Key Challenges Facing Women and Girls in Australian Sport

Introduction

As Australian sport continues to grow and change, women and girls are still facing some big hurdles when it comes to full participation and recognition. Feedback from our Play Like a Girl community has highlighted a few key issues that need to be tackled to create a more fair and inclusive sporting environment.

This article dives into the main challenges our community has identified and looks at how we can start solving them.
‍

1. Copying the Male Sport Model

A common theme in the feedback is the tendency to apply the male sport model directly to female sports. This approach often ignores the unique needs and challenges that women face, both in and out of their sporting lives. Unlike men, women frequently juggle multiple roles, including being primary caregivers, which makes it tough to sustain a career in sport without tailored support.
‍

2. Funding Gaps

Funding is still a major issue in women’s sport, according to our community. The gap in financial support between male and female sports affects everything from grassroots participation to elite performance. Many people emphasised the need for more investment to ensure that women’s sports aren’t just getting by but are actually thriving. Adequate funding is crucial to providing the resources, training, and facilities that female athletes need to compete at the highest levels.
‍

3. Inequality Among Coaches

The pay gap among coaches, especially in leagues like the AFLW, is another major concern raised by our community. Female coaches often have to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet, which isn’t sustainable long-term. This pay disparity not only impacts the quality of coaching available to female athletes but also limits the opportunities for women to advance in their coaching careers.
‍

4. Girls Dropping Out of Sport

A lot of our community members are worried about the high dropout rates among girls in their teenage years, with many not returning to sport as adults. This dropout rate shows the need for targeted interventions that address specific challenges girls face during adolescence, like body image issues, social pressures, and the lack of female role models in sport.
‍

5. The Need for a Supportive Environment

Many respondents pointed out that women’s sports still aren’t taken seriously by the broader sporting community. This lack of support is evident in the limited media coverage, inadequate funding, and the general view that women’s sports are secondary to men’s. Creating a more supportive environment requires effort from everyone involved—sports organisations, media outlets, and government bodies.
‍

6. The Financial Burden of Participation

The cost of participating in sport is another big barrier for women and girls, according to our community feedback. Many find it hard to cover the expenses associated with training, equipment, and competition, which can limit their ability to pursue sport at a higher level. Tackling this issue means not only increasing funding but also developing more affordable pathways for female athletes.
‍

7. Gender Inequality in Leadership Roles

The lack of women in senior leadership roles within sports organisations is a significant issue that our community has flagged. Without more women in decision-making positions, it’s tough to drive the changes needed to support women and girls in sport. Promoting women into leadership roles is essential to ensuring that the needs and perspectives of female athletes are heard and addressed.
‍

Conclusion and Call to Action

The challenges facing women and girls in Australian sport are complex and varied, as highlighted by our Play Like a Girl community. But by addressing these issues directly, we have a real chance to create a more inclusive and fair sporting landscape. Whether it’s rethinking the male-dominated sport model or ensuring better funding and leadership opportunities, we need collaboration and commitment from everyone involved.
‍

At Play Like a Girl, we’re committed to tackling these challenges and making a real difference in the world of sport. If you or your organisation are interested in working with us to address these issues, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can make sure that women and girls not only participate but thrive in Australian sport.

‍