Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence recently announced a new government policy to provide women and girls with fairer access to sport.
A first for Australia, the Fair Access Policy Roadmap will be adopted by all Victorian councils, including Alpine Resorts, and will be guided by the State Government Gender Equality Act 2020.
Mitchell Shire Council (MSC) Director of Strategic Partnerships Mary Agostino emceed the event, with MSC Councillor Timothy Hanson delivering his first public speech since his successful election.
“Sport has the power to bring the community together to promote respect and improve physical and mental wellbeing, and the changes benefit the female players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and even spectators,” Mr Hanson said.
“We are tackling traditional barriers by ensuring equitable access to high quality facilities at the most popular times and locations, and this requires collaboration with user groups, community clubs, and our broader network to adopt practices that champions inclusivity.”
Last year, a collaborative effort between the RB Robson Stadium Committee of Management and Ms Spence, the MSC, and the Wallan Basketball Club saw female-friendly change rooms and amenities upgraded at the RB Robson Stadium in Wallan.
Ms Spence said she was proud to be part of a government that delivered inclusive policies and programs for women in sport, and looked forward to working with the MSC to create further opportunities for locals.
“Since 2014, the government has invested more than $70 million in more than 235 female-friendly community sport and active recreation infrastructure projects to develop new and improved sporting facilities,” she said.
“Every Victorian deserves the chance to reach their full potential without barriers.
“When we level the playing field, we empower everyone to thrive, to compete, and to lead the way for others.”
The Fair Access Policy Roadmap is poised to address barriers where women and girls are given less popular locations and timeslots to play sport.
Director of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation Sarah Styles said the state was already starting to see perspectives shift in favour of women and girls in sport.
“When we started talking to the sporting sector, overwhelmingly—even your most historically male sporting groups such as rugby—[were] supportive and this is great,” she said.
