final discussion paper - melbourne university sport · prepared by hana dalton for melbourne...

P r e p a r e d b y H a n a D a l t o n f o r M e l b o u r n e U n i v e r s i t y S p o r t

EquityinSportProjectDiscussionpaper

November 2017

08Fall

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TableofContents

Section1:Introduction....................................................................................................31.1 Introductionandbackground.....................................................................................31.2 Structureofdiscussionpaper......................................................................................31.3 Projectbrief.......................................................................................................................31.4 Framingthediscussionpaper.....................................................................................61.5 Overviewofrelevantdocuments................................................................................9

Section2:Mediacoverage............................................................................................122.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................122.2 Socialmediaandwebsite...........................................................................................122.3 Otherobservations.......................................................................................................132.4 Conclusions.....................................................................................................................16

Section3:Fitnessandspecialtyprogramming.....................................................173.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................173.2 Membershipandfees..................................................................................................173.3 Gymfacilities..................................................................................................................183.4 Aquaticfacilities............................................................................................................203.5 Groupfitness..................................................................................................................213.6 Fitnesssurvey................................................................................................................213.7 Conclusions.....................................................................................................................22

Section4:Representativesportandscholarships...............................................234.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................234.2 Representativesport...................................................................................................234.3 Scholarships...................................................................................................................264.4 Conclusions.....................................................................................................................27

Section5:Clubactivities...............................................................................................295.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................295.2 Casestudy:MelbourneUniversityBasketballClub(MUBC)..........................295.3 Casestudy:MelbourneUniversityFootballClub(MUFC)...............................305.4 Casestudy:MelbourneUniversityRugbyFootballClub(MURFC)...............305.5 Casestudy:MelbourneUniversitySoccerClub(MUSC)...................................315.6 Generalrecommendationsforclubsport............................................................325.7 Recommendations:membershipandgrowth.....................................................365.8 Recommendations:facilitiesuse.............................................................................375.9 Recommendations:governance...............................................................................375.10 Conclusions..................................................................................................................39

Section6:Participationopportunities....................................................................406.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................406.2 Importanceofsocialandmodifiedformatsofsport........................................406.3 MUSport’scurrentofferings:campusandcommunitysport........................406.4 Suggestionsforfutureprograms.............................................................................416.5 Conclusions.....................................................................................................................42

Section7:Implementationandreporting..............................................................437.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................437.2 Reporting.........................................................................................................................437.3 Studentconsultation....................................................................................................437.4 Implementationofrecommendations...................................................................44

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7.5 Policyframework.........................................................................................................44Section8:Conclusions...................................................................................................468.1 Summaryofprojectfindings.....................................................................................468.2 Lookingahead................................................................................................................47

Theauthor.........................................................................................................................48Acknowledgements........................................................................................................49

References.........................................................................................................................50

Appendix1:Listofrecommendations.....................................................................53Appendix2:Draftpolicyframework........................................................................59

Appendix3:Stakeholderinterviewquestions......................................................62

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Section1:Introduction

1.1 IntroductionandbackgroundThisprojectwascommissionedbyMelbourneUniversitySport(MUSport)inordertoreviewitsgenderequitypracticesandtoformulaterecommendationsandapolicyframeworktofacilitateimprovement.MUSportseekstoprovideequitableparticipationopportunitiestoallstudentparticipantsregardlessofgender.Further,itseekstoassertitselfasaleaderinthegenderequityspace,bothwithintheUniversityofMelbourneandamongequivalentuniversitysportingbodiesinAustralia.TheprojectwasinitiatedinresponsetoaqueryraisedattheAdvisoryBoardlevelabouttheavailabilityofparticularopportunitiestobothmaleandfemalestudents.Thisquerypromptedabroaderconversationaroundtheimportanceofgenderequity,andtheneedtoensurethatMUSport’sproceduresalignwith,ifnotexceed,Universityandindustrystandardsandexpectations.

1.2 StructureofdiscussionpaperThefirstsectionofthisdiscussionpaperoutlinestheproject’sbackground,briefandmethodology,andprovidesrelevantdefinitionsandcontextaroundgenderequityinsporttoassistinframingthereport.ItalsodiscussestheUniversityofMelbourne’sandAustralianUniversitySport’sbroaderpolicypositionsongenderequityinstudentengagement.Sections2to7examineeachaspectofMUSport’soperationslistedinthebriefinrelationtogenderequitystandardsandobjectives.Thesearemediacoverage,fitnessandspecialityprogramming,clubactivities,andparticipationopportunities.Notethattwoadditionalsections,representativesportandscholarshipsandreportingandimplementation,havebeenincludedtobettercapturethegenderequityissuesatplay.Section8concludesthediscussionpaper,andthreeappendicesareattached:thefulllistofrecommendationsasintroducedineachsection,thedraftpolicyframework,andalistofquestionsaskedofprojectstakeholders.

