Ambassadors sought within thriving network

WHEN Active Victoria identified women and girls’ participation in sport equated to half of men’s involvement across the state, the City of Ballarat developed their Active Women and Girls Strategy.

Working in partnership with Sports Central, the City launched the Ballarat Active Women’s Leadership Network as a way of encouraging women and girls to not only be active in some way, but to lead the city in making healthy, positive changes.

Based within a Facebook group, recreation services participation project officer Kate McMahon said more than 420 women and girls have become part of the Network organically since it launched last year.

Sharing passions, skills, expertise, sporting interests, or goals for activity and fitness, members of the digital community have become “self-empowered.”

“Given that over 400 women are now so actively involved in supporting each other and are wanting to be involved in sport and active participation for our region, we’re seeking our next ambassadors for the Active Women and Girls Strategy within the Network,” she said.

The first ambassadors, Steph Mundy, Gail Weston, Narelle Tolliday and Mel Robinson were appointed in October last year after an external application process.

Now approaching a year in their roles, the City is seeking another set of skilled, passionate leaders from diverse active areas for the 2021 to 2022 period.

Each ambassador will focus on one of the same strategic pillars; participation, media promotion, culture and environment, and equitable facilities.

At the same time they’ll bringing ideas and insight to the table, discuss possibilities for more active opportunities and look to create valuable connections.

Asking members of the Network to raise their hands and have a go, Ms McMahon said looking inward time around is a “testament to the women involved.”

“If we didn’t have 400-plus members, we would have had to look somewhere else to recruit,” she said.

“We didn’t have any expectation about how the Network would develop or take off initially, so seeking our ambassadors this way is a reflection on the quality of women and girls active in our community who have joined and are willing to collaborate with each other,” she said.

Join the Network at bit.ly/3sarOoc.