- Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee and Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor at Stadium Australia to announce $635,000 in grants for 23 sporting organisations;
- Joined by leading athletes from a range of sports, including 9-time Paralympic gold medallist Louise Sauvage and tennis star Casey Dellaqua;
- Venues NSW is a passionate supporter of women’s sport and leading venues Stadium Australia and Bankwest Stadium have hosted a series of elite women’s events.
WOMEN’S sport in NSW has received a significant funding boost to help increase participation, promote leadership and encourage inclusivity.
Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee today announced $635,000 in grants for 23 sporting organisations as part of the NSW Government’s Her Sport Her Way program.
“We are rewarding organisations which are introducing programs to break down participation barriers, promote role models and foster inclusivity,” Mr Lee said.
“Women’s sport is on the rise and the NSW Government is committed to assisting growth at the grassroots, elite and recreational levels. We’re proud to be investing $2.6 million over four years to support this essential program.”
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said Her Sport Her Way is breaking new ground.
“Important changes in attitude and awareness will ensure women and girls are valued, recognised and given equal choices and opportunities to perform,” Mrs Taylor said.
Nine-time Paralympic Gold Medalist Louise Sauvage said having a disability should never be considered a barrier to women playing sport.
“In my career I went from being in the newspaper’s human interest pages to the sports pages and that’s where I believe any athete deserves to be, whether you have a disability or not,” said Ms Sauvage.
Former mixed doubles grand slam champion Casey Dellacqua said women’s sport needs to welcome everyone.
“Sport is such a powerful tool for change in society and if ‘Her Sport Her Way’ can continue to help break down perceptions and barriers surrounding participation and inclusivity for women, then we are onto a winning formula,” said Ms Dellacqua.
Successful grants programs include basketball, triathlon, hockey, AFL, sailing, football, golf, surfing, tennis, swimming, motorsport, deaf sports, disabled winter sport, water polo, diving, rowing, roller skating, wheelchair sports, rugby union, gymnastics, softball, hang gliding and paragliding.
CRASHING THROUGH THE BARRIERS
Major firsts for women’s sport at Stadium Australia
- The first Women’s Ashes Series T20 cricket international in 2014;
- The first W-League/A-League Sydney Derby in season 2017/18;
- The first Australia v New Zealand rugby double-header featuring the Wallaroos v Black Ferns on Bledisloe Cup day Saturday 18 August 2018;
- The first Holden Women’s NRL Women’s Premiership game – Sydney Roosters v New Zealand Warriors on Saturday 8 September 2018;
- The historic Grand Final of the NRL Holden Women’s Premiership on Sunday 30 September 2018. The 2019 NRLW Grand Final also staged at Stadium Australia
