SPORTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION
Participation by adults
Australia is recognised internationally as a nation that is very much involved in sport. It is widely accepted that there are many benefits associated with participation in sport and physical activity including enjoyment, social interaction, health, personal achievement, national pride and community involvement. In many ways, sport unites and personifies the nation. Interestingly, Australians were competing internationally as 'Australia' even before Australia was federated as a nation.
The ABS conducted a household survey during the period July 2005 to June 2006 to measure participation in sport and physical recreation. The survey included sports, such as football or netball, which are usually organised by a club or association. It also included other sports and physical recreation activities which may not have been organised, such as walking for exercise.
The 2005-06 survey found 66% of the population aged 15 years and over (or 10.5 million people) participated as a player (rather than in a support role) at least once during the 12 months prior to interview in one or more sports or physical recreation activities (table 14.14). The participation rate was highest for the 25 to 34 year age group (75%), then declined with age to 49% for persons aged 65 years and over. The overall participation rates for males and females were very similar. However, for the 43% (6.8 million) of the population who participated at least weekly (on average), female participation (44% or 3.6 million) was higher than male participation (41% or 3.2 million).
14.14 PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION(a) - 2005-06 |
|
 | MALES
| | FEMALES
| | PERSONS
|
| Number | Participation rate | | Number | Participation rate | | Number | Participation rate |
| Age group (years) | '000 | % | | '000 | % | | '000 | % |
|
| 15-17 | 307.8 | 77.3 | | 302.8 | 72.1 | | 610.5 | 74.6 |
| 18-24 | 735.2 | 73.3 | | 671.3 | 71.8 | | 1 406.4 | 72.6 |
| 25-34 | 1 054.5 | 76.3 | | 1 033.9 | 74.0 | | 2 088.3 | 75.1 |
| 35-44 | 975.4 | 66.7 | | 1 035.9 | 69.1 | | 2 011.2 | 68.0 |
| 45-54 | 871.8 | 63.5 | | 923.4 | 65.7 | | 1 795.2 | 64.6 |
| 55-64 | 670.1 | 60.4 | | 716.3 | 64.6 | | 1 386.5 | 62.5 |
| 65 and over | 591.0 | 50.8 | | 652.9 | 48.2 | | 1 243.9 | 49.4 |
| Total | 5 205.7 | 66.0 | | 5 336.4 | 65.7 | | 10 542.1 | 65.9 |
|
| (a) Relates to persons aged 15 years and over who participated in sports or physical recreation as a player at least once during the 12 months prior to interview in the 2005-06 survey. |
| Source: ABS Participation in Sports and Physical Recreation, Australia , 2005-06 (4177.0). |
The 2005-06 survey found that the activities which attracted the most participants during the 12 months prior to interview were walking for exercise (4.0 million people), aerobics/fitness (2.0 million), swimming (1.4 million) and cycling (1.0 million).
For both males and females, the two most popular activities were walking and aerobics/fitness. Golf was the third most popular activity for males, while for females it was swimming. Table 14.15 shows the ten sports or physical recreation activities in which the most men participated and the ten in which the most women participated.
