Workforce and volunteers

In Victoria, there is a high reliance on volunteers in community sport. In 2024, over 89% of the community sport workforce identified as volunteers. For more, see AusPlay.

Strategies and research

We work with partners like the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), Australian Sports Commission, and Volunteering Victoria on community sport workforce research, strategy and policy.

• Active Victoria 2022-2026.
• Read the Victorian Volunteer Strategy 2022-2027 on the DFFH website.
• Read State of Volunteering in Victoria on the Volunteering Victoria website.
• Visit Clearing house for sport to see AusPlay data.
• Visit the Australian Sports Commission website to learn about the Sport Volunteer Coalition.

Resources

We have resources available to help sport and active recreation organisations to support volunteers and paid professional staff in the workforce:

• Steps to Recruit and Retain Women Officials
• Enhancing Participation Pathways for Women Officials
• Enhancing participation Pathways for Women Coaches in Community Sport
• The volunteer capacity of community sports clubs to support women and girls in sport.

We support Vicsport to develop resources that help with volunteer management. For more information see the sport volunteers section of the Vicsport website.

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has resources for volunteers and those who lead or support volunteers in sport. For more information see the volunteering section of the ASC website.

Program success stories

Through the Strengthening Regional Community Sport program and the Sustainable Volunteer Workforce Program, volunteers, participants and paid professionals are being supported to deliver activities in regional Victoria.

The stories are showcased below.

Golf Australia

Golf Australia is delivering a program to improve governance in golf clubs and to develop a recognition/retention program for volunteer committee members. They are currently delivering into the council areas of Central Goldfields, Greater Shepparton, Hindmarsh, Mildura, Swan Hill, Latrobe, East Gippsland, Ballarat, and Wangaratta.

Read Helping regional golf administrators lead like pros.

GippSport

GippSport has created a subsidised a sport administration hub initially in Drouin (Baw Baw) and they are planning to expand the hub to other council areas in 2026.

Read Helping hand for our Gippsland volunteers.

Hockey Victoria

Hockey Victoria is building sustainability for hockey in the Surf Coast by working with the key local stakeholders. A change management process will be delivered to assist clubs to capitialise on future growth opportunities in the area, including how to get the best out of Torquay’s new state of the art pitch.

Read Giving Surf Coast hockey more stick.

South West Sport

South West Sport is supporting clubs and volunteers with club strategic/action plans, volunteer management plans, and social media campaigns. They are developing a new leader program and new digital resources. Clubs involved in the project are located in the areas of Corangamite, Glenelg, Moyne, Southern Grampians, and Warrnambool.

Read Finding extra time for South West football volunteers.

Current programs

The Sporting Club Grants Program

The Sporting Club Grants Program helps grassroots clubs and organisations address barriers in participation, develop safe and sustainable practices and build social and active local communities. Support includes assisting organisations strengthen safe and sustainable practices by investing in governance and volunteer training.

Strengthening Regional Community Sport

The Strengthening Regional Community Sport program supports the delivery of local, ‘place based’, strategic projects that help to increase participation on and off the sporting field.

Sustainable Volunteer Workforce Program

The Sustainable Volunteer Workforce program supports initiatives that aim to build a sustainable volunteer workforce and support volunteer engagement/retention and find better ways to support the workforce to deliver sport and active recreation in regional Victoria.

Regional All Abilities Grant Program

The Regional All Abilities Participation Grants Program supports grassroots sport and active recreation clubs and community-based not-for-profit organisations, to enable ongoing, sustainable, and meaningful participation for people with disability in regional Victoria.

All Abilities Workforce and Sector Support Program

The All Abilities Workforce and Sector Support Program aims to grow, educate and upskill the sport and active recreation workforce and provide more opportunities for people with disability to participate in sport and active recreation, including paid and volunteer roles in regional Victoria.

Level the Field

The Level the Field Program provides support for more people with disability to join the sport and recreation workforce in paid and volunteer roles in regional Victoria. Level the Field is delivered by Leisure Networks in partnership with the Victorian Government. The program is designed to remove barriers, strengthen workforce capability and embed long-term inclusive workforce practices.

Together More Active

Together More Active provides grants to support organisations to increase participation in sport and active recreation, build a skilled workforce and a develop a safe, inclusive and resilient sector.