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Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials

Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials coach, train and instruct participants in sports, and officiate at sporting events.

Sport & recreationLicensed workANZSCO 4523
$1,442/wkMedian full-time pay
66kPeople employed
+12% ▲Growth to 2035
21%Work full time
21Median age
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 4523.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.

coaching, training and instructing sportspersons by analysing performances and developing abilitiesplanning and directing game strategies, developing play patterns and analysing game progressmotivating sportspersons and supervising practice sessionsrecruiting players and other coaching staffarranging entries into sporting competitionspromoting sports and skills development, and overseeing the participation of young people in sport
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 4523 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 7,100 more people in sports coaches, instructors and officials by 2035 ▲

The field grew 8.5% in the year to February 2026, adding about 5,200 workers. Most of the jobs are in VIC and NSW, with QLD third.

Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 4523.More about our sources: How we check our facts
58.8k2025
62.2k2030 PROJ.
65.9k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

There is no single way in. 18% trained through VET, 19% hold a degree.

Both paths are common in this field. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.

Source: JSA · training.gov.auEducation split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 4523. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our facts

Nationally recognised training · most offered first

SIS30321Certificate III

Certificate III in Fitness

Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package.

See 71 providers
SIS20321Certificate II

Certificate II in Sport Coaching

Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package.

See 23 providers
SIS30122Certificate III

Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation

Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package.

See 23 providers

Licensed work: several of these courses lead to work that also needs a state or territory licence. Training is the first step; licensing rules are set by each state.

See all 12 mapped courses
SIS30321Certificate III in Fitness · 71 providers
SIS20321Certificate II in Sport Coaching · 23 providers
SIS30122Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation · 23 providers
SIS50321Diploma of Sport · 23 providers
SIS30521Certificate III in Sport Coaching · 21 providers
SIS40321Certificate IV in Sport Coaching · 4 providers
SIS40421Certificate IV in Sport Development · 3 providers
RGR30419Certificate III in Racing Services · 2 providers
11096NATCertificate IV in Elite Athlete Wellbeing Management · 2 providers
11253NATCertificate III in Therapeutic Equine Programs for People with Disabilities · 1 provider
RGR40518Certificate IV in Racing Integrity · 0 providers
RGR50218Diploma of Racing Integrity Management · 0 providers

Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.

Jobs open right now

66k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

Each link opens seek.com.au in a new tab, showing ads posted in the last month. SEEK is a job site; we link there because that is where most Australian jobs are advertised. We have no commercial relationship with SEEK.

Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 4523.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

VIC18.8k
NSW18.1k
QLD9.6k
WA6.1k
SA2.9k
ACT1.3k
TAS0.6k
NT0.2k

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