Well designed and inclusive sport infrastructure enables women and girls to participate in sport. Increasing the availability, accessibility or quantity of inclusive facilities enables growth in women’s and girls’ participation, improves high performance sport outcomes, drives sport related tourism and fosters sector sustainability and business outcomes.
As participation trends have changed and female sport has grown exponentially, change in facility design and provision has been required to meet the needs of women and girls. Facilities now need to provide welcoming, inclusive, fit-for-purpose places to provide women and girls equal opportunity to participate as players, officials, spectators and administrators.
Speakers
Host: Kerry Turner, Manager Partnerships and Participation, Office of Sport
Belinda Goh, Principal Architect, Populous
Matthew Green, Project Principal, Home of Matildas, Six Pillars Consulting
Karen Penrose, President, Old Barker Rugby Club, Director Rugby Australia
Carla Stacey, Coordinator Sporting Partnership, Inner West Council
Panellists
Sarah Stewart, Paralympian, Director, Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT
Libby Sadler, Strategic Project Manager, Sport NSW, Former AFLW Operations Manager, GWS Giants
Belinda Sharpe, NRL Referee
Sarah Walsh, Former Matilda, Head of Women’s Football, Football Australia
Forum focus
- The importance of inclusive and accessible sports infrastructure in increasing women’s and girl’s participation
- Understanding what a female friendly facility looks and feels like for diverse groups of women
- The needs and expectations of female officials in shared spaces
- How the new Home of Matildas will set the benchmark for inclusive sport facilities in Australia
- Providing equitable programs and scheduling at sport facilities