1.3 Projectbrief

1.3.1 ProjectbriefoverviewAsdescribedbytheprojectbriefandrelatedbriefingnote,MelbourneUniversitySportisseekingapolicyframeworkandrecommendationsforimprovement,basedonareviewofitsgenderequitypractices,foreventualapprovalbytheMUSportAdvisoryBoardandimplementationbyMUSport.ThebriefacknowledgesthatMUSportdoesnotcurrentlyhaveanofficialequitypolicyorafullsetofgender-specifiedparticipationdata,andemphasisestheneedtoensurethatfairnesstargetsarebeingmet.Theprojectobjectivesascontainedinthebriefingnoteareasfollows:

1. OutlinethecurrentstateofgenderequitypracticeswithinMelbourneUniversitySport,asrelatedtobroaderindustryandUniversitycommitments.

2. Toassesspositionasrelatedtomediacoverage,clubactivities,fitnessandspecialtyprogramming,participationopportunitiesandsportingprovisions.

Theprojectdeliverables,whichthebriefingnotestatesaretobedevelopedtoreflectcurrentindustrypracticeasrelatedtobothsportandhighereducation,areto:

1. Produceadiscussionpaperreflectingcurrentstandardsofpractice2. Outlinerecommendationsforimprovement3. Developapolicyframework,forapprovalbytheBoardandimplementationby

MUSport.

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Therecommendationsforimprovementcontainedthroughoutthisdiscussionpaperaredesignedtosupplementthepolicyframework,providingspecificanddetailedsuggestionsforbestpracticeinparticularareas,oronce-offactionstoaddresscertainissues.Incontrast,thepolicyframework,onceadopted,willprovidepolicyobjectivesandongoingguidanceapplicabletoMUSport’soperationsmorebroadly.ThebriefalsolistsanumberofreferencepointswithwhichtocompareMUSport’scurrentpractices.Thesedocumentsare:

1. TheUniversityofMelbourne–EngagementStrategy2. TheUniversityofMelbourne–GrowingEsteemStrategy3. TheUniversityofMelbourne–SocialInclusionBarometer4. AustralianUniversitySport–InclusionandDiversityGuideline.

Eachofthesedocumentsisaddressedlaterinthissectionofthediscussionpaper.Intermsoftheproject’sstakeholders,MUSportprovidedthefollowinglist:

• Fitnessservicesstaff• Businessservicesstaff• Marketingstaff• Sportdevelopmentstaff• Sportclubs• UniversityEquityandDiversity• AustralianUniversitySport.

Inaddition,MUSportsuggestedthatMonashSportandSydneyUniversitySportbecontactedtoprovideinformationorpolicydocumentsrelatingtogenderequityintheirrespectiveorganisationsforbenchmarkingpurposes.ConsultationwiththeDirectorofMUSportandtheChairoftheMUSportAdvisoryBoardwasalsorequested,andpermissionwasgrantedtoconsultwiththePresidentandWomen’sOfficeroftheUniversityofMelbourneStudentUnion(UMSU).

1.3.2 ProjectscopeAsoutlinedpreviously,theprojectbriefspecifiesseveralaspectsofMUSport’sstudent-facingoperationstobeexaminedaspartofthereviewofcurrentpractices,namelymediacoverage,clubactivities,fitnessandspecialtyprogramming,participationopportunitiesandsportingprovisions.Itisnotedthatsportingprovisionsisincludedasa“catch-all”category,andthattwoadditionalsectionsareincluded–reportingandimplementation,andrepresentativesportandscholarships–asstatedpreviously.Howeverthereareanumberofissuesrelevanttogenderequitythatarenotaddressedaspartofthisproject.GenderequityatthegovernanceandleadershiplevelofMUSport,includingontheMUSportAdvisoryBoardandamongstseniorstaffmembers,wasnotincludedintheprovidedscopeandisthereforenotaddressedinthisdiscussionpaper.ItiswidelyacknowledgedinAustralianandinternationalliterature,however,thataddressingthehistoricalunderrepresentationofwomenindecision-makingroleswithinsportsadministrationiscrucialtoensuringequitableoutcomesattheparticipationlevel.Thereisinsufficientscopetofullyexplorethismatterhere.However,itshouldbenotedthattheUniversityofMelbourne’sDiversityandInclusionwebsitewithintheStaffHubrecognisesthebenefitsofmoreequalrepresentationofwomenattheleadershiplevelandonboards.1Itisthereforesuggestedthatfurtherworkisundertakentoexaminethis1TheUniversityofMelbourne2017a,Diversityandinclusion,accessed29July2017<https://staff.unimelb.edu.au/diversity-inclusion>

