A who’s who of female sporting identities has hit the Sunshine Coast to develop a game-plan for increased involvement in sport and recreation among women and girls.
The meeting is the first round table of the Queensland Government’s Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women and Girls in Sport and Recreation, which includes elite athletes, academics and sports administrators.
Today’s forum includes members of the Sunshine Coast sporting community, as well as former Australian netball player, Vicki Wilson and current Australian women’s Test and One Day International cricket captain Jodie Fields.
Recreation and Sport Minister Steve Dickson said the forum was focusing on practical ways to boost participation levels, as part of the Newman Government’s pledge to get more Queenslanders involved in recreation and sport.
“We are hosting four forums across the state as part of our commitment to getting women and girls more active,” Mr Dickson said.
“This committee of dedicated sport and recreation experts share a unique passion-to provide women and girls with the best possible opportunities to participate and excel.
“With the help of forum participants, we want to create community awareness of this initiative, and get first hand feedback on what opportunities are needed.”
Committee chair Doune Macdonald said the forum marked the start of an exciting phase which will help to build local capacity to meet the needs of women and girls.
“Judging by the influential Sunshine Coast leaders and representatives of all levels present at the forum today, the roundtable is set to be a resounding success in facilitating some genuine discussion and devising practical strategies,” Ms Macdonald
Baseball Queensland support Officer Sally West said the forum would help lay the foundations for greater participation on the Sunshine Coast.
“The forum offers a fantastic opportunity for local women and girls to hear about the strategy aimed at getting women and girls more involved, be inspired by local athletes and have their say in how we can support what the strategy is seeking to achieve,” Ms West said.
Mr Dickson said the Queensland Government wanted to see all Queenslanders getting active and was seeing real results thanks to the $47.8 million Get in the Game initiative.
“Through three funding programs the LNP Government is providing clubs with better equipment and facilities and giving children who might not otherwise be able to afford it the opportunity to play sport,” Mr Dickson said.
“So far nearly 5000 vouchers have been provided to children and young people on the Sunshine Coast under our Get Started component, with nearly 900 vouchers provided to girls and young women in the latest round alone, a fantastic result,” he said.
Members of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women and Girls in Sport and Recreation:
- Professor Doune Macdonald-committee chair and research professor in the School of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland
- Ms Natalie Cook-five time beach volleyball Olympian and gold medalist
- Dr Sue Hooper-former Olympic swimmer and former director of the Queensland Academy of Sport’s Centre of Excellence
- Mr David Keating-member of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) national board and former president of ACHPER Queensland
- Ms Sue Nisbet-general manager of Softball Queensland and former State coaching director
- Ms AnneMarie White-masters athlete, author and media personality, and founding member of Womensport Queensland
- Ms Sandra Sampson-chair of Womensport Queensland, and former chair of the Australian Women’s Rugby League
