In a move to improve gender equity in sport leadership, the Federal Government has announced it will require national and state/territory sport bodies to have gender-balanced boards in order to receive funding.
The policy doesn’t apply to community-level clubs, or professional leagues like the NRL or AFL. It’s designed to ensure more women hold sport leadership positions.
Policy
In order to continue accessing Federal Government funding, national sport bodies such as Swimming Australia must ensure 50% of their board directors are women or gender diverse by 1 July 2027.
Board chair positions and sub-committee memberships will be subject to the same requirements.
State and territory sport bodies – for example, Football Victoria – must also follow these rules to receive funding.
The Government said it worked with the national sport oversight body, the Australian Sports Commission, as well as individual state and territory sport agencies.
Disparity today
Around a third of women in Australia participate in some form of sport, including in non-playing roles, once a week — compared to nearly half of Australian men.
Currently, only 62% of government-funded national sporting organisations meet the new gender-parity standard for board directors.
Of organisations overseeing para-sports, 25% are chaired by a woman.
Response
Sport Minister Anika Wells said: “We need more women making decisions for more women. Our sporting systems are not equal and this policy will help address the gender imbalances prevalent in sports leadership.”
Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said: “For too long, women have not been represented in leadership and decision-making roles across a range of sports.”