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aspectofgenderequitywithinMUSportandmeansofensuringthatdiverseperspectivesarerepresentedindecision-making.Asecondissuethatisnotaddressedinthisreportrelatestostudentsafetyandappropriatebehaviouratsportingevents.ThisissueisoneofparticularinteresttoUMSU,andhasbecomeincreasinglytopicalandpressinginrecenttimes,particularlyfollowingtheAugust2017releaseoftheAustralianHumanRightsCommission’sreportentitledChangethecourse:NationalreportonsexualassaultandsexualharassmentatAustralianuniversities.2Thereportdemonstratedthatuniversity-runevents,includingsportingevents,arecommonsitesforsexualharassmentandassault,particularlythoseeventsinvolvingovernightstaysorresidentialarrangements.Giventhatthereportshowedthatfemalestudentsaremorelikelythanmalestudentstohaveexperiencedsexualharassmentorassault,theissuecancertainlybeframedasoneofgenderequity.However,itisnotedthatasadepartmentoftheUniversityofMelbourne,MUSportisboundbytheUniversity’spoliciesandproceduresforpreventinganddealingwithsuchincidents.ItisalsounderstoodthatMUSportwillthereforeparticipateintheUniversity’songoingworkaroundthisissueledbyitsRespectTaskforce,whichincludesupholdingtheUniversity’scommitmentstoimproveinstitution-widepolicies,practicesandculturethroughactionssuchasstrengtheningtheSaferCommunityProgram,introducingtrainingmodules,andimprovingreportinganddisclosureprocesses.3Intermsoftheproject’sscope,afinalpointshouldbemade.ThediscussionpaperhasasmuchaspossiblefocusedonMUSport’spoliciesandpracticesastheyrelatetostudentsinparticular,asemphasisedinthebrief.However,becauseconsultationwithstudentparticipantswasnotincludedintheproject’sscope,thepaperdoesnotprovideadirectaccountofstudents’experiencesofgenderequity.Anumberofrecommendationslaterinthereportemphasisetheimportanceofstudentconsultationasameansofgaugingstudentsatisfactionwith,andgaininginputinto,MUSport’sprogramsandactivities.Asanadditionalpoint,manyoftheparticipationopportunitiesprovidedbyMUSportareopentonon-students,andtheexperiencesofstudentsandnon-studentsasclubmembers,fitnessmembersandcampussportparticipants,forexample,areunlikelytobemarkedlydifferent,withtheexceptionofthefeespaid.Therefore,therelevanceofthediscussionpaperanditsrecommendationsextendsbeyondcurrentlyenrolledstudents.

1.3.3 MethodologyThemethodologyforthisprojectwaslargelyprescribedbythebrief,whichlistedrelevantstakeholderstointerviewanddocumentstoreview.Thisprojectthereforeusedamixed-methodsapproach,combiningqualitativedataobtainedthroughinterviewsandtextanalysiswithsomequantitativeanalysisofotherrelevantdatasourcessuchasparticipationdataprovidedbyMUSport.

