Policies, programs, and supporting structures

The Australian Human Rights Commission, opens in a new tab (AHRC) is Australia's National Human Rights Institution. An independent statutory organisation, established by an act of Federal Parliament. The AHRC works to protect and promote human rights in Australia and internationally, including investigating complaints about discrimination and human rights breaches.

• Our Work: LGBTIQ+, opens in a new tab. Every person has inherent dignity and value. Human rights help us to recognise and respect this in ourselves and in each other.

Guidelines

• Guidelines - Including transgender and gender diverse people in sport, opens in a new tab (June 2019). These Guidelines have been developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission), in partnership with the Australian Sports Commission and the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS), to provide guidance to sporting organisations on promoting the inclusion and participation of transgender and gender diverse people in sport.

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is the Australian Government agency responsible for supporting and investing in sport at all levels.

Guidelines

• Transgender and Gender Diverse Inclusion Guidelines for HP Sport, (2023).
• Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport, (2019).

Resources

• Inclusive sport. To promote more inclusive sport practices in our community, provides a variety of easy-to-use tools and resources to help sports and clubs understand, recognise and celebrate inclusion and diversity.
  • Diverse communities - LGBTIQ+ communities
  • Safe and inclusive sport - Trans and Gender Diverse Inclusion

Programs

• Thrive with Pride, (accessed 7 August 2025). Offers rainbow athletes and allies the opportunity to join an inclusive community and drive LGBTQ+ inclusion initiatives within Australian sporting communities. Since launching in 2022 the program has welcomed more than 50 athlete ambassadors from different sports and locations across the country.

The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Aging, opens in a new tab is responsible for developing and delivering policies and programs and advising the Australian Government on health, disability and aged care, including LGBTIQA+ people's health and wellbeing.

Strategies

• National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People 2025–2035, opens in a new tab, Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Health and Aged Care, (2024). Sport is highlighted under Action 4: Reduce modifiable risk factors and improve preventive health measures - 'Building opportunities outside the health system for people to be involved in preventive health activities, harness a sense of community and reduce social isolation'.
  • Promote opportunities to encourage physical activity and reduce social isolation including community sport, which builds community connection and supports good health and wellbeing.
  • Develop health promotion materials for specific settings such as community sport, as well as materials for LGBTIQA+ people across the life course. Ensure materials provide clear and accurate information that focuses on how to improve health and wellbeing across the life course.

InterAction for Health and Human Rights, opens in a new tab is the leading national body by and for people with innate variations of sex characteristics. They promote the health, human rights, self-determination and bodily autonomy of intersex people in Australia. Their goals are to help create a society where our bodies are not stigmatised, and where our rights as people are respected, protected and fulfilled. To do this, we build community, evidence, capacity, and education and information resources.

• Darlington Statement, opens in a new tab (March 2017). A joint consensus statement by Australian and Aotearoa/New Zealand intersex organisations and independent advocates. It sets out the priorities and calls by the intersex human rights movement in our countries.
  • Item #35 calls for access to sport at all levels of competition by all intersex persons, including for all intersex women to be permitted to compete as women, without restrictions or discriminatory medical investigations.

Resources

• Sport: What is the issue, opens in a new tab, Morgan Carpenter, (reviewed 24 February 2021). Intersex people suffer exclusion and stigmatisation in sport. This takes multiple forms. On a day-to-day level, the most significant issue faced by intersex people in sport settings is body shaming, and the idea that our bodies are too masculine or too feminine.
• Who are intersex people?, opens in a new tab (reviewed 17 May 2025). Who are people with innate variations of sex characteristics? What brings them together? What terms do people use?
• Forms and data collection, opens in a new tab, (reviewed 10 October 2023). This page outlines recommendations on respectfully including intersex on forms and documents whenever individuals are asked to state their demographic characteristics.
• Inclusive practice, opens in a new tab, (reviewed 19 March 2021). Genuine inclusion goes beyond terminology and definition and considers the health and wellbeing needs, and diversity of people with intersex variations. The Raising the Bar and Inclusive Practice guides provide toolkits to move beyond terms and tokenism and take meaningful action. These guides are intended to help make your service, project or program intersex friendly.
• Intersex for allies, opens in a new tab, (reviewed 7 March 2021). Intersex people have innate sex characteristics that do not fit medical norms for female or male bodies. We are a hugely diverse population, with at least 40 different underlying traits known to science.

