Wyndham Leads The Pack In Boosting Women And Girls’ Participation In Sport

Let’s get physical! Wyndham City has teamed up with other Councils and organisations in Melbourne’s West to boost women and girls’ participation in sport across the region.

Wyndham City, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley councils, Women’s Health West and the State Government have finalised the Women’s Participation in Sport and Active Recreation in Melbourne’s West: An Action Plan for Change 2020-25 study, which aims to break down barriers currently preventing women and girls from leading more active lifestyles.

The action plan will be officially launched on Friday, 18th September, in a special online event that will include a key note address from Dr Bridie O’Donnell, an Australian road cycling champion, seven-time national rowing champion and the inaugural Director of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation.

Sports Development portfolio holder Cr Peter Maynard said the action plan, which was shaped by community consultation, specifically focused on creating more gender equitable sporting opportunities and environments in Melbourne’s West.

“Sport isn’t just about developing better athletes; it’s about developing better people,” Cr Maynard said.

“However, women and girls in Melbourne’s West are under-represented in sport and active recreation more than anywhere else in Melbourne.”

“This plan identifies 48 actions that Wyndham and other participating Councils will focus on to change the way in which women and girls access, participate and experience sport and active recreation.”

The project has been supported by a $45,000 contribution from the State Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Fund.

Cr Maynard said Wyndham City was proud to be the lead partner on this project, adding that this action plan would build on the work Council has already put in to increase participation in women and girls’ sport, including the Gender Equality in Wyndham Sport project.

“In the past three years, we have seen a number of women and girls’ AFL teams in Wyndham grow from four to 21, and we know that some clubs such as hockey, swimming and athletics have been leading the way for a long period of time,” Cr Maynard said.

“Wyndham will use this guide to build on our current momentum and continue to grow opportunities for women and girls to be active.”

In a big day for women and girls in sport, the Wyndham Gender Equality in Sport project will celebrate its successes in a separate online event, which will also be held on 18th September.

The Girls and Women in Sport event, which will begin at 7pm, will include presentations from Head of Football Operations at North Melbourne Football Club, Laura Kane, North Melbourne FC players Emma Kearney and Ben Brown and other industry experts about boosting gender equality in sport.  

It will also announce this year’s Wyndham Champions, the people and clubs who have made a difference to girls’ and women’s sport.  

To register for the Women’s Participation in Sport and Active Recreation in Melbourne’s West Action Plan launch, go to https://bit.ly/2EZKW3L

To register for the Girls and Women in Sport Event, go to https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/girls-and-women-in-sport-in-wyndham-event-tickets-118119629993