WA Sports System

The following information provides background about the history of the WA Sports system.  To view the history of WA Sports Federation click here.

1939    The National Fitness Council was formed as a recommendation from the 1937 Physical Training and Recreation Act of England, promoting fitness among the population to prepare for war.

1940     The Amateur Sports Federation of WA was formed.

1940     The WA Council for Physical Fitness was formed.

1941     The National Fitness Council WA (NFCWA) was formed.  This was developed from the Provisional Council, formed in 1939, in response to Federal legislation.

1945     The WA National Fitness Act was developed under the Education Minister.

1946     The Amateur Sports Federation of WA dissolved.

1950     The Council formed a number of sub-committees to drive the fitness agenda, one being the Associated Sporting Committee (the first version of the WA Sports Federation). 

This included seventeen sport organisations including: Amateur Athletics, Women's Athletics, Basketball, Women's Basketball (Netball), Cricket, Cycling, Football, Hockey, Women's Hockey, Lacrosse, Polo, Rowing, Rugby Union, School Sport, Squash Racquets, Swimming and Tennis.  Other sports joined in 1950 including Badminton, Rugby League, Soccer and Softball.

1956     The introduction of WA Sportsman of the Year.

1960     The word 'Amateur' was replaced with 'Approved' in reference to sports being eligible for membership of the Approved Sports Federation.

1962     The Award of Merit was introduced with Max White being the first recipient.

1972     The Youth, Community Recreation and National Fitness Act abolished the 1945 Act and the 1962 Youth Service Act. The NFCWA became the Community Recreation Council (CRC) under a new recreation portfolio and the Hon. TD Evans became the first Minister for Recreation.

1976     The Western Australian Sports Federation (WASF) was formed, an industry body with sixty-eight members.  There were other peak bodies involved with the WASF Executive including:

• ACHPER
• Olympic Games/Commonwealth Games
• Sports Medicine
• Sports Science

The Australian Institute of Sport was introduced in the early seventies, in response to Australia's performance at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

1978     CRC became the Department for Youth Sport and Recreation (YSR) under the Public Service Act and the formal authority of the Minister for YSR.
This move had an impact on physical education in the state school system and the development of junior community sport.

1982     The introduction of Sports Instant Lottery (SIL).

1983     The strong sports platform of the new WA government saw a revision of SIL, a formation of the first Minister's Sports Council and a seperate Recreation Council.

An increase of sports employment, peak bodies and the development of special interest bodies occured during this time including the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS), WA Institute of Recreation (IOR) and Australian New Zealand Sports Law Association (ANZSLA).

1986     WASF revised its management structure and role.  The four industry bodies included:

• Fitness (WA Institute of Fitness)
• Outdoor Recreation (Outdoor Education Association)
• Community Recreation (IOR, YMCA, Private Operators)
• Sport (WASF and State Sporting Associations)

1991     Healthway formed to counteract tobacco sponsorship.

1992     A change in government occured.

1994     A coalition of peak bodies worked together to address a concern for physical education.

1996     The Sport and Recreation Council was formed with the task of reviewing the structure of the state sport and recreation system in WA and making recommendations for the future direction of the industry.  The first Strategic Direction for sport and recreation in WA was developed.

1999     WASF broadened its industry coverage, by changing its criteria for membership acknowledging recreational sport. There were one hundred and seventeen members.

2000     A rise in peak bodies included:

• Fitness WA
• Outdoors WA
• IOR became Leisure Institute of WA (LIWA) then merged with PLA
• Parks and Leisure Institute of Australia (PLA)
• LIWA Aquatics (Pool Managers)

Coalition of sport and recreation peak bodies formed to discuss common industry issues.

2003     An Active Alliance was formed over the four recreation peak bodies.  The Department of Sport and Recreation funded the appointment of an Executive Officer for the Alliance.

2005     The Active Alliance dissolved.