$400,000 to encourage women into sports leadership
The Australian Government has made available a further share of $400,000 for women to pursue sports leadership opportunities in 2006-07.
The 2006-07 Sports Leadership Grants provide funding and support for women to seek accredited training and development in coaching, officiating, governance and management. The Women’s Sports Leadership Grants Programme is jointly funded by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the Office for Women.
The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues, Julie Bishop, and Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, said that the Sports Leadership Grants for Women continues to improve the involvement and status of women in Australian sport.
“Over five years, the grants scheme has provided opportunities for women to gain accredited training and development in coaching, officiating, governance and management,” Minister Bishop said. “Improving the involvement of women contributes to a strong, diverse and sustainable Australian sports system.”
Senator Kemp said that the Australian Government remains committed to improving the participation of women in Australian sport, particularly in decision making and leadership roles, where they tend to be under-represented.
“Australian sport stands to benefit from a greater number of women in leadership and decision-making roles which contributes to the depth and diversity of Australian sport,” Senator Kemp said.
“This includes role models who can encourage and inspire other women to make their mark in Australian sport.”
Over the last four years more than 11,000 women from across Australia have benefited from grants worth more than $1.2 million, to develop women’s sport leadership skills and training.
There have been a number of success stories from the grants scheme which reflect the depth and diversity of the Australian sporting experience. Sports like Surfing Australia, Swimming Tasmania and individual recipients like Sue Gardiner from Darwin are using the grants to further the professional development of women in sport.
Surfing Australia used the scheme to provide tuition for six officials from its affiliate states to form the first all female judging panel at the Women’s World Qualifying Series last Easter. Swimming Tasmania provide training for its women members to learn the role and duties of being a club treasurer.
The Sports Leadership Grants for Women allowed Sue Gardiner to pursue further study in sports coaching support for judo.
“It’s very unlikely I would have a chance to study without the grant,” Ms Gardiner said.
Grants are available in five key areas: high performance coaching and officiating; Indigenous women in rural and remote communities; 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 for the 2006/07 Sport Leadership Grants for Women close on 15 September 2006.
For more details about the grants go to: Sport Leadership Grants and Scholarships for Women