Parents, teachers and clubs are responsible for educating, supporting and influencing young people to participate in sport and recreation activities and the Department has created a number of resources to achieve these outcomes.

Why you should be involved

Did you know that by participating in sport and recreation you are more likely to actually enjoy school? Not only will you do better academically, you can also improve your physical and mental well-being, increase your self-esteem, meet new people and help create stronger communities.

Sport and recreation isn’t just for elite athletes.  Whether you participate in individual or social activities, volunteering, officiating or coaching, the industry can’t survive without your involvement.  There’s also a wide variety of jobs available within the industry, so get involved today.

Financial assistance

KidSport enables Western Australian children to participate in community sport and recreation, no matter their financial circumstances. Eligible youth aged 5–18 years can apply for financial assistance to contribute towards club fees and these will go directly to the registered KidSport clubs through their participating local government.

While the primary objective of KidSport is to ensure all Western Australian children can participate in sport and recreation clubs, its secondary objective is to engage these children and their families in the community.

KidSport Find a KidSport club

Working in the industry

I don’t want to be a coach or physio, so what other types of jobs are available? What do employers look for in prospective employees? What skills do they seek? How do I make attractive Curriculum Vitae? How do I handle a job interview? 

For answers to these questions and more, please see the links below that will help you land your dream job!

• Careers in sport and recreation
• Industry selection criteria
• Ace the interview
• Career Advice Australia website
• Dare to dream – win your dream job
• Ready, Set, Grow – looking for the ultimate career
• Style Matters – dress for success

How do I get practical experience?

The sport and recreation industry is extremely competitive, so it’s important to gain as much practical experience as possible while you are studying. Not only does it look great on your CV, it provides you with the skills and contacts within the industry that can't be gained in a formal setting.

The Department has provided a few contacts to help you start finding opportunities that exist in the industry, as well as discover organisations you can volunteer at to increase your knowledge and skills. When contacting the employers listed, it is important to:

• Send an email saying who you are, that you are interested in possible work experience opportunities, and why you are interested in working there.
• A Resume or CV should be attached. (If you know them directly, contact them by phone).
• If they have not replied within a week, it is vital to give them a follow-up call.

Remember, there are many ways to get in touch with a host agency:

• Telephone
• Email
• Personal Visit
• Visit their website

Be proactive! Good luck!

Parents

As a parent, you play a key role in creating healthy environments for your children, including the demonstration of positive and acceptable behaviours in sport and recreation.

Participation in sport and physical activity is key to the health and development of children and youth, and provides the foundation for a healthy lifestyle.  However, without parental encouragement and your willingness to be involved at various levels, they may not receive enough exposure to activities that can enhance their lives, both in the short and long term.

Rule number 1: keep it fun

The Sport Australia website also has a number of resources available to help you encourage your children to adopt a more physically-active lifestyle.

Sport Australia

Safe environments for our kids

• Good Practices Guide
• Member protection (photographing children) guidelines
• Working with Children Legislation
• Harassment-free sport and recreation.

Visit the department’s safety and integrity section for more information about child safe environments and child protection in sport and  recreation.

Clubs

Sport and recreation activities must be attractive to young people.

Encouraging young people to participate

Clubs and associations who deliver youth activities must fully understand why young people participate in and drop out of, sport.

A number of other resources, guidelines and checklists have also been developed to help national sporting organisations, state organisations and clubs to develop their own sport-specific youth oriented policies.

Every Club Hub

Teachers

Teachers play one of the most important roles in encouraging sport and recreation participation, by introducing young people to the benefits of physical activity.

Participating in school sport is fundamental to the health and development of our children and youth. It provides the foundation for a healthy lifestyle and is associated with a range of other benefits including social interaction, increased attentiveness, confidence, health and overall wellbeing.

Recreation camps

The department provides four fantastic recreational camps situated around the greater Perth area that offer schools and organisations the ideal location for conferences, personal development, team building and participation in a safe and fun environment.