InterviewsandquestionnairesInterviewswereconductedwithrelevantstakeholdersbetweenJulyandSeptember2017.ThemajorityofstakeholderswereMUSportstaff.Individual,semi-structured2AustralianHumanRightsCommission2017,Changethecourse:NationalreportonsexualassaultandsexualharassmentatAustralianuniversities,viewed26August2017<https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sex-discrimination/publications/change-course-national-report-sexual-assault-and-sexual>3TheUniversityofMelbourne2017b,Respect.Now.Always.Nationalstudentsurveyofsexualassaultandsexualharassmentinuniversitycommunities:UniversityofMelbourneSummaryFindingsandActions,accessed26August2017<http://safercommunity.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/2439409/rna-unimelb-summary.pdf>

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interviewswereheldwitheachstaffmemberlistedinthebrief.StaffmemberswereaskedanumberofcommonquestionsaboutgenderequityinMUSportbroadly,aswellasquestionsspecifictotheirparticularportfolio,althoughtheywerewelcometocommentonotherareasofMUSport.Additionally,interviewswereconductedwiththefollowingnon-staffstakeholders:

• TheChairoftheMUSportAdvisoryBoard• TheUniversity’sDirectorofStudentsandEquity• TheUMSUPresidentandWomen’sOfficer• Representativesfromtwoofthefoursportsclubsselectedtoparticipateinthe

projectbyMUSport.Theothertwoparticipatingsportsclubsrespondedtothesamequestionsviaawrittenquestionnaire.AquestionnairewasalsoprovidedtoAUS.AtelephoneinterviewwasconductedwithonerepresentativefromMonashUniversityandanotherrepresentativecompletedawrittenquestionnaire.InformationwascollectedfromSydneyUniversitySportviaemail.

TextanalysisAnalysisofthepolicydocumentslistedinthebriefwasundertaken.Otherpolicydocumentswerealsoanalysedforbenchmarkingpurposes,includingSydneyUniversitySport’spolicyongenderequityandthegenderequitypoliciesofanumberofVictoriancitycouncils.

DesktopresearchAsmallamountofdesktopresearchwasundertakentoprovidecontexttothereport.ResearchfocusedpredominantlyonuniversitysportprogramsinAustraliaandoverseas,andonsportpolicyasrelatedtogenderequityinAustralia.

QuantitativedataanalysisBasicquantitativeanalysiswasconductedonanumberofdatasourcesasameansofidentifyingandevaluatingcurrentpractice.ExamplesofsuchdatasourcesincludetheMUSportFacebookpage,theWingedVictoryFacebookpageandtheMUSportwebsite,andtherepresentativesportparticipationfiguresfrom2012to2017.

1.4 Framingthediscussionpaper

1.4.1 DefinitionsThefollowingdefinitionsareincludedtoprovideclarityaroundthetermsusedthroughoutthisdiscussionpaperandwithintherelatedpolicyframeworkandrecommendations.Term DefinitionGender Genderreferstothesociallyconstructedcharacteristics,including

rolesandbehaviours,thatsocietiesattributetowomenandmen.Itdifferstosex,whichreferstothebiologicalandphysiologicalcharacteristicsthatdistinguishfemalesandmales.However,itisacknowledgedthatgenderandsexarenotbinaryandexistonacontinuum.Thismeansthatthereisadiverserangeofgenderidentities,suchastransgender,genderqueerandagender,aswellasmanysexvariationsasinthecaseofintersexpeople.Thetermswomen/femaleandmen/maleareusedinthispapertomirrorthestandardgendercategoriesusedwithinsport,althoughitisrecognisedthatsuchtermsmaynotbeinclusiveofallidentities.

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Genderequity Genderequityreferstotheprocessofbeingfairandjusttowomen

andmen,acknowledgingthattheirneeds,interestsandexperiencesmaydifferduetothesocialcontext.Genderequityrequiresallocatingresources,programsanddecision-makingfairlybetweengenders,andtakesintoaccountthatdifferentstrategiesareoftennecessarytoaddressexistingimbalancesandachieveequalopportunitiesandoutcomesforallparticipants.

Genderequality

Genderequalityreferstotheidenticaltreatmentof,andprovisionofresourcesto,womenandmen.Genderequalitymaybebestpracticeinsomecases,howeverinothercasesitmaynotresultinfairorequivalentoutcomesiftheparticularneedsofeachgenderarenottakenintoaccount.

Genderlens Applyingagenderlensistheprocessofassessinghowpeopleofdifferentgendersmaybeimpacteddifferentlybyaprogram,practiceorpolicy,forexample.Whengender-basedconsiderationsbecomepartofthedesign,implementationandevaluationofallactivities,thisisknownasgendermainstreaming.

1.4.2 ContextThefollowingassumptionshaveinformedthedevelopmentofthisdiscussionpaper,itsrecommendationsandthepolicyframeworkattached.Eachassumptionisexplainedbelowtoprovidecontextandclarity.

Assumption1:GenderequityinsportisimportantInrecentyears,genderequityhasbeenafocusofsportingorganisationsbothlocallyandglobally.International,nationalandstatesportingbodies,governmentsatalllevelsandlocalprovidersofsportandrecreationalactivitiesareincreasinglyworkingtoensurethattheyofferopportunitiesandservicesthatareinclusiveofparticipantsofallgenders.Upholdinggenderequityprinciplesinsporthaswidespreadbenefitsinthecommunityatlarge,promotingrespectforwomenandevenplayingaroleinpreventingdomesticviolence.4

Assumption2:WomenhavehistoricallybeendisadvantagedinsportAlthoughgenderequityisabroadtermusedtodescribefairandjustopportunitiesandoutcomesforall,genderequityinitiativesinsporthavegenerallyfocusedonimprovingandexpandingopportunitiesforwomenandgirls.Thisisbecausewomenandgirlshavehistoricallyfacedbarrierstosportsparticipation,includingalackofencouragementtoplaysportandbeactiveduetosocialexpectationsbasedontraditionalgenderroles.Thishasovertimeresultedinalackofcertainopportunitiesforwomen.Consequently,asitisnowwidelyacknowledged,sportandfitnessprogramsandfacilitieshavetraditionallybeendesignedwithmeninmind,meaningthatmanyaspectsofsportasweknowithavebeendevelopedwithrelativelylittleregardfortheuniqueneedsofwomen.5Whileitmustbesaidthatwomen’s–andindeedmen’s–needsand

4OurWatch2017,SportsEngagementProgram,accessed20November2017<https://www.ourwatch.org.au/What-We-Do/%E2%80%8BSports-Engagement-Program>5StateGovernmentofVictoria,DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices2017,Femalefriendlysportinfrastructureguidelines,accessed8September2017<http://sport.vic.gov.au/publications-and-resources/female-friendly-sport-infrastructure-guidelines>

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experiencesinsportarenotuniversal,therearemanywaysinwhichwomeninthecurrentsocialcontextmayfindsporttobeparticularlyexclusionary.Examplesofthisrangefromrelativelystraightforwardissues,suchastheexplicitlabellingofwomen’ssportsbutnotmen’sanddifficultiesinobtainingsportingattiredesignedforwomen’sbodies,tomorecomplexissuesthatmaypresentgreaterbarrierstoparticipation,includingalackofaccessiblechildcarefacilitiesoranabsenceofequivalentopportunitiesinaparticularsportentirely.

Assumption3:Women-centricprogramsaresometimesnecessarytoredressimbalancesAlthoughtheexplicitpromotionofwomen’sparticipationthroughestablishingwomen-specificinitiativesmayseemunfairtosome,itisquitecommonplaceasameansofredressingimbalancesinparticipationandensuringfairness.Forexample,theVictorianStateGovernmenthasrecentlyestablishedtheOfficeforWomeninSport,whichistaskedwithimplementingthefindingsoftheWomenandGirlsinSportandActiveRecreation.6TheAustralianGovernmentDepartmentofHealthrunstheGirlsMakeYourMovecampaigntoempoweryoungwomentobecomemoreactive,7andnumerouslocalcouncilsacrossVictoria,suchasMorelandCityCouncil,8haveestablishedgenderequitypoliciesthatexplicitlyaddressfemaleparticipationinsportandrecreation.

Assumption4:IndividualchoiceisinfluencedbyharmfulgenderstereotypesItisacknowledgedthatstudentscometotheUniversitywithparticipationpreferencesandattitudesinfluencedbythewidercommunity,particularlyideasaboutgenderroles,whichcontinuetoinfluenceindividualchoice.9Thismayindeedimpactuponparticipationnumbersandthepopularityofcertainopportunities,suchaswheremenaremorelikelythanwomentoexpressinterestinplayingtraditionallymale-dominatedsports,orvice-versa.However,itisstillincumbentonMUSporttostrivetowardsprovidingasmanyequivalentopportunitiesaspossibletolessentheimpactofgender-basedexpectationsastowhatactivitiesaremost“acceptable”forwomenandmen,ensuringthatstudentsleavetheUniversitywithagreaterappreciationofwhatispossible.

