Women and girls’ sports participation in Gippsland is set for a boost, with South Gippsland and Latrobe City shire councils securing Play Well Participation Grants with support from GippSport.
Funding is through the Australian Sports Commission as part of its first National Sport Participation Strategy, which aims to ensure that everyone has a place in sport.
GippSport Executive Officer Dan Poynton said his organisation was proud to partner with local councils to deliver such impactful projects.
“Women and girls have been underrepresented in community sport for too long so this is a great opportunity for us to work with local councils as well as local clubs to highlight the importance of sport for women and girls in our communities,” Mr Poynton said.
The Play Well Participation Grant is a national initiative designed to break down barriers and increase sports access for underrepresented groups, particularly women and girls. The program focuses on fostering inclusive environments where women and girls feel welcome and supported as they embark on or continue their community sport journey.
While the two councils will focus on slightly different strategies and sports, the primary goal remains the same – to raise awareness of the sports opportunities available to women and girls in South Gippsland and Latrobe and to increase participation.
In South Gippsland, the emphasis will be on Australian rules football, cricket, and soccer, with a focus on engaging women and girls through community events and club partnerships. In Latrobe City, the program will highlight opportunities in soccer, golf, and Australian rules football, aiming to create more inclusive and accessible sports environments.
To kick off the initiative, free “Come and Try” events will be held this November, with further events planned for next February and October. These events will be open to women and girls of all ages, offering a chance to try new sports in a supportive and welcoming environment.
In addition to these events, GippSport, in partnership with the councils, will offer no-cost, fully subsidised workshops and capacity building support for local sports clubs. These workshops will focus on creating welcoming and inclusive club environments that attract and retain women and girls.
Program Coordinator Rachel Ronaldson emphasised the importance of the workshops in addition to the come and try days.
“The Play Well strategy focuses on creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive sports environments and we encourage all clubs interested in supporting women and girls to sign up for the workshops to ensure they are ready to welcome participants that enjoy the come and try days and want to take the next step in their community sport journey,” Ms Ronaldson said.
GippSport will collaborate closely with State Sporting Associations, local associations and clubs to ensure the Play Well initiative reaches as many women and girls as possible. This collaboration will also help to build sustainable programs that continue to benefit the community long after the initial grant period.
Get Involved
GippSport invites all members of the community to get involved in the Play Well initiative, whether by participating in events, volunteering, or attending workshops.
Don’t miss out! Register for our upcoming events and workshops today! To learn more about the project, visit gippsport.com.au/playwell or contact us at 5176 3020.
From left to right (Adults) Rachel Ronaldson (GippSport), Joanne Bedford (Latrobe City Council), Sam Kindlen (Golf Australia), Graeme Smith (Female Football Gippsland President), Ross Bennell (Operations Manager/Secretary of Female Football Gippsland), Fran Renehan (Secretary of Golf West Gippsland), Jackson Landy (Football Victoria), Belinda Hua (Traralgon Olympians Soccer Club Junior Co-ordinator & Female Football Champion) Virginia Sanchez (Traralgon Olympians Soccer Club Player) and Josephine Sanchez (Traralgon Olympians Soccer Club Player)
From left to right (Adults) Gene Parini (GippSport), Michelle Moon (Gippsland Soccer League), John Schelling (South Gippsland Shire), Kathy Zacharopoulos (Leongatha Parrots FNC & Koonwarra Leongatha RSL Women’s Cricket) Bobbie Lee Blay (Southern & West Gippsland Junior Football) & Front Clare Williams (South Gippsland Shire Mayor) with players from local clubs.
