Victoria (VIC)

Sport and Recreation Victoria, opens in a new tab is the Victorian Government agency dedicated to supporting Victoria's sport and recreation sector and works to inspire all Victorians to get active. There are a range of resources and grants to help the sports industry to develop programs and facilities.

Programs, resources, and reports

• Safe and Inclusive Sport: Preventing gender-based violence, opens in a new tab, Sport and Recreation Victoria, (2024). A guide to support gender equity and the prevention of gender-based violence through sport.
• Female friendly sport infrastructure guidelines, opens in a new tab, Sport and Recreation Victoria, (2017). Information and advice about developing gender equitable sports and recreation facilities. The information assists community sport and recreation clubs, governing sport bodies, recreation facility management organisations, as well as local government bodies.
• Inquiry into Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation: A five year game plan for Victoria, opens in a new tab, Government of Victoria, Women in Sport and Recreation Taskforce (November 2015). The advisory panel reviewed current research and reports and sought public feedback on the current issues women are experiencing, which present barriers to participation and leadership, as well as possible solutions. The overwhelming message from the consultations was that there are many women and girls with the talent and desire to contribute to the sport and active recreation sector, but the opportunities to participate and lead were either elusive or not readily evident. Four key themes emerged concerning participation and leadership by girls and women: (1) leadership, clear goals and measurement are the first necessary ingredients to create and support change; (2) changes to traditional structures and ways of working are essential to developing new participation and leadership opportunities; (3) new ways of ‘thinking’ and ‘doing’ need to be nurtured through education and training, and; (4) visibility is important - promotion of female sport and active recreation opportunities, leadership, pathways, and role models.

VicHealth

VicHealth, opens in a new tab is the world’s first health promotion foundation, established by the Victorian Parliament as part of the Tobacco Act of 1987. They focus on promoting good health and preventing chronic disease, including through increased physical activity and sport.

Programs, resources, and reports

• Physical Activity resource list: Getting more women active, opens in a new tab, (July 2024). A brief summary of resources from VicHealth and other sources to help sports clubs, gyms and other activity providers engage better with women and girls.
• Getting women to sign up for physical activity: A step-by-step guide, opens in a new tab, VicHealth, (2023). Translation of research conducted in partnership with La Trobe University’s Centre for Sport and Social Impact. In this guide you’ll find simple changes gyms, councils, sports clubs and community groups can make to help more women become active.
• This Girl Can - Victoria (2018-2024), opens in a new tab. Based on Sport England’s highly successful This Girl Can campaign, This Girl Can – Victoria ran from 2018-2024. After 7 years of being a VicHealth-led campaign, This Girl Can is becoming a community-led movement. From 2025, councils, sports clubs and community groups can take what they've learned from the campaign to keep activities and promotion going in their local community. The website still provides information, resources and research from the campaign for use by community and government organisations.
• Move My Way, opens in a new tab (accessed 29 July 2025). Funded through VicHealth’s Changing the Game: Increasing Female Participation in Sport program. Gymnastics Victoria and five other state sporting associations are encouraging women and girls to become more physically active, while championing the important role women play in sports’ leadership and management.

Local Council

In 2017 the Victorian Yarra Ranges, Maroondah and Knox Councils worked together to develop and provide resources, opens in a new tab for sporting clubs to achieve gender equity by improving pathways for girls and women to participate in sport at all levels.

• Equality Is The Game! Our Codes, Our Clubs: Changing the story to promote gender equality, opens in a new tab [video]. Maroondah City Council, YouTube, (15 August 2017).
• Creating a place for women in sport: A gender equity self-assessment for sport and recreation , opens in a new tabclubs, Yarra Ranges, Maroondah City, and Knox City Councils, (2017). The Gender Equity Audit Tool is for clubs to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement to promote equality. This tool aims to assist clubs to look at different areas in the club environment and recognise how they are going in relation to gender equality. It includes an action plan template for clubs to record their actions to improve gender equality within their club.
• Equality is the Game Sporting Club Committee resource, opens in a new tab. Yarra Ranges, Maroondah City, and Knox City Councils, (2017). Equality is the Game! is a resource for all sporting codes to highlight how they can contribute to the prevention of violence against women, by creating safe, equal and respectful environments for all members, particularly women and girls. It outlines the practical actions sporting club committees can undertake to promote gender equality and highlights the benefits for clubs in creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment.