LIVERPOOL Football Club International Academy and representatives of the Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) were among a handful of career pathways presenters for year-10 students at Bishop Druitt College (BDC) last week, demonstrating how students can establish a career in the sporting industry.

The aim of career pathway education is to show students the types of professions available to them and how to craft their senior learning to prepare for a career-pathway choice.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

“While professional sportspeople and coaches are the most high profile within the sporting industry, there are hundreds of other professions that operate behind the scenes within this exciting space,” said Liverpool FC International Academy General Manager, Scott Collis.

“The sporting industry in Australia supports 128,000 full-time jobs, and annually contributes more than $14 billion towards Australia’s gross domestic product, and globally, this is expected to hit $500 billion, making it one of the fastest growing industries in the world.

“There are job opportunities out there for the upcoming generation of young professionals – and we help students to identify a great fit for them, and set them up for success to enter into this sought-after industry.”

A recent Australian industry report identified three key growth areas within the sporting industry as training and education, sports technology and media.

Liverpool FC recently played Manchester United in Bangkok in front of a global audience of millions but most people would be unaware of the 150 support staff who travelled with the squads in order to deliver the experience.

The media support group consisted of photographers, videographers, sports writers, and social media creators to share the football experience.

The logistics team facilitated everything from organising training pitches, food, football kits, transport, equipment, security and everything else a touring English Premier League squad requires.

The travelling support entourage are typically the tip of the iceberg as hundreds of support staff await at each location including TV Crews, photographers, events management, hospitality and everything else is part of the mammoth operation.

While many students aspire to play sports professionally only very few will make it, but there are many other avenues into the growing sports industry.

While men’s football is a mature, colossal industry, women’s football is growing at a phenomenal rate with crowd records being set on a daily basis at the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 currently held in England.

Women are also breaking new ground in merchandising with Australian football superstar Sam Kerr revealed as the first woman to grace the global cover of EA Sports’ FIFA 2023.

As the industry continues to boom, next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is likely to smash records and provide more opportunities.

With the Olympics heading to Australia in 2032 and a plethora of events in between it’s easy to comprehend the growth into a $500-billion industry, which will require resourcing and create career opportunities.

By David WIGLEY