From the Kitchen Table to the Board Room: Changes and Challenges With Volunteering in Sporting Clubs

Without volunteers, community sporting clubs in Australia would not exist. In 2022, according to reports, sport volunteers comprised the largest volunteer sector in Australia and contributed $4 billion annually in terms of labour to the Australian national economy.

But the issues facing sporting volunteers are complex, writes author and sporting expert Kat Ingram in this Engage feature, and the volunteering landscape has changed significantly for sporting clubs. In order to thrive, Ingram writes, “they need to adapt and pivot. One of the greatest killers of any sporting club is the saying, ‘but we have always done it this way.’” In this comprehensive article on the changes and challenges within volunteering in sporting, Ingram provides a spotlight on this issue and explains what can be done to protect this important volunteering culture.