ASC grant helping organisations champion women in sport

Boosting diversity in the basketball commentary box and increasing leadership pathways for women football umpires are among new projects to receive funding from the Australian Sports Commission (ASC).

Nine organisations, including bowls, table tennis, cricket and rowing will share in $170,000 of funding through the Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) organisation grants for projects that reduce gender inequality and support more women to advance into sport leadership roles.

Basketball Victoria aims to address diversity in the commentary box by providing opportunities for women and non-binary people to learn the skills of calling live basketball while growing the coverage of Victorian basketball events and competitions.

WA Football’s project will provide mentorship and support to help women advance in umpiring leadership roles and expert-led workshops will aim to equip umpires and volunteer coaches with tools for cultural change.

Surf Life Saving Australia’s project is a leadership training program designed to empower managers and emerging leaders with the skills and confidence to foster inclusive, high-performing and psychologically safe work environments.

“We identified a strong need to strengthen leadership capability around psychosocial safety, focusing on this area allows us to better support our people, by equipping leaders with practical tools to create safer, healthier environments,” CEO Adam Weir said.

Managed by the ASC and funded by the Australian Government, the WLIS programs have supported more than 28,000 women and over 800 sporting organisations to elevate women leaders in sport.

Water Polo Australia received funding last year and developed an online platform, opens in a new tab to address health challenges young women face in water sports that contribute to a drop off in participation.

“We wanted to create an environment that allows more people to stay within the sport and have a greater opportunity to become leaders in the future,” CEO Tim Welsford said.

“We’re very grateful for the opportunity and now it's something we can continue to build on moving into the future.”

The successful organisations for 2025: Basketball Tasmania, Surf Life Saving Australia, Table Tennis Australia, Basketball Victoria, Surf Life Saving Queensland, WA Football, Rowing NSW, Bowls Australia and the South Australian Cricket Association.

For more information on the WLIS grants, click here.