Sporting Chance At A Great Job

Sun Herald

Sunday October 14, 2007

Brendan Berecry

Qualified professionals are in demand, writes Brendan Berecry.

A LONG-HELD belief of many sports administrators is that unpaid volunteers are the backbone of Australia's sporting success.

But in recent years, growing professionalism on the field in many sports has spawned a range of professional career opportunities in athlete support and sports management.

A booming fitness industry has boosted demand for qualified gym instructors and fitness trainers.

Educational institutions have kept pace with this new landscape, with a range of degrees, diplomas and certificates covering areas, from remedial massage to sports marketing, now available.

With its Sydney Olympic Park base, the Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) campus gives its 900 students access to the Olympic facilities, while completing three- and four-year degrees in sports coaching and administration, sports business, and physical and health education.

ACPE director of marketing Michael Banks says professional sport education in Australia has gathered pace in recent years to meet heightened industry expectations.

"Since the Olympics, sport here in general has required more professionally qualified people at the upper levels rather than looking to former players who have worked their way up into management positions without formal qualifications," he said.

Banks pointed specifically to the increasingly specialised employment requirements of large sporting organisations such as the NRL, Cricket NSW and Swimming Australia.

TAFE NSW Northern Sydney Institute Sport and Recreation head teacher Andrew Hill said a push for professionally qualified sport support specialists in areas such as strength and conditioning training was coming from many levels.

"Sporting clubs are now more willing to pay for professional support in these areas now," he said.

"And there has also been a push from the Australian Sports Commission to get coaches more professionally qualified across a wider range of skills."

Hill said the diploma of athlete support offered by TAFE NSW over 18months full-time with a strength and conditioning specialisation was a highly marketable qualification to meet new industry expectations.

"With a further six months study on top, students can complete a double diploma by adding a diploma in fitness," he said.

Nature Care College at St Leonards offers a diploma in remedial massage and a diploma in sport (athlete support services) for those looking for sport support qualifications.

Lecturer Kira Sutherland said the diploma of sport focuses on sport support specifically.

"It is still a massage diploma but has classes such as sports massage, sports management, sports psychology and sports nutrition and gives a well-rounded look at how to work and support athletes," she said.

"The diploma of sport also has a component of hours that you can do externally in areas like massage for events such as the Sydney marathon."

Sutherland said Nature Care graduates with these qualifications are finding employment in many areas.

"It tends to be in self-employed or contracted roles," she said.

"Some set up a massage practice at home, others work in bigger clinics that have many practitioners, others will work with sports teams at their venues," she said.

The Australasian College of Natural Therapies at Surry Hills also offers diplomas in the areas of sport (athlete support services), remedial massage and fitness.

© 2007 Sun Herald

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