14.15 PARTICIPATION IN SELECTED SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION ACTIVITIES(a) - 2005-06 |
|
| | Number | Participation rate |
| | '000 | % |
|
| MALES | | |
| Walking for exercise | 1 298.6 | 16.5 |
| Aerobics/fitness | 744.5 | 9.4 |
| Golf | 695.6 | 8.8 |
| Cycling | 691.0 | 8.8 |
| Swimming | 633.3 | 8.0 |
| Running | 425.9 | 5.4 |
| Tennis | 389.5 | 4.9 |
| Soccer (outdoor) | 311.5 | 3.9 |
| Cricket (outdoor) | 309.7 | 3.9 |
| Bush walking | 248.1 | 3.1 |
| FEMALES | | |
| Walking for exercise | 2 659.7 | 32.8 |
| Aerobics/fitness | 1 271.5 | 15.7 |
| Swimming | 814.0 | 10.0 |
| Netball | 387.5 | 4.8 |
| Tennis | 379.4 | 4.7 |
| Cycling | 320.7 | 3.9 |
| Bush walking | 271.4 | 3.3 |
| Running | 255.4 | 3.1 |
| Yoga | 248.7 | 3.1 |
| Golf | 179.9 | 2.2 |
|
| (a) Relates to persons aged 15 years and over who participated in sports or physical recreation as a player at least once during the 12 months prior to interview in the 2005-06 survey. |
| Source: ABS Participation in Sports and Physical Recreation, Australia , 2005-06 (4177.0). |
The 2007-08 National Health Survey conducted by the ABS found that almost two-thirds (65%) of all adults had exercised for recreation, sport or fitness during the two weeks prior to interview, and the proportions of males and females exercising were similar. However, females were more likely to exercise at a lower level than males. The percentage of females exercising at a low level was 40% compared with 34% of males, whereas 8.4% of males exercised at a high level compared with 4.0% of females (table 14.16).
14.16 EXERCISE LEVEL(a)(b), By sex - 2007-08 |
|
| Males | Females | Persons |
| % | % | % |
|
| Sedentary | 34.2 | 36.1 | 35.2 |
| Low | 33.8 | 40.0 | 36.9 |
| Moderate | 23.4 | 19.9 | 21.6 |
| High | 8.4 | 4.0 | 6.2 |
| Total(c) | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
|
| (a) Exercise undertaken in the two weeks prior to interview. |
| (b) Relates to persons aged 15 years and over during the two weeks prior to interview in the year shown. |
| (c) Includes persons for whom level of exercise was not stated. |
| Source: ABS National Health Survey, Summary of Results, Australia, 2007-08 (4364.0). |
Participation by children
A survey of children's activities in the 12 months to April 2009 found 1.7 million children aged 5 to 14 years (63%) participated in at least one sport outside of school hours which had been organised by a school, club or association. A comparison of the data from 2003 to 2009 shows that the participation rate in organised sport did not increase significantly (62% in 2003 and 63% in 2009).
Participation in organised sport peaked at 74% for 12 to 14 year old boys and at 65% for girls aged 9 to 11 years. Participation rates were higher for boys across all age groups compared with girls, with the greatest difference occurring in the 12 to 14 years age group. The total participation rate was 70% for boys and 56% for girls (table 14.17).
14.17 CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN ORGANISED SPORT(a) - 2009 |
|
| NUMBER
| | PARTICIPATION RATE(b)
|
| Males | Females | Persons | | Males | Females | Persons |
| Age group (years) | '000 | '000 | '000 | | % | % | % |
|
| 5-8 | 349.5 | 264.8 | 614.2 | | 63.9 | 51.0 | 57.6 |
| 9-11 | 302.8 | 258.1 | 560.9 | | 72.1 | 64.6 | 68.4 |
| 12-14 | 318.6 | 224.0 | 542.6 | | 74.2 | 54.9 | 64.8 |
| Total participants | 970.8 | 746.9 | 1 717.8 | | 69.6 | 56.3 | 63.1 |
|
| (a) Children aged 5 to 14 years who participated in organised sport (excluding dancing) outside of school hours during the 12 months prior to interview in April 2009. |
| (b) A participation rate is the number of persons involved in an activity expressed as a percentage of the total population of that group. |
| Source: ABS Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, Australia, April 2009 (4901.0). |
Participation rates in organised sport varied between the states and territories, ranging from 58% in Tasmania to 71% in the Australian Capital Territory.
The most popular organised sports for children in 2009 were swimming with a participation rate of 19%, outdoor soccer at 13% and Australian Rules football at 9% (table 14.18). For boys, the most popular sports were outdoor soccer (20%), swimming (17%), and Australian Rules football (16%). In comparison, the sports most popular among girls were swimming (20%), netball (17%) and gymnastics (7.6%).
