Boosting women’s sport and active recreation in Melbourne’s West

Brimbank City Council has teamed up with other Councils and organisations in Melbourne’s West to undertake an industry-leading study into women and girl’s participation in sport and active recreation in the region.

Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham City Councils, Women’s Health West and the Victorian Government, have worked together on the Women’s Participation in Sport and Active Recreation in Melbourne’s West: An Action Plan for Change study and completed a draft action plan to increase the level of representation of women and girls in sport.

Brimbank Mayor, Cr Georgina Papafotiou said the plan aims to improve women and girl’s participation in sport and create more gender equitable opportunities and environments in Melbourne’s West.

‘Now more than ever, we’re looking at ways to identify initiatives that motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to be more inclusive.

‘Melbourne’s West has historically been an area that is under-represented by women and girls when it comes to sport.

‘By developing this action plan, as a region we hope to be able to initiate change to address this disparity, build on the work already achieved in the field, and target further change that is tailored specifically for our local communities.

‘I look forward to seeing the action plan finalised and working with all of the partner Councils and organisations to implement real change in Melbourne’s West,’ Cr Papafotiou said.

Investing in facilities and programs that encourage woman and girls participation in sport and recreation is one of the focus areas in Brimbank’s Transforming Brimbank Agenda 2020.

Brimbank has been investing heavily in upgrading facilities to become female friendly and has a suite of existing initiatives and programs in place to encourage and support females and community members to be physically active.

Some of these include the Be Active Brimbank initiative, annual Brimbank Female Football Festival event, In2Tennis and In2Active programs, sports club development training and hosting Daughters of the West.

Following public consultation, the action plan will be finalised later in 2020. The project has been supported by a $45,000 contribution from the state government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Fund.

Written submissions on the draft Women’s Participation in Sport and Active Recreation in Melbourne’s West: An Action Plan for Change 2020-2025 open on 4 March 2020 and close on 5 April 2020. Have your say online at our have Your Say page or view hardcopy at Council leisure centres, indoor sports facilities and customer service centres.

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