$3.2 million to advance gender equality in sport

13 December 2024

The Australian Government is providing an additional $3.2 million to support women in coaching, officiating and sports administration.

WLIS grant recipient and Sydney 2000 taekwondo gold medallist Dr Lauren Burns PhD OAM OLY.

This includes:

• $1.1 million to extend the ASC’s Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) Program to support women coaches, officials and administrators
• $800,000 to fund leadership and governance workshops for women involved in community sport
• $800,000 towards additional support for women in high performance coaching roles, and
• $450,000 invested in ten projects from the Women in High Performance Coaching Action Plan including funding women coaches travelling to benchmark events.

This funding guarantees the continuation of WLIS - a key program run through the Australian Sports Commission.

Established in 2002, WLIS has supported more than 27,000 women and 800 sporting organisations. WLIS grants provide women with opportunities to advance their leadership journey through development programs and training initiatives.

Today, 43 women have received news they have been awarded a WLIS Individual Development grant.

Among them, Sydney 2000 taekwondo gold medallist Dr Lauren Burns PhD OAM OLY. The WLIS grant allows Burns to embark on a Lifestyle and Wellness Coaching course through Harvard Medical School Executive Education.

For AFL Northern Territory's Gemma Scales, the WLIS grant will contribute towards a Graduate Diploma of Business (Enterprise Leadership) through Queensland University of Technology. This will strengthen Scales' ability to lead as AFL NT's Regional Manager - Remote Projects (Indigenous Programs Department).

WLIS Individual Development grants are worth a total of $203,450. The remaining WLIS funding allocation goes towards workshops, organisational grants, the AIS Talent Programs and Athlete Accelerate.

The $800,000 committed to community sport leadership and governance compliments the National Gender Equity in Sport Governance Policy launched in September, a policy that mandates gender equality on sporting boards.

The investment in women’s coaching addresses the 10 recommendations for improving the number of women in Australian high performance coaching. For example, it will fund sending women coaches to elite competition events overseas. This removes “lack of experience” as a barrier as to why some women don’t climb the coaching ladder by ensuring these coaches have exposure to the highest level sporting fields.

WLIS grant recipient, Gemma Scales (AFL NT Regional Manager - Remote Projects).

Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells said:

“The ASC’s WLIS and Women in High Performance Coaching programs are about representation. These programs will impact community champions, future leaders, and ultimately change our sporting landscape.

“Our women dominated the medal tally in Paris. Yet less than one in five Olympic coaches and one in four Paralympic coaches is a woman. This damning data has remained stagnant for decades and it must change. Look at Myriam Fox, Louise Sauvage, Maggie Meng, Sandy Brondello or Bec Rippon- women can coach.

“This funding is part of sport’s needed diversity drive. The Albanese Government is investing in women in sport because it produces results."

Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins OAM said:

“Australia has under-performed for too long with respect to women in sport coaching and leadership, but I believe we are at a turning point.

“WLIS and the AIS women in coaching programs have impacted countless Australian coaches, leaders and participants. These programs continue to drive meaningful change at all levels of sport.

“We are grateful for the Australian Government’s continued investment in women in sport which accelerates the pursuit of gender equality beyond the playing field.”

WLIS grant recipient, Gemma Scales (AFL NT Regional Manager - Remote Projects) said:

“This grant is the difference between whether or not I pursue postgraduate studies. I am really grateful for the support of the ASC and AFL NT. This is going to make me a better leader, and hopefully there are learnings which I can share with those around me. Ultimately it will help me progress in my career- wherever the next steps take me.”