Growth in Women's Sport Creates Opportunities and Challenges

Media Release

Growth in Women's Sport Creates Opportunities and Challenges

Tuesday, 18 July 2017 09:59

The unprecedented growth in women's sport in Victoria will continue to extend and shape the positive future of Victoria's sporting strategies and increase in participation, the State's peak sporting body said today.

Steven Potts
CEO, Vicsport

Steven Potts, CEO of Vicsport, said "The involvement of Government, major sporting codes and the media in providing increasing air time for women's sport and with support at club and community levels has created a growing field of opportunities and challenges.

Sport is embedded in Victoria's social and economic fabric with 3.25 million Victorians participating in sport which employs 26,000 Victorians and adds $12.6 billion of activity annually to the Victorian economy. *1

"The speed at which this change is moving is clearly identified with football, cricket and soccer as just three sports going through rapid expansion requiring considerable planning, building new facilities and maximising the use of existing sporting facilities.

"One of the major goals of Vicsport is to provide networking and professional development opportunities for women within the sporting industry through the Vicsport Professional Network."

'Pathways to Change Leveraging Success for Your Sport' is a special Forum being held by Vicsport with the support of the Victorian Government on Wednesday 2 August 2017 5.00pm - 7.30pm at Ikon Park, Princes Hill.
As part of its Women in Sport Professional Development, the Forum will discuss the growth in women's sport and what the future holds.

A panel diverse and experienced panel hosted by Angela Pippos includes:

Margot Foster AM, experienced lawyer, Olympian and sport administrator

Chyloe Kurdas, AFLW commentator and previous AFL Female Development Manager

Bianca Chatfield, former premiership captain of the Melbourne Vixens and vice- captain of the Australian Diamonds

Mr Potts said the exchange of ideas and knowledge from highly qualified practitioners in the field and the opportunity to ask questions is aimed at increasing the industry capacity to roll out changes and grow female participation at club level in sport through discussion of the following:

The underlying participation strategies that have been used

What benefits they provide

How grassroots sport has leveraged off the success of elite level

What have been the catalysts and drivers for change

What challenges have been encountered and how they've been overcome

How well known players have been used as role models to encourage uptake at club level

'Pathways to Change Leveraging Success for Your Sport' Forum
5.00pm-7.30pm Wednesday 2 August 2017 Ikon Park, 400 Royal Parade, Princes Hill

Reference: *1 Valuing Sport and Recreation a framework for the future Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services December 2016
Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Media Communications, Vicsport - Mobile: 0417 329 201