Vicsport's Member Survey Report - The State of Sport

Thanks to our members who responded to our annual survey, Vicsport has compiled a State of Sport Report, the first of an ongoing series. The Report provides insights and data focusing on the areas of strength, concern and growth from around the Victorian sport and recreation industry.

Covering the 2024-25 financial year, insights point to where sector-wide coordination can have the biggest impact while key issues that have become time critical include strengthening infrastructure and volunteer systems, scaling new participation-retention strategies and the adoption of technology.

Other notable results include:

• 47% of respondents stated ‘Volunteers’ is the biggest gap in workforce capability and there was mixed confidence in the ability of organisations to recruit and retain volunteers.
• 37% of members surveyed noted they also require assistance in fundraising and sponsorship acquisition, 33% selected leadership and culture development and 30% said digital capability.
• More positively, 45% of organisations recorded an increase in participation through 2024-25.
• 25% recorded an improvement in retention and a further 63% were stable in their retention numbers.

REPORT ON VICSPORT

The survey also included data on Vicsport’s performance, with an overall member satisfaction rating of 7.8/10. Areas of research that would be most valuable for Vicsport to pursue in the next two years included workforce trends, the Value of Sport and youth participation trends.

Research conducted by the Parliament of Victoria in 2025 found 85.4% of Victorian adults participate in community sport and active recreation but the proportion that are involved in ‘organised sport’ is being challenged.

As evidenced through the results in this Report, guidance is required in order to reach our vision of a thriving Victorian sport industry that is well resourced, well governed, innovative and inclusive.

Vicsport is here to support our members to be the best they can be by helping to provide opportunities for sport and recreation to play a role in the lives of all Victorians.

Access the Report here.