Sport SA opens Centre for Women’s Sport

May 3, 2023

State peak body Sport SA has announced the opening of The Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport - the first of its kind in Australia - offering education, training, equity programs and leadership opportunities for women.

Named in honour of after Olympic Gold Medallist and former Governor of South Australia, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, the new Centre will operate from both Sport SA’s West Beach office and Memorial Drive’s ‘The Drive’ on Adelaide’s Memorial Drive.

Conceptualised by Sport SA and funded by the South Australia Government, the Centre aims to help to close gender gaps and shift perceptions in sport. It will offer a range of services that increase female participation in sport and leadership.

The services that the Centre will offer to support women in the industry include:

Mentoring and leadership training
Career guidance and transitioning support
Media, social media, public speaking, and communication training
Education and training in identified ‘gaps’
Networking and share learning opportunities, across sports and disciplines
Coach and technical official development
Board and Management development
Gender equity programs for male leaders

Recognising how important it is for women to have this kind of support in the industry, which will enable more women to pursue a career in sports, Sport SA Chief Executive, Leah Cassidy stated “this excites me because as a woman in sport, I have had first-hand experience of how programs like this can transform the experience for people trying to carve out a career in this sector.

“There will not be equality without equity - so we are starting by educating communities on how we can ensure women and girls are provided with the same levels of support and opportunities as their male counterparts.”

Jackson-Nelson says she is honoured to be part of an initiative that will create positive outcomes for players, coaches, administrators, board members and across the entire sporting industry.

She noted “I am especially proud that this Academy will be established so that South Australian girls of the future can aspire to be involved in sporting programs in some way.

“It will no doubt provide them with the inspiration, encouragement, support and guidance to be able to fulfil their ambitions.”

Click here for more information.

Image: Stakeholders at the opening of The Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport. Back row from left: Thomas Etherton, Nicole Rodden, Chelsea Packer, Julie Anderson, James Harris and Pat Mickan. Front row: Kelly Rourke, Karla Della Pietra, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson and Leah Cassidy. Credit: Sport SA.

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