A more equitable and inclusive community

I AM DEEPLY committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all members of our community.

Diversity and inclusion strengthen us, and equitable access to services, supports, and opportunities is vital for the prosperity of our region.

At our recent council meeting, we endorsed the release of our draft Fair Access Policy for community feedback.

This policy outlines our approach to identifying and eliminating systemic causes of gender inequality in community sports and assisting sporting clubs in addressing these issues too.

It aims to build the capacity of the City of Greater Geelong and associated stakeholders to eliminate gender inequality in policy, programs, communications, and the delivery and allocation of community sports and recreation infrastructure.

The policy has been developed in response to the Victorian Government Fair Access Policy Roadmap.

One of the key matters to note is that to stay eligible for state government funding opportunities, all councils require an endorsed Fair Access Policy effective from 1 July this year.

So, a Fair Access Policy is now a requirement, with a focus on infrastructure, programs and governance.

Sport plays a significant and cherished role in the culture and identity of Greater Geelong.

And we all deserve a chance to be involved.

To not only access the health and wellbeing benefits it provides, but to also feel part of something, connect with others, and nurture our overall sense of confidence.

While participation trends show an increase in women and girls’ involvement in sports and recreation activities, there remains a substantial gap in both participation and leadership positions across all levels of the Victorian sporting and recreation industry.

Our Draft Fair Access Policy seeks to address these issues by reducing the gap in participation rates and promoting gender balance in leadership positions.

Research has highlighted concerning trends, such as 28 per cent of women considering leaving their club due to inequitable treatment, and women feeling unwelcome compared to men in sporting environments.

Sports participation rates for girls and women in Greater Geelong are notably lower than for boys and men, and only a small percentage of community sports change rooms are gender-neutral.

These disparities underscore the importance of our Fair Access Policy in fostering inclusivity and addressing gender inequality in sports and recreation.

We encourage everyone to provide feedback on the draft policy through the City’s Have Your Say page yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/draft-fair-access-policy.

Your input is invaluable and will be carefully considered as we finalise the policy.

Together, we can create a more equitable and inclusive community for all.

Cr Elise Wilkinson

Bellarine Ward, City of Greater Geelong