What’s happening?
Mackay’s Gooseponds Sport and Recreation Club is among organisations marking Community Clubs Awareness Week 2026, launched on 15 September. Clubs Queensland introduced the campaign to recognise the everyday role clubs play in connecting people across the state.
This year’s focus centres on face-to-face communication during a period of growing loneliness and isolation. It brings together RSLs, surf lifesaving, cultural, ethnic, special-interest and sporting clubs, including golf and lawn bowls groups.
Why it matters
Queensland’s community clubs operate as membership-based, not-for-profit organisations that provide services to members and local areas. They also support visitors, while their surpluses return practical benefits to surrounding communities.
Those benefits include cash contributions, non-cash assistance, community assets and organised volunteer support. Clubs Queensland CEO Kelly Egan said clubs also fill a personal role that many people no longer find elsewhere.
“Community clubs are still Queensland’s real social network, providing that one-on-one connection that is increasingly missing in people’s everyday lives,” Mr Egan said.
He explained that clubs can help people form friendships, volunteer and remain connected with those around them.
“Clubs are that social hub, a central point for their community, whether it be giving someone a chance to volunteer with a new group or providing the platform for them to build new friendships.
“So often there are cases where a club employee has noticed a member’s absence and will check in on them to see if everything is okay. That’s the kind of community presence we foster at all of our clubs.”
Local Impact
The Gooseponds club gives the statewide campaign a clear local example. Its participation connects the region with a wider message about personal contact, volunteering and shared activities.
Mr Egan said community clubs serve many interests, allowing Queenslanders to meet in settings that suit them.
“Queenslanders meet every day at our community clubs whether they be sporting clubs or surf lifesaving, RSL, cultural, ethnic or special interest organisations,” he said.
The awareness week, he added, gives these organisations an opportunity to show what they contribute.
“These clubs offer so many positive social aspects and Community Clubs Awareness Week provides the chance to spotlight these contributions.”
By the numbers
- More than 1,100 community clubs operate across Queensland, accounting for 5.6 million memberships.
- The sector employs more than 34,000 Queenslanders and receives support from a volunteer community of 42,000 people.
- Clubs return over $549 million in community contributions and generate over $2.5 billion in annual economic activity. Among almost 1,000 surveyed members, two-thirds preferred face-to-face communication.
Zoom In
Clubs Queensland asked almost 1,000 members how they preferred to communicate amid growing digital media use. Two-thirds selected face-to-face communication, while personal conversation remained a major reason for visiting clubs.
According to Mr Egan, more members are choosing their local club for regular social contact.
“Queensland’s community clubs continue to go from strength to strength with members increasingly turning to their ‘local’ to obtain that social interaction and a great visitation experience,” he said.
He said the sense of familiarity offered by clubs could not always be matched through a device.
“In an age where people are increasingly turning to their devices for company, it is nice to know there is that mainstay around the corner where people not only know your name but know your story and feel part of that story.”
Zoom Out
Loneliness and isolation have also drawn greater government attention across Queensland. Mr Egan said studies showed people were spending less time physically connecting within their communities.
However, he said clubs continued moving against that trend by creating places for shared activities and conversation.
“Community clubs are a true means of connecting people and uniting communities, allowing people to participate in a vast array of activities together, and to simply socialise,” he said.
The spread of clubs across Queensland also gives the sector a presence outside major population centres.
“Our network of clubs is perfectly situated to help with these physical connections with a presence in almost every town and city across Queensland.”
What To Look For Next?
As Community Clubs Awareness Week continues, participating organisations will keep highlighting the social value of local clubs.
