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Victorian Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence has opened the State Government’s expanded Change Our Game Women in Governance Program with the study program aimed at creating more opportunities for women to reach their leadership goals in the sports industry.

The Office for Women in Sport and Recreation has partnered with the Australian Institute of Company Directors to deliver the three-day program, which provides a comprehensive overview of the main components of directorship including governance, strategy, risk and finance.

Minister Spence notes “this initiative is crucial to empowering women and boosting representation in leadership positions across sport and active recreation organisations.”

“We’re creating more opportunities for women to demonstrate their skills and promote a more inclusive culture in sports leadership.”

The initiative follows a successful pilot last year that saw 25 women graduate and many subsequently take up leadership and executive positions within the sector, including newly appointed Swimming Victoria board member Michelle Harris.

With more than 20 years’ experience as a sports sector professional and an extensive record of volunteering in community sport, Harris was keen to take the next step and was nominated by GippSport to take part in the pilot and complete the directorship course.

Harris advised “the course was a great reminder that there are amazing women who know and understand governance responsibilities, and together we can make the next step to important board positions across our sector.”

The program helps women working and volunteering in the sport and recreation sector who are new or aspiring directors gain the knowledge, skills and ability to excel in board positions at a regional, state and national level.

Two streams of the program are available. Stream one will provide training for up to 25 women who currently sit on a board, with stream two providing training for up to 25 women who have been identified as, or aspire to be, future board members.

Head of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation Sarah Styles added “the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation is pleased to be able to support women to thrive in governance roles through this program, whether they are early in their director journey or seeking that first opportunity.”

To find out more about the program visit changeourgame.vic.gov.au. 

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