Ashburton College
Recreation Co-ordinator Kaiwhakarite Hākinakina
Recreation co-ordinators plan and run community leisure, before and after-school and sport programmes at venues such as recreation centres, parks, clubs and schools.
Recreation co-ordinators may do some or all of the following:
- plan and co-ordinate recreation programmes and events, social sports, competitions, and before-school, after-school and school holiday programmes
- work with the community to design and develop recreation projects
- prepare budgets and write reports and proposals
- hire, train and supervise volunteers and staff
- advise councils and commissions on recreation planning and policies
- advise and assist community groups to develop recreation programmes and events.
Physical Requirements
Recreation co-ordinators need to have a good level of physical fitness and must be strong enough to move equipment.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for recreation co-ordinators includes:
- teaching
- coaching a sport
- involvement in recreational activities or hobbies
- an interest or participation in sport.
Personal Qualities
Recreation co-ordinators need to be:
- enthusiastic and patient
- mature and responsible
- good communicators
- good leaders and able to motivate others
- able to get on with a wide range of people
- well organised, with planning and project management skills
- able to work well under pressure to meet deadlines.
Skills
Recreation co-ordinators need to have:
- knowledge of different leisure, sports and recreation activities
- knowledge of hazard management, and health and safety planning skills
- a love of recreation and sport
- budgeting, business management and marketing skills.
Conditions
Recreation co-ordinators:
- may work regular office hours, mornings or evenings, or weekends at events
- work in offices, churches, community halls or at sports grounds
- travel to different recreation centres, sports fields, schools and marae.
Subject Recommendations
There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a recreation co-ordinator. However, physical education, English and maths are useful.
Recreation Co-ordinators can earn around $48K-$57K per year.
Pay for recreation co-ordinators varies depending on qualifications, experience, responsibilities and where they work.
- New sports co-ordinators working in schools usually earn between minimum wage and $54,000 a year.
- Experienced sports co-ordinators with additional responsibilities can from $54,000 to $70,000.
- New recreation co-ordinators working at councils, universities or polytechnics usually earn between minimum wage and $57,000.
- Senior recreation co-ordinators and programme managers can earn from $60,000 to $83,000.
Recreation co-ordinators employed on a casual basis usually earn between minimum wage and $30 an hour.
Sources: NZEI Te Rui Roa and E tū, 'Support Staff in Schools' Collective Agreement', 2018; Victoria University 'General Staff Collective Agreement', 2018.
Recreation co-ordinators may progress to set up their own out of school programmes or buy into out of school care franchises, or move into events or facility management roles.
Recreation co-ordinators can also progress into recreation policy planning or community development adviser roles in local government.
Years Of Training
There are no specific requirements to become a recreation co-ordinator. However, a certificate or diploma in leisure studies, physical education, sports administration or community recreation may be useful. Many local governments prefer recreation co-ordinators to have a Bachelor's degree.
Most employers prefer you to have a driver's licence and First Aid Certificate.
The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children.
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