Jobs in our industry exist across four sectors:
Sport
Fitness
Outdoor Recreation
Community Recreation
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.
Sports study and training can lead to employment in recreation centres, sporting associations and resorts. However, the volunteer nature of the sector means that jobs generally on a part time or casual basis.
The fitness industry is growing fast. It's partly comprised of commercial health and fitness centres (e.g. gyms) that provide a venue or service where the public can come for advice and training in a single or group environment. Fitness services are also offered to the general public by:
A number of community-based organisations also deliver fitness services. These organisations promote health and fitness in general and some cater to groups with special needs such as the aged, the disabled and injury rehabilitation.
The trend towards fitness for health and improved quality of life has seen a growing involvement by the fitness sector in allied services. These kinds of services fit under the umbrella of the community services and health industry.
The outdoor recreation sector covers all active and leisure activities occurring in natural settings. Individuals or groups participate in a range of activities from bushwalking and swimming to riskier activities like rock climbing and white-water rafting.
The sector sometimes works with disability groups, young people or corporate groups. Organisations tend to specialise in activities such as abseiling or canoeing, or operate as adventure tourism, ecotourism or holiday camps.
People employed in the Outdoor recreation sector are usually expected to have "hard" and "soft" skills. Hard skills relate to activity expertise in keeping participants safe; with soft skills relating to communication, coordination, marketing and facilitation.
This sector is defined by the community-oriented provision of recreation in a variety of settings, and the not-for-profit nature of the majority of organisations. It also includes both active and non-active leisure forms.
State and local government are generally the largest facility providers and tend to oversee these recreation services. The sector has experienced substantial growth recently, with developments in:
Jobs in our industry exist across four sectors: