Resources
Australian Sports Commission
The Australian Sports Commission plays a major role in developing policies, manuals, guidelines, templates and other resources for use in sport. Below you will find a grouping of the main areas of information and resources available on this website and externally.
The area of 'women and sport' presents a large point of interest for the ASC . It involves the research, identification and development of innovative policies, programs and practices that address gender and equality issues in sport. Listed below are the resources that deal with this area of sport from the Australian Sports Commission's Women and Sport Unit:
- Pregnancy in Sport - Guidelines for the Australian Sporting Industry - both federal and state legislation in Australia make discrimination because of gender or pregnancy unlawful, including in sport. However, the increasing participation of women in sport has given rise to specific situations that present a number of legal, medical, insurance and ethical issues. These guidelines address such issues.
- Towards better sport: Good practice for women and girls - is an important reference tool for the sports industry. The manual features strategies and initiatives that have been implemented by organisations in Australia and internationally to increase the participation of women and girls in a variety of roles in sport. Manual includes an action plan template to assist organisations in planning initiatives.
- Women in sport - Frequently Asked Questions - these offer you a wide range of female sporting scenarios with answers and assistance.
- Issues in Women's Sport factsheets - these cover a range of topics including: sporting attire, media, Olympics, sexploitation, body image, mentoring, transgender, gender verification, osteoporosis, and menopause.
Other resources from the Australian Sports Commission:
- National Sport Information Centre - the National Sport Information Centre has compiled various resources on the topic of Women in Sport.
- Harassment-free sport - this is the Australian Sports Commission’s key initiative to address harassment and abuse issues. The Strategy comprises a range of components to assist sporting organisations to create safe and harassment free environments in sport.
- Member protection - this is a term used by the Australian sports industry to describe the practices and procedures that protect an organisation’s members – both individual members such as players, coaches and officials, and the member organisations such as clubs, state associations, other affiliated associations and the national body.
- Codes of conduct - dealing with parents, teachers, coaches, officials, the media, spectators and administrators.
- Child protection - Children have a fundamental right to be safe from any form of abuse while involved in sport or associated activities. This is a legal requirement as well as a moral obligation. Child protection requires a commitment from all levels in sport to ensure sporting environments are safe for all children. This includes an awareness of the requirements and risks, a commitment to practices that minimise the risks, and the ability to appropriately respond to incidents of child abuse.
- Complaints process - Do you have a harassment issue, complaint or concern? If you want to raise a concern or make a complaint in relation to inappropriate behaviour in sport then the following chart will help you work out who to contact initially and how to contact them.
External Resources
Australian Government - Women and Sport
Australian Government - Information Relating to Women
Health
Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) has produced eight fact sheets on a range of topics about women and sport issues:
- Premenstrual Syndrome and the Sportswomen
- Exercise in Pregnancy
- Exercise and well being after Pregnancy
- Nutrition for Sportswomen
- Women, Menopause and Sport
- Exercise and Osteoporosis
- Contraception for Sportswomen
- Growing up with Exercise
The factsheets are available on the Sport Medicine Australia website and are PDF resources.
