Policies, programs, and supporting structures

Deakin University’s Women in Sport and Exercise (WISE) hub, opens in a new tab aims to improve women’s participation in sport and exercise through world-class research, and by strengthening relationships with communities and partners. We teach skills to help women be job ready in both sport and sport-related roles.

The Champions of Change Sport Group, opens in a new tab was established in May 2015 and now includes 19 Members across national, state and professional sport environments, as well as two independent members who provide sector insights alongside lived experience as women who have and continue to hold leadership roles across the sports sector.

• Pathway to Pay Equality: Elite women athletes, opens in a new tab, Male Champions of Change Sport, (February 2019). The pathway to pay equality involves many dimensions, and sports may find that achieving pay equality takes several years. However, success within any single part of the ecosystem makes success in the other parts more likely. The report identifies three distinct stages (pre-professional, a fair and reasonable wage, standalone pay) and a strategic focus, practical goals and actions for each.
• Pathway to gender equality in sport including pay equality, opens in a new tab, Male Champions of Change Sport, (March 2020). This report is the first time globally that sector leaders have united to agree and report on a consistent set of measures and assessment criteria towards these goals. The Pathway is freely available and can be adopted or adapted by any sport or sports sector to accelerate their progress on gender equality. Collective and individual results across the 18 members of MCC Sport are included.
• Pathway to Gender Equality in Sport 2021–2022 Progress Report, opens in a new tab, Champions of Change - Sport, (June 2023). Despite consistent effort across the industry over several years, and an increase in the overall number of women working in the industry, we continue to see gender segregation in the areas of administrative leadership and high-performance leadership. Our key areas of focus moving forward will be addressing the disparity in the number of women in leadership (namely executive, CEO, Board and coaching roles). We continue to invest in leadership training and development opportunities for women through various programs. However, there is a need to investigate and address the systemic barriers that continue to facilitate gender segregation in sporting workplaces.

The Strong Women, opens in a new tab program promotes the meaningful inclusion of women students across all levels of sport and active recreation at Melbourne University Sport – as participants, athletes, managers, leaders, coaches, umpires, and volunteers.

• The Strong Women Network. Matches current women student-athletes with women from the University of Melbourne community who have been involved in high performance sport.

Launched in March 2018 the Minerva Network, opens in a new tab works to develop a network of experienced businesswomen to mentor professional sportswomen as they navigate their challenges on and off the field. The initiative pairs athletes with experienced female business leaders to help them leverage their increasing profile and influence for sport and personal success.

• Queensland Academy of Sport and Minerva Network Announce Partnership to Empower Females in Elite Sport, opens in a new tab, (12 June 2023). The QAS is the Queensland Government’s high-performance sport agency, dedicated to supporting athletes achieve their dreams through excellence in coaching, training, facilities, and cutting edge support services in science, medicine, technology, data and wellbeing. The Minerva Network is a national community of accomplished female leaders who are committed to empowering the next generation of female athletes and leaders. Together, the QAS and Minerva Network will provide QAS female athletes with the opportunity to participate in one-on-one mentorship an
• 2022 Scholarship Program athletes achieving success on and off the field, opens in a new tab, (16 December 2022). Launched in September 2020, the Minerva Scholarship Program is open to Australia’s elite and professional level women athletes who would benefit from financial support to complete or commence an Australian-certified higher education or vocational qualification.
• Introducing the Minerva Sports Governance Program, opens in a new tab, (29 November 2022). The Program will create a pipeline of women Directors for sporting organisations and address the imbalance of gender diversity on sporting governance bodies.
• Minerva co-founders help to launch Parliamentary Friends of Women in Sport, opens in a new tab, (30 November 2022). “With over 40 members in the group, it’s fantastic to witness the extensive support and recognition for women’s sport that exists amongst parliamentarians across all sides of politics.”
• New Minerva Alumni program to support athletes transitioning to life after sport, opens in a new tab, (7 October 2022). The Minerva Network is proud to announce the launch of a new initiative, Minerva Alumni, to extend its support for elite sportswomen as they approach and undertake their transition from professional sport.

For more than two decades the National Foundation for Australian Women, opens in a new tab (NFAW) has set the agenda for women’s issues nationally and given weight to the collective voice of Australian women. The NFAW supports these projects:

• She's Game - Women making Australian sporting history, opens in a new tab. This project highlights the achievements of women to Australian sporting life and culture. Athletes, coaches, administrators, journalists and volunteers are recognised for the important roles they have played in Australian sporting history.
• The Australian Women’s Register, opens in a new tab. This site is a source of information about Australian women and their organisations.

The South Australian Sports Federation Incorporated (Sport SA), opens in a new tab, the peak sports industry professional association for all South Australian sports was established in 1991. It is a non-government, not for profit organisation providing industry advocacy, training and professional support to more than 140 member groups and affiliated bodies.

