National sports governance policy revealed

THE Victorian Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence, and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, have endorsed the new National Gender Equity in Sports Governance Policy announced in Canberra earlier this month.

The policy requires all national and state-level sports bodies boards’ to be a minimum of 50 per cent women and/or gender diverse by July 2027.

The same ratio will also be mandatory for board chairs and key board sub-committee members.

This reflects Victoria’s own Balance the Board policy, which since 2019 has required a minimum of 40 per cent representation of women on boards of state sport and recreation organisations in order to be eligible for key funding programs.

Minister Dimopoulos said it’s yet another positive step towards gender equity in sport across Australia.

“We remain steadfast in breaking down barriers for women and girls in sport – giving everyone the opportunity to thrive and succeed,” he said.

Ms Spence added that as Balance the Board had delivered stronger performing and more inclusive governance across sport in the State, the government was proud to have played its own part in developing the nation-wide equivalent.

Federal Minister for Aged Care and Sport Anika Wells said diversity within an organisation’s senior roles provides a more complete mix of skills, perspectives and experiences, more often resulting in better decision-making and improved performance.

“I strongly encourage all organisations that operate within the Australian sporting environment to embrace this policy and implement the game-changing gender targets we need,” she said.