Workforce planning

Effective workforce planning of your volunteers and paid staff starts with strong leadership of your Board or Committee of Management.

Typically, the office bearers and the club Board or Committee of Management are responsible for running your club.  

Office bearers, coaches, officials, and other volunteers need position statements and ongoing support, such as induction processes, training opportunities, and recognition process.

If you understand your club’s workforce, the number of people and variety of skills required for the various roles, you are better placed to achieve your club’s desired outcomes.

Workforce planning is about ensuring you have:

• Consulted with your parent affiliate body such as your national, state or district/regional sporting association
• Identify the right people
  • for the right roles
  • for the right time
  • who have the right skills for the role/position, and
  • at the right cost. 
• Seek out people who reflect the behaviours and attitudes the club desires.

As with any planning process you should apply these best practice principles to your workforce plan:

• identify and recruit key people within the club to assist you with the workforce plan
• evaluate the current situation (current workforce breakdown – positions and their roles, people occupying those positions, current gaps)
• what you will need in the future (workforce breakdown that will achieve the desired outcomes of the club)
• identify the gaps that exist between what you need and what you have
• develop a recruitment strategy to fill the gaps

Successful clubs are run by enthusiastic and knowledgeable people, who contribute and feel valued.

More information

Contact your state or national body for their assistance in developing a workforce plan for your club.

• Sport Australia – club development resources 
• The Clearinghouse for Sport connects sports people to a world of ideas, experience and knowledge.