ – Skills Service Organisation.

The employment level in the Sport and Recreation Activities (excluding Horse and Dog Racing Activities) industry has increased considerably over the period between 2000 and 2017, with a further increase projected up until 2022.

There were approximately 121,000 enrolments in the Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package during 2016 and just under 37,000 completions.  There has been a considerable increase in subject-only enrolments, growing from approximately 22,000 in 2014 to over 93,000 in 2016.

The Sport and Recreation IRC Industry Skills Forecast highlights the key role that the Sport, Fitness and Recreation industry can play in improving the health of Australians. Social media is identified as a key tool in engaging and building relationships with clients, customers and communities. Additionally, integrated sport and recreation facilities are seen as the future of the Sport, Fitness and Recreation industry. Facilities would offer a diverse range of services to entice greater community participation such as health and fitness, beauty services and physiotherapy. This variety of services would require a multi-skilled workforce with staff that can work across different job functions.

The Environmental scan 2015: sport, fitness and recreation identifies several trends that are expected to have a major impact on the skills needs for the Sport, Fitness and Recreation workforce.

• An ageing and increasingly inactive and unhealthy population makes exercise programs more important than ever for Australians of all ages. With the right skills the Sport, Fitness and Recreation industry can play a significant role in preventative health – for example reducing rates of obesity.
• Technology presents opportunities for greater interaction between sport and recreation organisations and communities. To take advantage of these opportunities, the sport, fitness and recreation workforce require the skills to incorporate technology into the services they offer.
• Greater collaboration between the sectors within Sport, Fitness and Recreation, for example, exploring the potential to offer career pathways between sectors may reduce some of the transience in the workforce.

Government departments and agencies

Active Canberra

Arts Sport and Leisure (NT)

Australian Sports Commission

NSW Office of Sport

Recreation Sports and Arts (Queensland)

Government of South Australia Office for Recreation and Sport

Sport and Recreation (Tasmania)

Sport and Recreation (Victoria)

Sport and Recreation (WA)

Industry associations and advisory bodies

Aquatic and Recreation Institute

Australian Adventure Activity Standards

Australian Fitness Network

Australian Leisure Facilities Association

Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA)

Australian Swim Coach and Teachers Association

AUSTSWIM

Clearing house for Sport

Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports

Community Sport Australia

Exercise and Sports Science Australia

Fitness Australia

Outdoor Education Australia

Outdoor Recreation Industry Council OF NSW

Outdoors SA

Parks and Leisure Australia

Physical Activity Australia

Queensland Fitness Sport Recreation Skills Alliance

Recreation South Australia

Royal Life Saving Society Australia

Sport New South Wales

Sport Queensland

Sports SA

Swim Australia

Swimming Australia

Western Australia Sports Federation

Employee associations

Australian Services Union

Australian Workers Union

Health Services Union

Relevant research

Environmental scan 2015: sport, fitness and recreation

The future of Australian sport : megatrends shaping the sports sector over coming decades

Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET Student and Courses by SIS Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package.

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017, Employed persons by Industry group of main job (ANZSIC), Sex, state and territory, November 1984 onwards, 6291.0.55.003 – EQ06, viewed 1 September 2017 <http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/6291.0.55.003May%202017?OpenDocument>

• Employed total, between 2000 and 2017, May Quarter, by ANZSIC 3 digit industries:
  • 910 Sports and Recreation Activities, (not further defined)
  • 911 Sports and Physical Recreation Activities
  • 913 Amusement and Other Recreation Activities.

Department of Employment, 2017, Employment Projections, available from the Labour Market Information Portal

• employment projections to May 2022, by ANZSIC 3 digit industries:
  • 910 Sports and Recreation Activities, nfd
  • 911 Sports and Physical Recreation Activities
  • 913 Amusement and Other Recreation Activities.