Ice Skating
Wearing boots with blades fixed to the bottom to complete routines combining dance movements, jumps, and spins with the aim of getting the highest judged score.
Ice skating, often called figure skating, was first established in Australia at the Melbourne Glaciarium in 1911. 1
Australia first competed in the sport at the 1952 Oslo Winter Olympic Games. 4
Discover more about ice skating through the Clearinghouse evidence base:
- Modified Sports - adaptations that make ice skating more inclusive and accessible.
- Australian Sport History - history and Hall of Fame information about ice skating.
Evolution:
- National Ice Skating Association of Australia [1931-1997]
- Ice Skating Australia [1997-]
Participation
An estimated 48,000 Australians [aged 15+] participated in ice skating at least once in 2025. 2
An estimated 9,000 Australian children [aged 0-14] participated in ice skating at least once in 2025. 2
An estimated 36,000 Australian women and 11,000 men [aged 15+] participated in ice skating at least once in 2025. 2
Explore further participation statistics for ice skating through the AusPlay online portal., opens in a new tab
Governing body
Ice Skating Australia, opens in a new tab (ISA) is the organisation recognised by government at all levels as the national controlling body for the sport of figure skating in Australia. It supports the disciplines of figure skating, ice dance, single and pair skating, and synchronised skating – for all skaters from beginners to international competitors. 3
In 1931, a formal agreement was signed between the ice skating associations of Victoria and New South Wales to establish the National Ice Skating Association of Australia to advise on standards, testing, and judging of figure skating on ice and to hold Australian Championships. Membership expanded to both Queensland and South Australia when skating facilities were established in those states. In 1997, National delegates voted to change the name of the organisation to Ice Skating Australia (ISA). In 2025, all Australian states and territories were affiliated with ISA. 1, 3
REFERENCES
- History of Ice Skating in Australia, opens in a new tab, Ice Skating Australia, (archived 8 October 2003).
- AusPlay Data Portal: Participation by activity, opens in a new tab, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 6 May 2026).
- Ice Skating Australia website, opens in a new tab, (accessed 14 January 2026).
- Figure Skating, opens in a new tab, Australian Olympic Committee, (accessed 14 January 2026).
Documents
The Clearinghouse for Sport has sought permission from relevant organisations for the inclusion of their documents in this archive. Copyright ownership remains vested with the organisation and as such permission from the copyright owner should be sought if you wish to communicate, adapt or reproduce these documents.
- Ice Skating Australia Annual Report 2024[PDF • 942.88 kb]
- Ice Skating Australia Annual Report 2023[PDF • 504.26 kb]
- Ice Skating Australia Annual Report 2021[PDF • 461.64 kb]
- Ice Skating Australia Annual Report 2020[PDF • 1.18 mb]
- Ice Skating Australia President's Address (May 2024)[PDF • 753.16 kb]
- Ice Skating Australia Strategic Plan 2026-2030[PDF • 12.68 mb]
- Ice Skating Australia Strategic Plan 2022-2026[PDF • 263.44 kb]
- Ice Skating Australia Strategic Plan 2018-2022[PDF • 297.91 kb]