Male and female participation rates in at least one organised sport did not show any significant change between 2006 and 2009 increasing from 69% to 70% for boys and decreasing from 57% to 56% for girls.
14.18 CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN MOST POPULAR ORGANISED SPORTS(a), By sex |
|
| 2006
| | 2009
|
| Males | Females | Persons | | Males | Females | Persons |
| % | % | % | | % | % | % |
|
| Swimming | 16.5 | 18.2 | 17.4 | | 17.2 | 19.8 | 18.5 |
| Soccer (outdoor) | 19.6 | 6.4 | 13.2 | | 19.9 | 6.2 | 13.2 |
| Australian Rules football | (b)13.8 | 0.9 | (b)7.5 | | 16.0 | 0.9 | 8.6 |
| Netball | *0.1 | 17.3 | 8.5 | | *0.3 | 17.0 | 8.4 |
| Tennis | 8.0 | 6.6 | 7.3 | | 9.4 | 6.3 | 7.9 |
| Basketball | 7.4 | 5.7 | 6.6 | | 8.5 | 6.3 | 7.4 |
| Martial arts | (b)6.1 | 2.9 | (b)4.5 | | 7.5 | 3.7 | 5.7 |
| Cricket (outdoor) | 10.1 | *0.4 | 5.4 | | 9.7 | *0.5 | 5.2 |
| Gymnastics | 1.6 | (b)5.5 | (b)3.5 | | 1.7 | 7.6 | 4.6 |
| Rugby league | 7.9 | *0.3 | 4.2 | | 7.0 | - | 3.6 |
| Athletics, track and field | 2.6 | 3.2 | 2.9 | | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.3 |
| Soccer (indoor) | 3.3 | 1.1 | 2.2 | | 4.3 | 1.3 | 2.8 |
| Hockey | 1.7 | 2.2 | 1.9 | | 1.8 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| All other organised sports | 17.5 | (b)17.0 | (b)17.3 | | 15.8 | 12.1 | 14.0 |
| At least one organised sport(c) | 68.8 | 56.5 | 62.8 | | 69.6 | 56.3 | 63.1 |
|
| * estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution |
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) Children aged 5 to 14 years who participated in organised sport (to a maximum of three per child), excluding dancing, outside of school hours during the 12 months prior to interview in April. |
| (b) Difference between this participation rate and the 2009 participation rate is statistically significant. |
| (c) May not add to sum of components as some children participated in more than one activity. |
| Source: ABS Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, Australia, April 2009 (4901.0). |
Although boys had the higher participation rate in organised sport, girls had a much higher participation rate than boys in another form of organised physical activity - dancing. During the 12 months ended April 2009, there were 348,500 girls who participated in organised dancing outside school hours - a participation rate of 26%. The number of boys participating was 41,900 - a participation rate of 3.0% (table 14.19).
Besides organised sport and dancing, the survey also asked about participation in several non-organised physical recreation activities - bike riding and skateboarding, rollerblading or riding a scooter. For both activities, a significantly higher percentage of boys (70% and 56% respectively) participated than did girls (54% and 40%). However, participation by girls in bike riding was significantly lower in April 2009 than it had been in April 2006 - 54% compared with 62%.