Play by the Rules (PBTR), opens in a new tab is a unique collaboration between the Sport Integrity Australia, the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Human Rights Commission, the eSafety Commissioner and every state and territory sport and recreation department and human rights agency.

As an independent platform focused solely on community sport. PBTR provide practical, peer-informed tools to help people navigate real-life situations with clarity and confidence.

Resources

• Top tips for inclusion of trans and gender diverse people in sports, opens in a new tab, Dr Ryan Storr, (11 June 2025). This resource provides support to community sport clubs and their staff, volunteers and participants, in their practices and behaviours to ensure trans and gender diverse people are included and welcomed.
• Girls and gender diverse children playing in mixed teams or boys’ teams, opens in a new tab, (23 May 2025). The issue of female, male and gender diverse children wanting to play within a team of different gendered children is a topic gaining increasing attention.
• eLearning & Scenarios, opens in a new tab, (accessed 5 August 2025). PBTR provides free eLearning courses that will help you learn about inclusive, safe, and fair sport. Our courses are for anyone involved in sport and recreation, including coaches, administrators, officials, players, parents, and spectators. The courses have been developed in consultation with sports experts who work in these areas. They are short, user-friendly and feature the latest interactive technology, including case studies, practical scenarios, and a quiz. The modules may be done in part, or all at once.

Pride Cup, opens in a new tab is challenging homophobia and transphobia within sporting clubs — making them more welcoming for LGBTIQ+ fans, players and officials. By connecting with community clubs of all codes to help them run their own Pride Cup matches and attend our education sessions, we are empowering them to become leaders for inclusivity and diversity in their communities.

Programs

• Host a Pride Cup, opens in a new tab. Once registered you'll received education, support and guidance, an organising handbook and help promoting your event.
• Education, opens in a new tab. The aim of the Pride Cup education program is to explore and tackle the current climate and attitudes towards LGBTI+ inclusion within Australian community sporting clubs and equip your club with the tools to challenge discrimination.

Pride in Sport, opens in a new tab is a national not-for-profit sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations of all levels with the inclusion of employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators with diverse sexualities and genders. The world-first Pride in Sport Index (PSI) benchmarks and assesses the inclusion of LGBTQ people across all sporting contexts.

Pride in Sport is a social inclusion initiative of ACON, Australia’s largest LGBTQ health organisation, focusing on inclusion, diversity, health and wellbeing, HIV prevention and support services.

There are three core pillars of the program:

• Commitment, opens in a new tab (becoming a member organisation). Membership to Pride in Sport provides organisations active in LGBTQ inclusion, or those starting to introduce LGBTQ Inclusion into their diversity strategy with extensive support, resources, networking opportunities, training, consulting and advice via a dedicated account manager and frequent interaction with other LGBTQ diversity practitioners within your local area.
• Measurement, opens in a new tab (via the Pride in Sport Index and National Survey).
  • PSI Submission, opens in a new tab. Allows organisations to assess the inclusion of people with diverse sexualities and genders within their organisation, and provide benchmarking, year-on-year progress tracking, and comprehensive feedback to drive improvements.
  • PSI National Survey, opens in a new tab. An opportunity to collect valuable anonymous insights on LGBTQ inclusion in your organisation/club including the attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ people within your organisation/club.
• Recognition, opens in a new tab (celebrated at the Australian Pride in Sport Awards).

Resources

• Language and terminology summary, opens in a new tab. Provides definitions and summaries of various terms relating to Bodies, gender and gender identities; Sexual orientations; and Societal attitudes/issues.
• Inclusion governance by sport, opens in a new tab. A list of Australian National Sporting Organisations (NSO's) with links to their respective LGBTQ+ related inclusion governance and policies.
• LGBTQ Sports Club Directory, opens in a new tab. Established in 2018, lists LGBTQ sporting clubs by state/territory and sport.
• Resources, opens in a new tab. Includes documents, videos, reports, and more from Pride in Sport and other relevant organisations.

