ASC Welcomes Gender Equity Policy

10 September 2024

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has welcomed a new policy that will ensure sporting boardrooms across the country meet gender equity targets or risk funding being withheld.

The ASC welcomes the national Gender Equity in Sport Governance Policy, aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of women in sports leadership.

The National Gender Equity in Sport Governance Policy, announced today by the Australian Government, addresses the underrepresentation of women in sports leadership.

Central to the policy is Gender Equity Targets that have been set for the governance of national and state level sport bodies.

The Policy requires organisations to reach the following Gender Equity Targets in the coming years:

• 50% of all board directors are women and/or gender diverse
• 50% of board chairs are women and/or gender diverse
• 50% of specified board sub-committee members are women and/or gender diverse.

Currently, only 25% of national sporting organisations and national sporting organisations for people with disability are chaired by a woman.

62% of funded national organisations reach the required standard of gender diversity in board directors.

The Policy is a collaboration between the ASC, on behalf of the Australian Government, and the State and Territory Agencies for Sport and Recreation and will be rolled out nationally.

Each jurisdiction will adopt its own mechanisms to reach the targets and timeframes, with Australian Government funding to be withheld from national organisations that do not comply.

Minister for Sport, The Hon Anika Wells MP says the policy will accelerate the change required in the system.

“We need more women making decisions for more women. Our sporting systems are not equal and this policy will help address the gender imbalances prevalent in sports leadership,” Minister Wells said.

“Diversity within an organisation’s senior roles provide a more complete mix of skills, perspectives and experiences, resulting in better decision-making and improved performance.

“The incredible results by our women in Paris and the success of teams like the Diamonds, Stingers and Southern Stars has seen a surge in female participation but we still do not have an appropriate balance of senior leadership.

“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.”

ASC CEO Kieren Perkins OAM said the governance standards that make up this policy are crucial for the long term success of Australian sport.

“As someone who has been fortunate to be involved in sport across four decades, it’s disappointing that in many respects, sport looks the same today as it did 20 years ago,” he said.

“This groundbreaking policy is the change required to continue to drive the sport sector forward as we build towards Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

“I’d like to thank the Australian Government and all the states and territories for their leadership on this important issue and I look forward to working closely with the sector to ensure the policy is implemented smoothly.”

ASC Chair Kate Jenkins AO said she looks forward to leading the important next steps.

“As someone who has worked in the gender equity and inclusion space for decades, today’s announcement is an important forward step for the sport sector. I’m optimistic about the positive impact this policy will have for sport at all levels,” she said.

“While this policy focuses on gender equity, it sets a framework to improve representation of all elements of diversity including age, cultural background and disability in the longer term.

“A range of resources, practical tools and programs will be made available to organisations to support them to meet these targets and navigate the challenges that may arise with substantial change like this.”