Gymnastics Australia needs to engage with facility owners

Gymnastics Australia needs to work more closely with local clubs to deliver on their strategic objectives, collaborating with facilities to deliver on its future goals and increased participation.

This was a message delivered by Marc Moncur, owner of Tasmanian-based Gymsports Management and former President of Gymnastics Tasmania, at the 2025 Gymnastics Clubs Australia (GCA) National Congress at Tweed Heads in Northern NSW yesterday.

Moncur, leading the ‘State of the Industry’ session, indicated that while AusPlay data shows an increase in overall participation in gymnastics and related activities, Gymnastics Australia is experiencing a decline in those signing up to its programs.

Generally attributed to its federated governance and a financial model supported by grassroots clubs and participants, Gymnastics Australia has been impacted by Recreational Gymnastics Australia (RGA), a lower-cost private alternative formed in response to widespread dissatisfaction with Gymnastics Australia’s governance model, fees, cultural issues and perceived lack of support for recreational-focused clubs.

With around 100 venues understood to be working with RGA, Moncur advised “I've been told RGA now has about 45,000 kids involved in their programs as well, so the concerning part is if Gymnastics Australia's numbers continue to drop, then it's going to be a harder thing for them to continue to deliver things like its high performance programs.”

Late last year, Moncur released a white paper, the Future of Gymnastics Australia, in which he called for Gymnastics Australia to undertake “a full unrestricted independent governance review in respect to gymnastics in Australia and to present their findings to the gymnastics community by July 2025.”

Australasian Leisure Management understands that Gymnastics Australia has taken no action in relation to Moncur’s call.

Undeterred, Moncur continues to push for change, telling the National Congress “my argument, and this is what I'm put in the white paper, is that the model we are using is broken.

“We need to look at a more efficient model to be able to run the sport from Gymnastics Australia.”

Moncur went on to outline key areas for improved collaboration:

• Gymnastics Australia, RGA, and GCA partnering to co-develop delivery models, club development, and club operations support

• Outsourcing functions such as coach education, club mentoring and safety training to organisations like GCA

• Embracing competition from event providers rather than marginalising them

Moncur also highlighted data and engagement challenges facing the sport, noting how Gymnastics Australia’s database fails to track gymnast tenure accurately, making it difficult to achieve its strategic goals - particularly that of doubling average athlete tenure under the 'Inspire 2032' plan.

He stressed that clubs must be engaged as active partners, not just funding sources.

His four key recommendations:

1. Implement a full governance review

2. Redesign membership and service models based on club demand

3. Collaborate with RGA, GCA, and event providers

4. Refocus Gymnastics Australia on core services, outsourcing where club-level delivery is stronger

Moncur concluded that if Gymnastics Australia cannot evolve a more responsive, club-centred national model, the sport risks losing ground in both community participation and elite development.