Industry Development - Industry Structure

How is the industry structured?

Not for profit sector:

• Nationally there are peak bodies for each sport and many recreation activities. Some of these are further aligned with international organisations, and in some cases with third parties like the International Olympic Commission.
  
• States generally have their own State Association, responsible for the conduct of the sport or activity in the state. Many of these are tied to national bodies.
  
• The community recreation area is more likely to have ‘stand alone’ type agencies at this level, for example ‘Active Ageing’ trains activity providers and promotes recreation opportunities to a specific population group. It does not have a network of clubs and affiliates throughout the state.
  
• Local Clubs are the most identifiable aspect of the structure. The delivery of activity occurs primarily at this level, and this is where the majority of risk sits as well. These clubs are tied into the national structure through affiliation with State and National bodies.

For profit sector:
There is an increasing ‘for profit’ section in the industry, mainly in the fitness sector, but increasingly in the other three sectors.

As a rule the ‘for profit’ groups are independent operators, although the trend is towards franchising (eg Body Workshops, Indoor Cricket Arenas).

There is also an increase in national groups (eg Zest Fitness), and there are some multi national groups now moving into the industry, such as the David Lloyd group, which operates the New Generation Fitness Centre.

There is also another grouping based around the provision of recreation and sport infrastructure, eg the retail sector, facility design and building, equipment design and manufacture and travel services.