• In 2023 Sport SA, with support from the South Australian Government, established, opens in a new tab a Women’s Sport Academy Working Group (WSAWG) to provide an industry voice to inform the development and future of the Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport, opens in a new tab. The Academy aims to support and empower female athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and board members to play, lead and change the game for future generations.

Victoria University, opens in a new tab (VU) plays a critical role in providing industry-based research nationally and internationally. One of the seven priority areas in the VU Sport Strategy 2019-2023, opens in a new tab is 'Women in Sport'. The resource page includes links to, and information on, research, industry insights, and practical actions to increase opportunities for women and girls in sport.

• Research and industry insights on women in sport, opens in a new tab, Victoria University, (updated quarterly). Local to global industry-based research to influence sectors on policy and strategy that will increase opportunities for women and girls.
• A level playing field: the case for investing in women's sport, opens in a new tab, Australian Women in Sport Advisory Group, (2019). The importance of women as leaders to grow the participation capacity of an organisation should not be underestimated.
• No boundaries for women and girls in sport and physical activity, opens in a new tab, Australian Women in Sport Advisory Group, (2019). Our vision is that there are no boundaries for women and girls in sport and physical activity. Our goal is to achieve this by 2025. But what does it look like and how will we know when we have made it? Here we set out what we are striving for, actions to take and measures of success. Key members of the sport sector, governments and industry are onboard.

Women Sport Australia, opens in a new tab (WSA) is a not-for-profit organisation that supports the active participation of women and girls in sport, physical activity and recreation. WSA provides advocacy and leadership on issues affecting Australian women and girls in sport. WSA also offers programs and events to improve leadership and governance in sport, and mentoring programs for women.

• Women Sport Australia manifesto: Harnessing the positive momentum for active Australian women, opens in a new tab, (2019). This plan sets out the key actions Women Sport Australia continues to advocate for to effect lasting change. These actions include pay equality and living wage for elite female athletes and staff; equal access to facilities and amenities on and off the field; equal media time and space for women's and men's sport; and championing role models in women's sport.
• In 2019 Women Sport Australia launched, opens in a new tab the Women in Sport Photo Action Awards (WISPAA) to generate greater recognition and respect for the skill, strength and athleticism of Australian women actively participating in sport. The inaugural winning image was of AFLW player Tayla Harris shot by Michael Wilson. An exhibition of the 30 finalist images was held in Melbourne.

Womensport and Recreation Tasmania, opens in a new tab (WSRT) dynamic group dedicated to improving opportunities in sport and regular physical activity for women and girls. Key objectives are:

• To support Tasmanian women and girls to be change agents in sport and recreation.
• To champion sport and recreation as a source of work, development, community leadership, health and wellbeing.
• To advocate for women's sport and recreation and be a key influencer to government and other stakeholders.
• To operate a progressive, sustainable, accountable and transparent organisation.

• Cadbury Get in the Game, opens in a new tab, (accessed 29 March 2023). Through shining a light on the diverse women kicking goals across AFLW, NRLW, Cricket Australia and the Matildas, we want to show all girls that no matter who you are, you can push past barriers and get in the game.
• Diversity Council Australia, opens in a new tab (DCA). Diversity Council Australia is the independent, not-for-profit workplace diversity advisor to business in Australia. DCA addresses many issues facing women and minority groups within the workplace. DCA consults with industries and work sectors and produces a number of submissions to Government Departments and Agencies, such as the Productivity Commission.
• The Encyclopaedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia, opens in a new tab, Australian Research Council, Linkage Project, (2014). Naming Australia's 20th-century leading women performers in sport is a difficult task because there are so many of note. This ‘encyclopaedia’ provides a profile on women who have been elite athletes, administrators, coaches, and role models to generations of Australian women.
• Women Leaders of Sport: #heresheis, opens in a new tab. This campaign commenced on January 1, 2021, to profile woman working in sport each day for 365 days. The Group has a combined platform of Instagram, opens in a new tab and Twitter, opens in a new tab, as well as a discussion group on LinkedIn, opens in a new tab. The aim is to increase the visibility of women working across the sector while also building community of support behind each woman. The goal is to have as many different women (from as many different organisations) as possible.
• Siren: A Women in Sport Collective, opens in a new tab. A collective of women’s sports advocates, content creators and fans who for years have been left wanting more from mainstream coverage of women in sport. Our mission is to elevate women’s voices, alongside other diverse and marginalised voices through in-depth storytelling, analysis and opinion, and deliver feminist content that challenges the status quo of sport media.
• Women on Boards, opens in a new tab (WOB). There are thousands of Government statutory authorities, committees, councils and advisory boards that regularly seek appointees. Women on Boards (WOB) started as an informal network in 2001 and was founded as a company in 2006 to improve the gender balance on Australian boards. It is funded through subscriber fees and earnings from services to organisations seeking to improve gender diversity.