The sport and recreation industry document outlines the key aspects of the industry including: 1) The industry is made up of over 400 businesses employing around 6,000 people part-time or casually, with volunteers making up 20% of the workforce. 2) The main sectors are sports, fitness, outdoor recreation, and community recreation. 3) Daily work activities vary but may include tasks like teaching fitness classes, coaching sports teams, or leading outdoor activities. 4) The industry contributes significantly to both the economy and society through spending, jobs, community benefits, and personal well-being.

1. THE SPORTS AND RECREATION INDUSTRY
SISXIND001 – TOBY PHILLIPS

2. CONTENTS
▪ What is the sport and recreation industry
▪ What are the sectors
▪ Industry information in day-to-day work activities.
▪ What are the economic and social significance of sport and recreation
▪ What are the roles of volunteers within the sport and recreation industry
▪ What are the types of employment opportunities, including part-time and casual

3. WHAT IS THE SPORT AND RECREATION INDUSTRY
The Sports and Recreation is a fast growing industry, in 2011 the SA Sports and
Recreation industry was made up of just over 400 businesses and by 2012 the
workforce was made up of around 6000 people, Service Skills SA (2016).
Around two thirds of the businesses in this industry have less than 5 employees,
meaning these businesses can be classified as ‘mircro-businesses’. This industry
mainly employs part time or casual staff and volunteers are estimated to make up
1/5 of the workforce. This is the highest volunteer rate in any sector.
The Skills IRC report does not expect the industry to keep growing at the same rate
and the number of employees needed will level off.
▪ http://www.serviceskillssa.com.au/industry/sport-recreation.html
▪ http://www.ors.sa.gov.au/sport_and_recreation
▪ https://www.skillsiq.com.au/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/documents/Industry-Skills-Forecasts-
June2017/Sport%20and%20Recreation%20IRC%20Industry%20Skills%20Forecast_April2017%20Refresh.pdf

4. WHAT ARE THE SECTORS?
▪ Sports – roles include assistant coach, sports trainer and
official, team manager, sports event manager, sports
development officer and manager.
▪ Fitness – roles include aqua, gym, exercise, group exercise
instructor and personal trainer.
▪ Outdoor recreation – roles include outdoor activity guide,
instructor and recreation manager.
▪ Community recreation – roles include lifeguard, recreation
leader and swimming teacher.
▪ https://www.skillsiq.com.au/IndustryEngagement/IndustryReferenceCom
mittees/SportandRecreationIndustryReferenceCommittee
Sectors
Sport
Fitness
Outdoor Recreation
Community Recreation

5. INDUSTRY INFORMATION IN DAY-TO-DAY WORK ACTIVITIES
The daily activities for an employee in the Sports and Recreation industry
are diverse and there is no such things as a typical day.
However, please see https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-
certifications/pdfs/A_Day_in_the_Life.pdf for more information on a day
in the life of a fitness instructor. For a day in the life of a swimming
teacher, please see https://www.waterbabies.co.uk/news/blog/article/29.
For a clients view of a typical day in an outdoor education setting, please
see
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/rockyhill
ms/news/announcements/TypicalDay2016.pdf.

6. WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
SIGNIFICANCE OF SPORT AND RECREATION
ECONOMIC
The economic significance can seen by
looking at the amount spent on sport
and recreation by both individuals and
the government. The contribution is
between 8.6% and 10.1% of the national
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and
makes up 9.2% and 10.6% of
employment.
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.n
sf/featurearticlesbytitle/8343EB1522AB9
12ACA256FAB007A8D15?OpenDocumen
t
SOCIAL
The positive impact
related to sport and
recreation is
accepted, the
benefits include:
▪ Community
pride/identity
▪ Crime prevention
▪ Development of
life skills
▪ Mood
▪ Personal wellbeing
▪ Self esteem
▪ Social behaviors
▪ Social cohesion
▪ https://www.ausp
ort.gov.au/__data/
assets/pdf_file/00
06/276927/ABS-
Social_impacts_of
_sport.pdf

7. WHAT ARE THE ROLES OF
VOLUNTEERS WITHIN THE
SPORT AND RECREATION
INDUSTRY
Volunteers make up a fifth of the
people employed in the Sports and
Recreation Industry. In reality the
industry would find it very difficult to
function without volunteers
https://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/support-
and-advice/people-
development/volunteers

8. WHAT ARE THE TYPES
OF EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES,
INCLUDING PART-TIME
AND CASUAL
The majority of employees in the Sports and Recreation Industry
are part time or casual employees and 1/5 people are volunteers.
However, the Department of Employment shows that the number
of employees will rise slightly, but remain quite steady in the future.
http://www.skillsalliance.com.au/wp-
content/uploads/2012-2013-Skills-
Report-FINAL.pdf
https://www.skillsiq.com.au/site/Defaul
tSite/filesystem/documents/Industry-
Skills-Forecasts-
June2017/Sport%20and%20Recreation
%20IRC%20Industry%20Skills%20Foreca
st_April2017%20Refresh.pdf