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Member Associations

About

Clubs Australia is the coalition of state and territory associations representing the interests of more than 5,000 licensed clubs across Australia and New Zealand. Our clubs employ over 140,000 employees.

As the peak industry body, Clubs Australia’s principal aim is to be an effective advocate of club interests, promoting policies that provide for a strong and dynamic club sector. Our diverse membership includes not-for-profit bowls, golf, RSL, leagues, ethnic, community and workers clubs.

The Association represents clubs in dealings with parliamentarians, government departments and the media, and keeps clubs informed of key policy developments.

Areas of interest include industrial relations, skills and training, alcohol policy, and gambling reform.

Industry Snapshot

Clubs play an important role in the lives of millions of members, visitors and employees across Australia and New Zealand by engaging communities, and providing social, sporting, and economic support across the country.

Licensed and registered clubs are not-for-profit, member-based organisations that exist to provide infrastructure and services for the community, and further a core purpose, such as the promotion of sporting activities or veterans’ welfare.

Clubs contribute to their local communities through employment, cash and in-kind donations, and providing critical social support. In addition, clubs provide an affordable range of goods, services and facilities for local communities to enjoy, and mobilise thousands of community volunteers each year.

As local community organisations, clubs are highly responsive in addressing the needs of their members, guests and the broader community.

Fast Facts

Across Australia and New Zealand there are approximately 6,500 community clubs located across metropolitan, regional, and remote areas.
Clubs directly employ more than 140,000 people and support thousands more indirect jobs.
Clubs employ a diverse range of skilled and unskilled workers, including beverage and gaming attendants, cooks and chefs, greenkeepers, fitness trainers, childcare workers and business managers. Many clubs support training and apprenticeship opportunities.
The Australian club industry is made up of bowling clubs (24%), sporting and recreation clubs (24%), golf clubs (17%), RSLs (15%), community and workers clubs (4%) and cultural and religious clubs (4%).

Our People

Maurice Reilly

President

Maurice Reilly has served as President of Clubs Australia since October 2018.

He has served on the Clubs ACT board for 20 years and comes to the position with over 35 years of experience in the club industry as a CEO, employee and industry representative. His previous roles within the industry include Chief Operating Officer and Board Member of the North Melbourne Football Club Ltd, CEO and General Manager of Ainslie Football and Social Club, Assistant General Manager of the Catalina Country Club, and Bar Manager of the Canberra North Bowling Club. Maurice continues to serve as the CEO of the National Press Club, a position he has held since 2004.

Rebecca Riant

Executive Director

Rebecca Riant has served as the Executive Director of Clubs Australia since 2023.

Rebecca is the CEO of ClubsNSW and has 30 years’ experience in large financial corporates — notably, 10 years at Westpac and five years at the Commonwealth Bank, where she began her executive level career as Chief Operating Officer for the Institutional Banking and Markets division.

More recently, Rebecca was Tabcorp’s Executive General Manager for Sustainability, Markets and Customer Experience Delivery before moving into the role of Tabcorp’s Chief Operating Officer of Wagering and Media. In September 2022, she joined The Star Sydney (contract role) as their Chief Controls and Enablement Officer (NSW) before extending the contract and taking on the role of Chief Controls Officer for The Star Entertainment Group in January 2023.

Rebecca has extensive experience in corporate governance, strategy determination and execution, large scale change implementation, commercial negotiations and navigating through complex regulatory environments. She is also an active participant in forums and initiatives relating to improving diversity, inclusion, flexibility and workplace culture.

Policy Advocacy

Clubs Australia advocates on behalf of clubs on Federal policy issues, including: taxation; privacy; corporations law; industrial relations; tourism; skills and training; alcohol policy; and gambling reform.