6285.0 - Involvement in Organised Sport and Physical Activity, Australia, Apr 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 08/02/2005   
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MEDIA RELEASE

February 8, 2005
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
15/2005
More Than One in Four Australians Involved in Organised Sport

More than one in four (27%) Australians aged 15 years and over were involved in organised sport or physical activity in the year to April 2004, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

An estimated 3.7 million people played organised sport, while 1.5 million people were involved in a support role such as a coach, referee or committee member. (Note: People could have been involved as player and in a support role and may have been involved in more than one support role).

A higher proportion of males (27%) were involved in organised sport as players than females (20%). Player participation was lower for those living in the capital cities (22%) than for those living outside the capitals (26%).

A higher proportion of males were involved in support roles compared with females (11% and 8% respectively). The proportion of the population involved in support roles (9.6%) was very similar to 2001 (9.5%).

Of the 1.5 million people in support roles:
    • One-third (33%) had two or more different support roles.
    • Just over one-third (34%) had a qualification relevant to their role. The highest proportion of people with qualifications relevant to their involvement were in a medical support role (93%).
    • More than half (54%) were associated with school or junior sport.

Overall, 7% of people were paid for their involvement in organised sport and physical activity. More than half (53%) of total payments made in the 12 months prior to April 2004, were less than $5000.

Further detail is available in Involvement in Organised Sport and Physical Activity (cat. no. 6285.0).