Community clubs worth $1.8 billion to Queensland
Posted by editor (editor) on Aug 12 2009
2009 >>

The first study in ten years of Queensland’s not-for-profit community clubs has revealed the industry is worth at least $1.8 billion to Queensland communities, the Minister responsible for Liquor Licensing and Gaming Peter Lawlor said today.

The Social and Economic Impact Study (SEIS) undertaken throughout Queensland in 2008-09 by research consultancy Dickson Wohlsen strategies and independently reviewed by BDO Kendalls revealed how much clubs reinvest into Queensland in just one year.

“While these Clubs Queensland figures are impressive they are not surprising,” Mr Lawlor said.

"Everyone knows how important local community and sporting groups are to Queensland.

“The club industry not only contributes to Queensland economically by employing 26,900 people but also contributes significantly to the quality of life of Queensland communities through their sporting and recreation activities.

“On average every club provides $711,000 a year in economic benefit to their community – they are without a doubt the heartbeat of many communities.”

The last study was undertaken in 1999 by KPMG, but was not as comprehensive as the latest research project.

Clubs Queensland’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Doug Flockhart, said the survey required clubs of all sizes to compile information about their employed staff, volunteer hours, assets, supplier contracts, and donations to charity and community organisations.

“These results were very surprising, having never been fully tallied before, they clearly show that without our community clubs providing major assets like sporting fields, dressing sheds, bowling greens, golf courses, cenotaphs and memorials – on top of thousands of jobs, volunteers, entertainment, services and donations – Queenslanders would be poorer in many ways; culturally, socially and economically,” Mr Flockhart said.

Queensland has almost 1000 licensed, not-for-profit community clubs, including surf lifesaving, RSL and Services, football, golf, bowling and cultural interest clubs. Clubs service more than 3.5 million members, equating in real terms to one club membership for every 1.3 people in Queensland. The largest club has over 50,000 members and the smallest club just 44 members.

Some key findings of the study include:

• In 2008 alone, 4.83 million hours in unpaid labour were provided by volunteers within the community club sector.

• Volunteers' input to the maintenance of sporting fields, coaching of teams and the attendance to administrative functions is valued at $103.97 million of labour input – equal to 2,998 full time equivalent jobs.

• Community clubs paid $480 million in 2008 in net wages and superannuation and directly employed 26,900 staff.

• A further 3,400 contractors are engaged to work within community clubs.

• The total estimated value of these direct community and economic benefits in 2008 was $668million; or more than $711,000 for every community club.

“Essentially, this study has revealed the significance of the contribution of clubs in providing and maintaining these community assets that governments could simply not afford to create nor replace,” Mr Flockhart said.

“The results of the SEIS clearly illustrates that Queensland’s clubs are the very hearts of their local communities and begs the question – where would Queensland be without its clubs?”

Last changed: Oct 06 2009 at 4:05 PM