14.19 CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN SELECTED OTHER ACTIVITIES(a), By sex |
|
| 2006
| | 2009
|
| Number | Participation rate | | Number | Participation rate |
| '000 | % | | '000 | % |
Males |
|
| Skateboarding, rollerblading or riding a scooter(b) | . . | . . | | 780.4 | 55.9 |
| Bike riding | 1 003.0 | (c)73.4 | | 922.5 | 69.5 |
| Dancing(d)(e) | 32.5 | 2.4 | | 41.9 | 3.0 |
Females |
|
| Skateboarding, rollerblading or riding a scooter(b) | . . | . . | | 562.2 | 40.3 |
| Bike riding | 803.2 | (c)61.9 | | 721.1 | 54.4 |
| Dancing(d)(e) | 300.1 | (c)23.1 | | 348.5 | 26.3 |
Persons |
|
| Skateboarding, rollerblading or riding a scooter(b) | . . | . . | | 1 342.6 | 49.3 |
| Bike riding | 1 806.2 | (c)67.8 | | 1 643.6 | 60.4 |
| Dancing(d)(e) | 332.6 | (c)12.5 | | 390.4 | 14.3 |
|
| . . not applicable |
| (a) Children aged 5 to 14 years who were involved in selected activities outside of school hours during the last two school weeks prior to interview in April. |
| (b) Riding a scooter was included in this category for 2009 data. |
| (c) Difference between this participation and the 2009 participation rate is statistically significant. |
| (d) Although actually a cultural activity, dancing is included here because of the physical exertion it requires. |
| (e) Children aged 5 to 14 years who participated in organised dancing (lessons or performances) outside of school hours during the 12 months prior to interview in April. |
| Source: ABS Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities, Australia, April 2009 (4901.0). |
Attendance
Attending sporting events (such as club matches and international competitions) is a popular pastime for many Australians. An ABS household survey conducted during the period July 2005 to June 2006 indicated that 7.1 million people, or 44% of all people aged 15 years and over, attended a sporting event (excluding junior and school sport) at least once in the 12 months prior to interview. Men (52%) were more likely to have attended a sporting event than women (37%). Attendance rates were highest for men in the 25 to 34 year age group (62%) and women in the 18 to 24 year age group (53%). For both sexes, attendance declined with age. Among men aged 65 years and over, the attendance rate was 29%, while for women in this age group it was 18%.
The sport with the highest attendance was Australian Rules football - 2.5 million people attended this sport on at least one occasion during the year (table 14.20). Horse racing (2.0 million), Rugby League (1.5 million) and motor sports (1.5 million) also attracted large numbers of spectators.
14.20 ATTENDANCE AT SELECTED SPORTING EVENTS(a) - 2005-06 |
|
| Number
| | Attendance rate(b)
|
| Males | Females | Persons | | Males | Females | Persons |
| '000 | '000 | '000 | | % | % | % |
|
| Australian Rules football | 1 515.5 | 1 011.3 | 2 526.7 | | 19.2 | 12.5 | 15.8 |
| Horse racing | 1 091.5 | 912.2 | 2 003.7 | | 13.8 | 11.2 | 12.5 |
| Rugby League | 943.8 | 542.6 | 1 486.4 | | 12.0 | 6.7 | 9.3 |
| Motor sports | 1 023.1 | 462.1 | 1 485.2 | | 13.0 | 5.7 | 9.3 |
| Cricket (outdoor) | 547.5 | 183.2 | 730.7 | | 6.9 | 2.3 | 4.6 |
| Rugby Union | 449.6 | 232.4 | 682.0 | | 5.7 | 2.9 | 4.3 |
| Soccer (outdoor) | 348.6 | 212.2 | 560.7 | | 4.4 | 2.6 | 3.5 |
| Harness racing | 253.7 | 190.5 | 444.2 | | 3.2 | 2.3 | 2.8 |
| Tennis | 104.3 | 163.5 | 267.9 | | 1.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 |
| Dog racing | 139.7 | 85.2 | 224.8 | | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.4 |
| Basketball | 132.6 | 104.6 | 237.2 | | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.5 |
| Netball | 58.0 | 130.8 | 188.8 | | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.2 |
|
| (a) Attendance at least once in the 12 months prior to interview in the 2005-06 survey, by persons aged 15 years and over. |
| (b) The number of people who attended, expressed as a percentage of the number of people in that population group. |
| Source: ABS Sports Attendance, Australia, 2005-06 (4174.0). |
Government support
Governments of all levels play an important role in the development of sport and physical recreation in Australia at both the elite and grassroots levels. The functions of some government (and non-government) national administrative bodies are described below.
