A LACK of understanding of gender equity and its importance in sport has affected clubs throughout regional Victoria, a series of forums has found.
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An education and marketing program, targeting men and women, was one of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation’s key recommendations to promote inclusion.
Dr Bridie O’Donnell, the head of the office, was in Bendigo in February for one of eight forums in regional Victoria addressing gender equity in sport and recreation.
They key findings from the forums, which involved 180 stakeholders, were yesterday released in a report.
Gender Equity is the process of allocating resources, programs, and decision making fairly to both males and females without any discrimination on the basis of sex…and addressing any imbalances in the benefits available to males and females.
- Women and Girls in Sport and Recreation - regional forums report
In addition to a lack of understanding of the complexities of gender equity, the office found clubs were, ‘unsure of what action they should take towards gender equity and what it should look like’.
Clubs perceived themselves to be under resourced and lacking support to implement change.
A lack of facilities also emerged as a concern among clubs.
As well as an education campaign, the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation recommended each regional sports assembly receive funding to conduct an annual forum.
The forums are intended to discuss state and local strategic plans and initiatives, assess progress and explore topics pertinent to the region.
Gender Equality is the state of having the same rights, status and opportunities as others, regardless of one’s gender.
- Women and Girls in Sport and Recreation - regional forums report
The office advocated for clubs be provided with resources such as case studies and document templates.
Recommendations also included continuing funding for female friendly facilities, and creating positions responsible for gender equity within clubs.
Women-only networking opportunities, networking initiatives for regional areas, and mentoring opportunities for clubs were also proposed.
“Incentivise additional opportunities for women to be in leadership positions,” appeared in the nine-point list of recommendations.
“Provide leadership training to both men and women,” was another.
The 18-page report highlights the importance of a collaborative approach between men and women in creating change, and the difficulties posed by strong gendered traditions and resistance to change.
Thirty-one people participated in the Bendigo forum in February.
Forums, funding to flow
SPORTS clubs and organisations throughout regional Victoria have identified the need for support and guidance to achieve gender equity.
And the new Office for Women in Sport and Recreation intends to deliver, with head Dr Bridie O’Donnell envisaging a return to cities such as Bendigo for further forums.
Responses from participants in a series of eight forums in regional Victoria from February – March have informed the office’s strategies for the future.
A report, released yesterday, detailed eight key findings and nine key recommendations resulting from the events.
But Dr O’Donnell said progress to implement the recommendations was already underway.
She said the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation is likely to host further forums in regional centres, ‘as a matter of course’.
It was suggested regional sports assemblies be funded to host annual forums, in the report.
“We are best placed to organise these,” Dr O’Donnell said.
More funding is flowing for female friendly facilities – another recommendation in the report.
The program provides local governments with grants of up to $500,000 to upgrade or build toilets, change rooms, lighting and access to facilities for girls and women at sporting clubs and at other venues that promote physical activity.
Applications are being processed for a range of initiatives and grants available through the Change Our Game program, including scholarships, workforce development and support for events and forums.
Dr O’Donnell said she was not surprised a lack of understanding of gender equity and of what it would look like had emerged as a key finding in the report.
“It’s understandable… There’s often a bit of confusion about terms and the best way to do things,” she said.
But she said education was a big part of a number of initiatives happening across the sector, including the Fair Play Code, which outlines acceptable standards of behaviour for everyone involved in sport and recreation in Victoria.
Women’s Health Loddon Mallee executive officer Tricia Currie said the success of last year’s Rural Challenge Project would see it expanded from Macedon Ranges into the Bendigo region.
The project, which supports football-netball clubs and CFA brigades to achieve gender equality, will come under the leadership of WHLM from July 1.
“It’s not just about fairness,” Ms Currie said.
She said the project was also about enabling women.
Achieving gender equity is key to the prevention of violence against women.