The Sport Volunteer Coalition Action Plan, developed by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and a team of experts, outlines a new approach that will foster positive, safe and fulfilling experiences for sport volunteers.
The four-year Action Plan is part of the ASC’s renewed focus on sport volunteering following the significant impact COVID-19 had on the sector in 2020 and 2021.
Recent data indicates that sport has lost over 100,000 volunteers in the past few years and that the volunteers that remain are often undertaking more than three roles, risking burnout.
The Action Plan will be delivered against four key pillars:
- Celebrate: Communicate the broad value of sport volunteering through powerful storytelling
- Empower: support and connect volunteers in sport
- Reimagine: support the sector to re-design the sport volunteering experience
- Innovate: drive and stimulate innovation in sport volunteering
- Minister for Sport, The Hon Anika Wells knows firsthand the invaluable role this cohort plays.
Minister Wells co-founded the Chermside parkrun event with close friend Mark Huth in her electorate of Lilley in 2015.
The volunteer-run activity has grown year on year, recently celebrating its seventh anniversary.
“Without volunteers freely contributing their time and knowledge, sport in Australia wouldn’t exist,” Minister Wells said.
“The contribution that volunteers make to the sporting ecosystem in Australia benefits not only participants but also their families and our local communities.
“The Sport Volunteer Coalition Action Plan has a focus on supporting, celebrating and attracting more volunteers which will be central to the success of the Green and Gold decade as we build towards Brisbane 2032.”
2.9 million Australians give their time without financial gain as volunteers in sport, contributing an estimated $4 billion of labour value each year but more are needed to grow sport at all levels.
