Australia

Australian Government Announces Gender Equity Policy for National Sporting Boards

Published

3 months ago

September 9, 2024

National and state-level sporting organisations in Australia will be required to achieve gender parity on their boards by 2027 or risk losing federal funding, according to a new policy announced by the Albanese government this week.

The National Gender Equity in Sports Governance Policy aims to address the significant under-representation of women in leadership roles within Australian sport by introducing financial incentives for organisations that achieve gender balance on their boards.

A woman wearing a long sleeved pink and khaki top stands in the House of Representatives.

Despite nearly equal participation rates for men and women in sports, leadership positions across Australian sporting organisations remain predominantly male.

Currently, only 62 percent of funded national sports organisations meet the benchmark for gender diversity among board directors. This figure drops sharply to 25 percent when considering the proportion of female board chairs, and only 22 percent of CEOs across 65 national sports organisations are women. Additionally, less than 10 percent of Australia’s top national teams are coached by women.

Under the new policy, all organisations receiving government funding will be required to meet three key targets by July 1, 2027:
1. 50 percent of all board directors must be women
2. 50 percent of all board chairs must be women
3. 50 percent of specified board sub-committee members must be womenTo ensure compliance, organisations will need to report annually through a sports governance self-assessment tool managed by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC).

Failure to meet these targets could result in the withholding of federal funding, either partially or entirely, until the organisation addresses the shortfall.

The policy applies to all recognised national sporting organisations, including those for people with disabilities, but does not extend to community clubs or private sports entities like AFL, NRL, or A-Leagues clubs. However, these private organisations are encouraged to pursue similar goals.

Football Australia, currently led by James Johnson (pictured), has never had a woman CEO. (Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)

Minister for Sport Anika Wells emphasized the importance of having more women in decision-making roles. “Diversity within an organisation’s senior roles provides a more complete mix of skills, perspectives, and experiences, resulting in better decision-making and improved performance,” Wells said.

She highlighted the recent success of Australian women athletes and the need for balanced leadership to match growing female participation in sports.

This policy is part of a broader initiative by the Albanese government to support women and girls in sports. It complements existing programs such as the $36 million Empowering Women and Girls in Sport program and the $200 million Play Our Way fund, aimed at improving facilities and addressing issues like abuse and discrimination.

The policy is also a component of the government’s Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality framework, which seeks to enhance representation of women across various sectors.

ASC chair Kate Jenkins AO expressed optimism about the policy’s impact, noting that it not only targets gender equity but also sets a framework for broader diversity improvements in the future.

“A range of resources, practical tools, and programs will be made available to support organisations in meeting these targets and overcoming the challenges of implementing such significant changes,” Jenkins said. “Today’s announcement is a crucial step towards a more inclusive and equitable sporting landscape in Australia.”