Equal right to participate

Women need leaders who look like them

The packed room at the Warrnambool’s Lighthouse Theatre on Friday morning for the State Government’s Gender Equality Roadshow was a telling sight, with at least 60 representatives from a diverse range of organisations in attendance.

The Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence Fiona Richardson congratulated Warrnambool for having the best turn out on her state-wide tour.

Discussions were wide-ranging, but the focus fell on equal participation of women in sport, educating young people about gender equality from an early age and better facilitating women’s participation in the workforce.

Improving gender equality in sport was seen as a powerful way to instigate positive change in the south-west due to its influential role in many people’s lives.

Speaking to The Standard in the lead-up to the event, Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West executive officer Emily Lee-Ack explained how crucial it was to make sport accessible to women.

"If you believe from a starting point that girls and boys and women and men should be able to participate in the community equally and they should be able to pursue their sporting interests equally, they should be able to do so in a way that’s consistent,” Ms Lee-Ack said.

“Things like change rooms are about providing the infrastructure to allow girls and boys and men and women to participate equally by saying these are the things that you need to do in order to play footy or play netball.

“One of the things is to have a shower after a wet or muddy game or have space to get changed if you have to drive a long distance to participate.”

Ms Lee-Ack said it was also important to recognise that many young women dropped out of sport when they reached their teenage years.

This year, South Warrnambool Football Netball Club manager Kevin Rhodes played a key role in setting up a women’s football team.

He said the seeds for the idea were planted after watching women’s AFL teams playing in Melbourne, and the club decided to test the waters and give a side a try.

The team, which includes players both over and under 18, has faced women’s teams from Mount Gambier and Hamilton. Mr Rhodes said it would be ideal to get a competition with five teams running next year.

He said setting up the women’s team had provided a boost for the club.

“We saw a need and an opportunity to develop our club as well,” Mr Rhodes said.

“The more people we have involved in the club the more successful and financially viable the club is.

“One of the ways to boost the membership of the club is to get more people playing.”