Young people are the future of sport and recreation in Western Australia, so make sure you don’t miss out on one of the many opportunities available to help you become an important part of the industry.
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.
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.
Whether you volunteer on your own or with family or friends, you'll have fun, make new friends and contribute to your community. There are literally hundreds of sport and recreation opportunities in WA available to people wanting to get involved in a club – but not necessarily by playing sport. Find out more by visiting the Volunteering WA website.
If you are a young athlete living in regional WA and have been identified as having potential to reach state or national selection, you can apply for a Country Athlete Scholarship to assist with your development. This can support you to attend training sessions, state and national team selections, state and national competitions and special coaching sessions.
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
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!
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:
Remember, there are many ways to get in touch with a host agency:
Be proactive! Good luck!
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.
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
Visit the department’s safety and integrity section for more information about child safe environments and child protection in sport and recreation.
Sport and recreation activities must be attractive to young people.
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 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.
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.