The Sport and Recreation Ministers' Council (SRMC) provides a forum for cooperation and coordination between the Australian Government and state and territory governments on matters relating to the development of sport and recreation. The governments of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are also represented on SRMC. Its membership comprises government ministers with prime responsibility for sport and recreation.
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is the Australian Government agency responsible for the funding and development of sport at the national level. The ASC supports a wide range of programs designed to develop sporting excellence and increase participation in sport by all Australians. The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is a major program within the ASC and is responsible for developing elite sport on a national basis with a particular focus on success at the international level. More information about the ASC and AIS can be obtained from their websites.
The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing has a diverse set of responsibilities, which include supporting sport, particularly at the community level, and increasing Australians' participation in physical and recreational activities to promote physical and mental health.
Individual sports in Australia are managed and coordinated by National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), each managing participation in, and development of, a specific sport. Many NSOs receive funding from the ASC. More information about most NSOs can be obtained from the Australian Sports Directory on the ASC website.
Surveys of organisations (both private and public) providing sport and physical recreation services were conducted by the ABS in respect of 2004-05. It was found that the total funding provided by Commonwealth, state and local governments to these organisations was $1,564m - 18% of their combined total income ($8,821m). Of the funding provided by government, $695m went to Commonwealth, state and territory government organisations providing sport and physical recreation services, $481m funded local government organisations, $46m went to organisations operating to make a profit, and $342m funded organisations operating on a 'not-for-profit' basis. The amount of government funding by type of sport and physical recreation service can be seen in table 14.21.
14.21 GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR ORGANISATIONS PROVIDING SPORTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION SERVICES, 2004-05 |
|
| | Funding |
| Type of sports and physical recreation service organisation | $m |
|
| Sports and physical recreation venues(a) | 157.2 |
| Sports and physical recreation administrative organisations | 188.1 |
| Sports and physical recreation clubs, teams and sports professionals | 25.2 |
| Sports and physical recreation support services | 17.1 |
| Government organisations | |
| Commonwealth, and state or territory | 735.8 |
| Local | 440.1 |
| Total | 1 175.9 |
| Total | 1 563.6 |
|
| (a) Includes health and fitness centres and gymnasia; and other sports and physical recreation venues, grounds and facilities. |
| Source: ABS Sports and Physical Recreation Services, Australia, 2004-05 (8686.0). |
Industry
Surveys of businesses and other organisations providing sport and physical recreation services were conducted by the ABS in 2004-05. At the end of June 2005 there were 8,656 private sector organisations involved in the provision of sport and physical recreation services (table 14.22). The total income of these organisations for 2004-05 was $7,342m, while total expenses were $6,959m. At the end of June 2005, total employment was 100,468 assisted by 181,832 volunteers during the month of June. Of these volunteers, 18,126 (10%) assisted non-employing organisations.
While 42% of the private-sector organisations were 'not for profit', these were mainly concentrated in sports administration, where all 1,147 organisations operated on a not-for-profit basis; and in sports clubs, where 1,824 (69%) were not for profit. The highest proportions of organisations operating for profit occurred in the categories of health and fitness centres and gymnasia (94%), and other sports services (93%).
At least 57% of the employees in sports administration, sports clubs, and horse and dog racing were male. Health and fitness centres and gymnasia had the highest level of female employment, both in absolute terms (11,362) and as a percentage of people employed (67%).
Organisations in the categories of sports administration, sports clubs and other sports services were the most likely to make use of volunteer labour. Together, they accounted for 97% of the 181,832 volunteers assisting organisations providing sports and physical recreation services. For these three categories, volunteers outnumbered employees by over three and a half to one overall. However, for the remaining three categories, employees outnumbered volunteers by nine to one overall.
