Developing more women leaders in sport

Australian women will have more opportunities to become leaders in sport with a new round of funding grants released today by the Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis, and the , Tanya Plibersek.

Ms Ellis said the grants, totalling $400,000, would help women to undertake accredited training and development in coaching, officiating, governance and sports management.

“Participation by women in sport management and coaching is well below that of men, we’re keen to change this situation,” Ms Ellis said.

“This program is encouraging women to play a more active role in sports leadership – whether in a paid or voluntary capacity.”

Ms Plibersek said since its inception, the Sports Leadership Grants program had helped some 15,500 women from around Australia to develop high-level skills in their sport.

The Australian Government has awarded grants of more than $2 million over the seven years the program has been operating.

“Australian sport stands to benefit from having a greater number of women in leadership and decision-making roles,” Ms Plibersek said.” It contributes to the depth and diversity of Australian sport.

“Women sporting leaders become role models who encourage and inspire other women to make their mark in Australian sport.

” Ms Ellis said the grants had been applied by women in many different ways, including:

• boosting Hockey Australia’s female coaching apprenticeship program to enable six women each year gain national and international experience in coaching at the elite level.
• supporting Jo Sanders of Belfield, NSW, to further her professional development in sports management with an executive management course that will give her the leadership skills to take on higher roles in her career with the Football Federation of Australia, and
• assisting Amanda Frost of Sunrise Beach, Queensland, to pursue training and development to work as a swimming instructor for young people who have a disability.

The grants are available in five areas – high-performance coaching and officiating; Indigenous women; women in disability sport; women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; and women in general sport leadership.

Funding of up to $5,000 is available to successful individual applicants, and up to $10,000 for approved organisations. Applications close on Thursday, 15 May 2008.

The Sports Leadership Grants for Women program is jointly funded by the Australian Sports Commission and the Office for Women.