Executive Program
Executive Program
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is committed to raising organisational standards so that all women can thrive and succeed in all workplaces within the sporting sector. We recognise that women from culturally and racially marginalised backgrounds, First Nations women, women with disability and gender diverse individuals have significantly lower representation in leadership roles in organisations big and small. To be truly representative of our communities, we need to support the sector with the planning, tools and capability uplift to ensure systemic barriers are removed and a culturally safe and inclusive environment is created.
Important dates
- Applications open: 9:00am (AEST) Wednesday 16 July 2025
- Applications close: 5:00pm (AEST) Monday 18 August 2025
- Outcomes notified to all applicants: Late September 2025
The program will include:
Gender Equity & Inclusion Assessment & Report
To help provide a benchmark to measure progress, as well as inform the most impactful actions, organisations will receive a tailored report, detailing what they are doing well regarding supporting gender equity and areas for improvement.
Gender Equity & Inclusion Action Plan
Organisations will receive a clear Gender Equity & Inclusion Action Plan. Aligned with your organisational goals, this will detail a prioritised roadmap of high-impact initiatives and measures of success.
Engagement and Education Sessions
Organisations will have access to a range of best in class interactive workshops and learning experiences. Tailored to your context these are designed to increase knowledge and capability in your organisation.
Implementation Support
Each organisation will have access to a pool of hours with subject matter experts. This time is intended to support organisations with implementation of their gender equity strategy and action plans to accelerate progress towards a more equitable, high performing workplace.
APPLY NOW if your organisation wants to:
- develop a clear, practical and motivating plan to accelerate gender equity, inclusion and high performance
- upskill your people with the latest diversity, equity and inclusion practices
- drive measurable improvements in gender equity, engagement, wellbeing and performance
- be able to take actions that will attract, nurture and retain a diverse workforce of top talent
Eligibility criteria
- Be a national sporting organisation, a national sporting organisation for people with disability, or be a state/territory sporting organisation of a national body that is recognised by the ASC (Australian Sports Directory), the Australian Olympic Committee or Commonwealth Games Association.
- Have the commitment of, and a letter of support from, the Chair or CEO.
- Organisation has made a commitment in their strategy to improve/address gender equality.
- Organisation has no outstanding acquittal or reporting requirements with the ASC.
- Organisation is not named by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, opens in a new tab on its list of “Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme, opens in a new tab”.
- Organisation is not named on the Workplace Gender Equity Equality Agency website as declined to join or are unresponsive to the scheme, opens in a new tab.
*The ASC may, at its sole discretion, offer an applicant special consideration if an eligibility requirement set out in these guidelines cannot be met due to extenuating circumstances. Please contact wlis@ausport.gov.au if you have any questions about your eligibility or visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
Letter of support
A letter of support must accompany the Executive Program application (uploaded at time of application)
The following information needs to be addressed in the letter:
Please limit the supporting letter to one page
Assessment Criteria
Applicants must address the following assessment criteria in their application. Eligible applications will be assessed against these criteria:
Executive Program | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Organisational Strategy | The organisation demonstrates a clear rationale for joining the program; alignment with values and/or strategic priorities. | 30% |
2 | Organisational Leadership | The organisation demonstrates clear leadership endorsement and support with identification of an internal champion to lead the program. | 30% |
3 | Organisational Resourcing | The organisation demonstrates a clear willingness and ability to allocate staff time and resources, with a designated lead and/or team identified to support active participation in the program. | 20% |
4 | Organisation Readiness | The organisation demonstrates awareness of its current stage in the equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) journey with an honest assessment of gaps and commitment to improvement. | 20% |
Executive Program Update
2024
Executive Program organisations | ||
|---|---|---|
Bowls South Australia | Commonwealth Games Australia | Gymnastics Australia |
Netball Queensland | New South Wales Rugby League | Rowing South Australia |
Surf Life Saving Queensland | Snow Australia | Squash Australia |
Tennis West | Volleyball New South Wales |
2023
Executive Program organisations | ||
|---|---|---|
Artistic Swimming | Australian Sailing | Boxing Australia Limited |
Tenpin Bowling Australia | Equestrian Australia | Table Tennis Australia |
Swimming Australia | Disability Sports Australia | Australian Baseball Federation |
2022
The 15 NSOs in the first intake for this program are now working through their gender equity audit, identifying areas for improvement and embedding their gender equity action plans.
Executive Program participants | ||
|---|---|---|
Archery Australia | AusCycling | Basketball Australia |
Bowls Australia | Football Australia | Golf Australia |
Motorsport Australia | Paddle Australia | Rowing Australia |
Softball Australia | Surf Life Saving Australia | Touch Football Australia |
Triathlon Australia | Hockey Australia | Water Polo Australia |
Testimonials
“Surf Life Saving Australia was delighted to be a successful recipient of the WLIS Executive Program. We found the inclusive hiring workshop run to be really valuable in challenging unconscious biases, assisting us to better communicate our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and providing practical strategies to attract more women when advertising for jobs.”
Surf Life Saving Australia
“Being a part of the WLIS Executive Program has given Archery Australia the opportunity to stop, reflect and improve on our processes to make our environment supportive and inviting for women to work in. We want Archery to be a sport for all, for life, and this program has allowed us to take pivotal steps towards that goal by providing a differing lens and way of thinking to how we operate as an organisation.”
Archery Australia
“We wouldn’t have shifted the needle on so many HR and organisational initiatives if we hadn’t had such wonderful resources at our fingertips. The program has provided tailored support and knowledge sessions on key topics to enable us to get policies drafted toward achieving some critical strategic initiatives. ”
Triathlon Australia
“For rowing, the strength of the program has given us real skills to use. Not just suggestions but how to break down a situation, prepare for it and to view it from the perspective of a second and third person. It has provided us with tools to solve issues and look at leadership challenges with our team by thinking differently.
The executive program has allowed our leadership team to reimagine the future and the workforce capabilities we need as an organisation to effect change. As a result of the Executive Program we have been able to develop the following policies:
- Inclusion and Diversity Policy
- Flexible Working Arrangement Policy
- Family Leave Policy
- Domestic and Family Violence Policies”
Rowing Australia
For more information
Contact the Executive Program team – WLIS@ausport.gov.au.