The main sources of income for each category of sport and physical recreation service were:
- horse and dog racing - net industry and TAB distributions (44% of total income) and training fees (14%)
- health and fitness centres and gymnasia - membership and competition fees (79%) and casual playing fees (6.8%)
- other sports and physical recreation venues - casual playing fees (20%) and membership and competition fees (17%)
- sports administration - television and other broadcasting rights (17%) and sponsorship, fundraising and donations (16%)
- sports clubs - sponsorship, fundraising and donations (22%) and membership and competition fees (19%)
- other sports services - coaching, training and instructing (56%) and casual playing fees (16%).
14.22 SPORTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION SERVICES, 2004-05 |
|
| | | Horse and dog racing | Health and fitness centres and gymnasia | Other sports and physical recreation venues | Sports and physical recreation administration | Sports and physical recreation clubs, teams and professionals | Other sports services(a) | Total |
|
| Businesses/organisations at 30 June | | | | | | | | |
| For profit | no. | 759 | ^777 | 872 | . . | 825 | 1 774 | 5 007 |
| Not for profit | no. | 359 | 47 | 145 | 1 147 | 1 824 | ^127 | 3 649 |
| Total | no. | 1 119 | ^824 | 1 016 | 1 147 | 2 649 | 1 900 | 8 656 |
| Total employment at 30 June | | | | | | | | |
| Males | no. | 9 826 | 5 509 | 9 309 | 6 084 | 12 890 | 6 333 | 49 951 |
| Females | no. | 6 719 | 11 362 | 10 005 | 4 535 | 9 326 | 8 571 | 50 518 |
| Persons | no. | 16 544 | 16 871 | 19 314 | 10 619 | 22 216 | 14 904 | 100 468 |
| Total volunteers during the month of June | no. | 3 457 | ^343 | ^2 031 | ^65 131 | 54 342 | 56 527 | 181 832 |
| Total income(b) | $m | 1 556.3 | 679.4 | 1 109.8 | 1 531.0 | 1 884.1 | 582.0 | 7 342.6 |
| Total expenses | $m | 1 515.5 | 649.4 | 1 020.3 | 1 461.7 | 1 815.1 | 496.6 | 6 958.7 |
| Operating profit/surplus before tax(b)(c) | $m | ^41.3 | ^30.3 | 90.1 | ^70.9 | 70.6 | ^85.7 | 388.8 |
|
| ^ estimate has a relative standard error of 10% to less than 25% and should be used with caution |
| . . not applicable |
| (a) Includes sports services such as education and coaching. |
| (b) Includes capital funding. |
| (c) This item is derived as total income minus total expenses, plus closing inventories minus opening inventories. |
| Source: ABS Sports and Physical Recreation Services, Australia, 2004-05 (8686.0). |
Employment and other involvement
The 2006 Census of Population and Housing provides information on the number and characteristics of people aged 15 years and over whose main job in the week prior to the Census was in a sport and physical recreation occupation. People who had unpaid involvement in sport and physical recreation activities and people who worked in sport and physical recreation as a 'second job' were not recorded as being in sport and physical recreation occupations, unless their main job (in terms of hours worked) was also a sport and physical recreation occupation.
The 2006 Census found that in August 2006, 75,155 persons (0.7% of all employed persons) had their main (paid) job in a sport and physical recreation occupation. This is a 22% increase from the 2001 Census when 61,818 persons (0.7%) had their main job in a sport and physical recreation occupation, and compares with a 9.7% increase for all occupations.
Of those employed in a sport and physical recreation occupation in August 2006, fitness instructors (13,799 persons) and greenkeepers (12,137 persons) were prominent (table 14.23). There were more males (44,443 or 59%) than females (30,712 or 41%) employed in sport and physical recreation occupations. By comparison, of all employed persons, 54% were male.
