How funding for community sport affects participation

Community sport is a refuge for many Australians; it provides an outlet for people to engage in physical activity during the work week. For many, it’s also an opportunity to socialise.  

However, in recent times – most notably when community sport returned after COVID-19 lockdowns participation costs have gone through the roof which has led to a decrease in participation.  

Dr Adam Karg, Professor of Sport Management at Deakin University explains the process involved behind the costs and funding of community sport. 

Why is community sport important? 

No matter what, when or how you play, the benefits of participating in community sport are clear.  ‘Community sport presents a critical foundation for physical, social and mental health benefits – and importantly and uniquely, provides a platform to deliver them across wide ranges of age groups and cultural backgrounds,’ says Dr Karg. 

When done well, in addition to the key physical activity benefits, community sport brings people together, helps fosters inclusivity, and develops skills beyond sport, such as leadership and teamwork. 

Importantly, it also helps us create social connection and a local identity or a sense of community, not only for those who play the sport, but between and across volunteers, parents, coaches and those who support community teams. 

So essentially, community sport is important for the overall health of the community. 

Community sports funding: how it works 

Funding for community sport typically comes from both government investment and state and local council grants. Organisations like Sport and Recreation Victoria also play key roles in supporting infrastructure and participation initiatives.  

In addition to this funding, clubs develop their own revenue streams – for example, via participation and membership fees, sponsorships and partnerships with local businesses, fundraising, and sales from concessions and merchandise. All of these avenues contribute to the revenue of community clubs. 

How community sports grants and sponsorships keep things moving 

Critically, sport clubs need to generate revenue from a wide range of streams to cover essential costs, invest in programs that drive participation, and ensure long-term sustainability.  

Dr Karg says relationships are essential for providing a strong foundation to community sport. 

‘Good relationships with local government, strong and engaged volunteer bases and providing great experiences for members and participants are critical components of success. Each of these helps directly and indirectly contribute to club revenue and strong community impact. 

These, in turn, help strengthen the business case to attract more investment from government funding to support, sustain and grow community clubs,’ he explains. 

Community sports infrastructure requirements  

Dr Karg explains the infrastructure requirements of community sport aren’t always simple; consistent maintenance across a range of facilities is usually required. 

The infrastructure for sport is complex and multifaceted. Visibly, community sport requires well-maintained facilities, such as playing fields, courts, clubhouses, and change rooms, as well as lighting, parking, and accessibility features.  

With growing demand, investment in multi-use, sustainable, and inclusive facilities is increasingly important. However, as well as physical facilities, social infrastructure components like policy, programs and people are important to ensure positive outcomes from sport. 

How does government funding for sport affect participation 

When it comes to the funding of community sport, Dr Karg says it often comes down to the financial stability of the club or /association. This financial stability – or lack thereof –then determines the cost for that particular   sport. If the government can assist with grants, this will reduce the running costs for participants. 

‘There is often a relationship between revenue or funding of a club or sport and affordability for participants. When clubs receive grants and subsidies, they can reduce fees, making sport more accessible.  

This is not just related to government funding or the clubs’ own revenue, though. Here, the extent to which ‘top-down’ funding is provided – from national and state governing bodies to community clubs who host the community sport – also impacts costs and participation rates,’ he explains. 

The leading community sports programs and initiatives in Victoria  

There are a number of community sports programs and initiatives supported by the Victorian government, including: 

• Get Active Victoria – Victoria’s flagship physical activity initiative promoting the incorporation of physical activity into your day-to-day life. These include home workouts, games and challenges. 

• Access for all abilities – A Victorian Government program supporting inclusivity in sport and recreation for people with disabilities. This initiative makes it easy for people with disabilities to get involved in sports they love! 

• Aboriginal Sport Participation – This grant program provides Aboriginal Victorians with the opportunity to participate in Aboriginal sporting carnivals, as well as supporting the purchase of uniforms and equipment. 

• VICSWIM – VICSWIM is a government initiative promoting the focus of learning how to swim and critical water skills. 

Community sport is one of the best ways to stay fit, social and enhance your mental health. You can shoot hoops, kick goals or serve an ace, which will it be?