Programs

• Pride in Sport Collective, opens in a new tab. In 2022, twelve National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) partnered with Pride in Sport to launch the Collective. The program aims to address barriers and mental health disparities of the LGBTQ+ community and their high disconnect rates with sport. The research-based approach, featuring mental health experts and the participating NSOs, will see sporting bodies in Australia deliver capacity building, community engagement, marketing, and promotional initiatives. The twelve NSOs that form the Pride in Sport Collective are Touch Football Australia (lead NSO), Pride in Sport, Cricket Australia, Water Polo Australia, Gymnastics Australia, Badminton Australia, Paddle Australia, Australian Fencing Federation, Hockey Australia, Australian Eight Ball Federation, Australian Dragon Boat Federation, Diving Australia and Squash Australia.
• Transgender and Gender Diverse Governance in Sport, opens in a new tab. In 2020, eight peak sporting bodies committed to implementing governance that supports a greater level of inclusion for trans and gender diverse people in their sports. The initial sports organisations were the Australian Football League (AFL), Cricket Australia, Hockey Australia, Netball Australia, Rugby Australia, Tennis Australia, Touch Football Australia, Unisport, and Water Polo Australia. A further 13 sports have also pledged to develop trans and gender diverse inclusion frameworks for their sports.

Proud 2 Play, opens in a new tab works to reduce social isolation, stigma, and discrimination of LGBTQIA+ people through the power of sport and recreation to create safe and affirming spaces for participation.

They are dedicated to increasing LGBTQIA+ engagement in sport, exercise, and active recreation, collaborating closely with the broader sporting community, and proactively tackling discrimination and hostility within the sporting realm.

Resources

• Sports Industry Hub, opens in a new tab. A resource for the sports industry, providing a wide range of services and resources to help create a more inclusive and diverse sporting community
• Local Government Hub, opens in a new tab. Offering a range of services and resources to help achieve local government goals and objectives in creating a more inclusive and diverse sporting community.
• Sports Club Hub, opens in a new tab. A resource for sports clubs looking to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for the LGBTIQ+ community. It offers a range of resources, including information on education sessions, the Rainbow Roadmap program, and how to be listed in the Proud 2 Play LGBTIQ+ Friendly Sporting Club Directory.
• Player Hub, opens in a new tab. A one-stop-shop for LGBTIQ+ individuals who are looking to connect with welcoming sports clubs, seeking safe spaces in sport, need advice on where to start, or need support and advocacy.
• Activity Directory, opens in a new tab. From gyms to recreational groups, find your fit and join a community that celebrates diversity.
• Education and Capacity Building, opens in a new tab. Empowering sporting organisations with knowledge and strategies for LGBTQI+ inclusion in sports.
• Resource Hub, opens in a new tab. A wealth of resources, including an e-learning course, inclusive posters, tools, and tipsheets.

Sport Integrity Australia, opens in a new tab is the Australian Government Agency responsible for keeping Australian sport safe and fair, at all levels, for all participants. They work with sports to support their existing integrity functions or develop new capabilities, so they can protect their athletes and the competitions they govern. We provide resources, capability and education to help sports, as well as offering an independent complaint handling model to address serious integrity issues that arise in sport around discrimination, abuse and the safeguarding of children.

Guidelines

• LGBTQ+ Sport Integrity Guideline, opens in a new tab, (May 2025). Sport Integrity Australia and Pride in Sport have partnered to ensure a more inclusive, safe, and healthy sporting environment for people with diverse sexualities and genders. The Guideline provides sporting organisations and decision makers with comprehensive guidance on identifying, managing, and resolving incidents of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in sport.

Australian Pride Network

The Australian Pride Network, opens in a new tab exists to promote Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Pride on a national level, encouraging diverse communities in Australia to hold and attend pride events (including a dedicated page for sports events), while increasing promotional and networking opportunities among Australian pride organisations.

Diversity and Inclusion in Sport Alliance (DISA)

The Diversity and Inclusion in Sport Alliance (DISA), opens in a new tab is a unique partnership between sporting organisations, non-profits, state and federal government agencies and academics. DISA aims to inspire and equip individuals and organisations with skills, knowledge and confidence to break down barriers to participation and create more equitable sporting environments.

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, opens in a new tab is the national peak health organisation in Australia for organisations and individuals that provide health-related programs, services and research focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people and other sexuality, gender and bodily diverse (LGBTIQ+) people and communities.

Queer Sporting Alliance

Queer Sporting Alliance (QSA), opens in a new tab is Australia largest LGBTIQA+ sporting club. QSA's mission is to dismantle the barriers preventing LGBTIQA+ folk from enjoying community sport. QSA have teams and Q Leagues playing in: Kaurna/Adelaide, Naarm/Melbourne, Meanjin/Brisbane, Gadigal/Sydney, nipaluna/Hobart, kanamaluka/Launceston and Ngambri/Canberra.