14.23 Persons employed in selected sports and physical recreation occupations(a) - 2006 |
|
| Occupation | Males | Females | Persons |
|
| Fitness instructor | 5 075 | 8 724 | 13 799 |
| Greenkeeper | 11 816 | 321 | 12 137 |
| Swimming coach or instructor | 1 607 | 5 978 | 7 585 |
| Stablehand | 1 613 | 2 267 | 3 880 |
| Other sports coach or instructor | 2 529 | 932 | 3 461 |
| Sports centre manager | 2 071 | 1 336 | 3 407 |
| Horse trainer | 1 967 | 797 | 2 764 |
| Lifeguard | 1 687 | 907 | 2 594 |
| Sports umpire | 1 804 | 579 | 2 383 |
| Tennis coach | 1 677 | 468 | 2 145 |
|
| (a) The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations was used for the collection of ABS occupation data. |
| Source: ABS Employment in Sport and Recreation, Australia, August 2006 (4148.0). |
The ABS conducted a household survey in April 2007 to measure people's involvement in organised sport and physical activities over the previous 12 months. In the year ended April 2007, 4.5 million people (27% of all people aged 15 years and over) were involved in sport and physical activity organised by a club, association or other organisation (table 14.24). This involvement included not only players and participants, but also people involved in non-playing roles that support, arrange and/or run organised sport and physical activity. There were 1.6 million people (9.9% of all people aged 15 years and over) who were involved as coaches, referees, scorers, administrators or in other non-playing roles.
Of the 4.5 million people involved in organised sport and physical activity, 22% were both a player and involved in at least one non-playing role. Of the 1.6 million people with non-playing involvement, 40% participated in more than one non-playing role. In all, these 1.6 million people had 2.6 million involvements in non-playing roles in the 12 months prior to interview.
Of the 3.8 million players, 3.0% received some payment (in dollars and/or goods and services) for their involvement and, of the 1.6 million non-playing involvements, 16% attracted some payment (table 14.24). These data, and the figures in table 14.22, indicate how heavily reliant sport organisations are on the support of unpaid helpers.
14.24 PERSONS INVOLVED IN ORGANISED SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY |
|
| | Some paid
involvement
| | Unpaid involvement
only(a)
| | Total involvements
| | Participation rate(b)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2004 | 2007 | | 2004 | 2007 | | 2004 | 2007 | | 2004 | 2007 |
| | '000 | '000 | | '000 | '000 | | '000 | '000 | | % | % |
|
| Playing | 87.7 | 114.7 | | 3 580.5 | 3 700.3 | | 3 668.2 | 3 815.0 | | 23.4 | 23.4 |
| Non-playing involvement | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Coach, instructor, teacher | 122.1 | 145.1 | | 472.3 | 513.4 | | 594.5 | 658.5 | | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| Referee or umpire | 78.6 | 81.8 | | 256.8 | 299.4 | | 335.4 | 381.2 | | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Committee member or administrator | 21.6 | 41.0 | | 552.8 | 641.6 | | 574.4 | 682.6 | | 3.7 | 4.2 |
| Scorer or timekeeper | 16.7 | 26.6 | | 496.3 | 589.2 | | 513.0 | 615.8 | | 3.3 | 3.8 |
| Medical support and other involvement | 14.1 | 18.4 | | 90.4 | 159.8 | | 104.5 | 178.2 | | 0.7 | 1.1 |
| Other involvement | 14.0 | 16.6 | | 113.9 | 79.0 | | 127.9 | 95.6 | | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Total persons with non-playing involvement(c) | 247.4 | 265.9 | | 1 250.1 | 1 467.7 | | 1 497.5 | 1 621.4 | | 9.6 | 9.9 |
| Total persons involved(d) | 297.9 | 348.7 | | 3 971.9 | 4 306.9 | | 4 269.8 | 4 455.4 | | 27.2 | 27.3 |
|
| (a) Includes those who did not know whether they would be paid for their involvement. |
| (b) The total number of persons involved in organised sport and physical activity, expressed as a percentage of the population in the same group. |
| (c) Components do not add to total as some persons were involved in more than one non-playing role. |
| (d) Components do not add to total as some persons were involved in both playing and non-playing roles. |
| Source: ABS Involvement in Organised Sport and Physical Activity, Australia, April 2007 (6285.0). |
A household survey, conducted by the ABS during March to July 2006, collected information on the types of organisations, clubs and associations to which people provided unpaid help in the form of time, services or skills (volunteers). The survey found that just over a third (34%) of Australians aged 18 years and over (5.2 million people) undertook some form of voluntary work in the 12 months prior to interview in 2006 (table 14.25). Sport and physical recreation organisations had the largest number of volunteers at 1.7 million, giving a volunteer rate of 11%. Although the overall volunteer rate for females (36%) was higher than for males (32%), the reverse was true for sport and physical recreation organisations with the male volunteer rate being 14% and the female 8.7%. The peak age group for volunteering for sport and physical recreation organisations was 35 to 44 year olds with a volunteer rate of 17%.
14.25 Sport and physical recreation and other volunteers, By age and sex - 2006 |
|
| Sport & physical recreation organisation(s) only | Sport & physical recreation and other organisation(s) | Total sport & physical recreation organisation(s) | Other organisations only | Total volunteers | Not a volunteer | Total Persons aged 18 years & over |
VOLUNTEERS ('000) |
|
| Male | 672.9 | 366.9 | 1 039.9 | 1 365.3 | 2 405.2 | 5 148.1 | 7 553.3 |
| Female | 294.8 | 378.1 | 672.9 | 2 148.4 | 2 821.3 | 4 932.5 | 7 753.8 |
VOLUNTEERS ('000) |
|
| Male | 8.9 | 4.9 | 13.8 | 18.1 | 31.8 | 68.2 | 100.0 |
| Female | 3.8 | 4.9 | 8.7 | 27.7 | 36.4 | 63.6 | 100.0 |
VOLUNTEERS ('000) |
|
| Age group (years) | | | | | | | |
| 18-24 | 147.5 | 62.8 | 210.3 | 364.0 | 574.3 | 1 365.8 | 1 940.1 |
| 25-34 | 167.9 | 112.7 | 280.6 | 578.3 | 858.9 | 1 950.3 | 2 809.2 |
| 35-44 | 241.0 | 269.4 | 510.4 | 764.7 | 1 275.1 | 1 713.2 | 2 988.3 |
| 45-54 | 251.9 | 172.4 | 424.2 | 677.4 | 1 101.6 | 1 698.6 | 2 800.2 |
| 55-64 | 90.5 | 79.1 | 169.6 | 556.8 | 726.4 | 1 512.9 | 2 239.3 |
| 65 & over | 68.9 | 48.7 | 117.6 | 572.8 | 690.4 | 1 839.5 | 2 529.9 |
| Total | 967.7 | 745.1 | 1 712.8 | 3 513.7 | 5 226.5 | 10 080.6 | 15 307.1 |
VOLUNTEERS ('000) |
|
| 18-24 | 7.6 | 3.2 | 10.8 | 18.8 | 29.6 | 70.4 | 100.0 |
| 25-34 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 10.0 | 20.6 | 30.6 | 69.4 | 100.0 |
| 35-44 | 8.1 | 9.0 | 17.1 | 25.6 | 42.7 | 57.3 | 100.0 |
| 45-54 | 9.0 | 6.2 | 15.1 | 24.2 | 39.3 | 60.7 | 100.0 |
| 55-64 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 7.6 | 24.9 | 32.4 | 67.6 | 100.0 |
| 65 & over | 2.7 | 1.9 | 4.6 | 22.6 | 27.3 | 72.7 | 100.0 |
| Total | 6.3 | 4.9 | 11.2 | 23.0 | 34.1 | 65.9 | 100.0 |
|
| Source: ABS data available on request, General Social Survey. |
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