Assumption5:ParticipationinsportandfitnessisimportantforhealthandwellbeingSportandfitnessprovidemajorbenefitstoindividualsandtheircommunities,particularlyintermsofphysicalandmentalhealth,confidence,socialconnectednessandevenproductivity.1011Further,physicalactivityhabitsintheyoungadultyearsarelikelytoinfluencehabitsduringoveralladultlife,andforthisreasontertiary

6PremierofVictoria2017,TrailblazerSetToLeadTheWayForWomenInSport,accessed2November2017<https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/trailblazer-set-to-lead-the-way-for-women-in-sport/>7AustralianGovernment,DepartmentofHealth2017,Aboutthiscampaign,accessed2November2017<https://campaigns.health.gov.au/girlsmove/about-this-campaign>8MorelandCityCouncil2017,MorelandActiveWomenandGirlsStrategy2009,accessed16September2017<http://www.activemoreland.com.au/activity-providers/Resources-for-Moreland-sports-clubs/active-women-and-girls/>9Soler,S,Prat,M,Puig,N&Flintoff,A2016,“ImplementingGenderEquityPoliciesinaUniversitySportOrganization:CompetingDiscoursesfromEnthusiasmtoResistance”,Quest,vol.69,no.2,pp.276-289.10VicHealth2017b,Exercisedaily,accessed5November2017<https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/be-healthy/be-healthy-exercise>11Huggins,A&Randell,S2007,“Thecontributionofsportstogenderequalityandwomen’sempowerment”,InternationalConferenceonGenderEquityinSportsforSocialChange,Kigali,2007,accessed28September2017.

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institutionsareconsideredpivotalsettingsforencouragingphysicalactivity.12Giventhewide-rangingbenefitsofsportandphysicalactivity,itisvitallyimportantthatwomenandmenfeelequallyencouragedandsupportedtoaccesssportandrecreationalopportunities.Withwomen’saveragelevelsofphysicalactivityandsportsparticipationinVictoriasittingslightlybelowthoseofmen,1314sportingorganisationsmuststrivetocreate,promoteandmaintainprogramsandfacilitiesthatexplicitlyencouragefemaleparticipation.

Assumption6:AllstudentscontributetoMUSportthroughpaymentoftheStudentServicesandAmenitiesFee(SSAF)MUSport’sallocationofSSAFfromtheUniversitycomprisesasignificantportionofitstotalincome.In2016,$2.48millionofover$7millioninrevenuecamefromSSAF.15SSAFcontributionsareusedtoimproveMUSport’sfacilitiesandprogramsandtheiraffordabilityforstudents,howeverinmostcasesthestudentuserisstillrequiredtopay.Despitethis,giveneveryenrolledstudentcontributestoSSAF,ofwhichapproximately55percentwerefemalein2016,16itisimportantthatequitymeasuresareputinplacetoensurethatfundingdoesnotprovidesubstantiallymorebenefittoonegenderthantheother,andthatMUSport’sprogramsareinclusiveofandaccessibletoallstudents.

1.5 OverviewofrelevantdocumentsThefollowingdocumentshavebeenreviewedtoframethesubsequentdiscussionofMUSport’sgenderequitypractices.WhilstnoneofthesedocumentsprovidespecificgenderequitystandardsorregulationswithwhichMUSportmustcomply,theydoofferoverarchingstatementsofvaluesandprinciplesthatshouldguideMUSport’sapproachtogenderequity.

TheUniversityofMelbourne–GrowingEsteemStrategy2015-2020GrowingEsteemistheUniversity’sstrategicplan,outliningitsbroadvisionfortheyear2020andactionstowardrealisingthis.17GrowingEsteemaffirmsengagementasacentralpartoftheUniversity’smission,andacknowledgestheimportantrolethatsportsbodies,amongotherinstitutions,haveplayedintheUniversity’spublicengagement.Thestrategydoestouchonequity,butlargelyintermsofitscommitmenttosupportingcohortsfromeducationally,financiallyorsociallydisadvantagedbackgroundswhofacebarrierstoattendingtheUniversityofMelbourne.However,GrowingEsteemmakesonegeneralpointthatmayguideMUSportinitsendeavourtofacilitategenderequity.Thestrategyemphasisestheimportanceofensuringthatallstudentshaveanexperiencethatiscomparableintermsoflastingqualityand

12Leslie,E,Sparling,PB&Owen,N2001,“Universitycampussettingsandthepromotionofphysicalactivityinyoungadults:lessonsfromresearchinAustraliaandtheUSA”,HealthEducation,vol.101,issue3,pp.116-125.13VicHealth2015a,SportParticipationinVictoria,2015,accessed7September2017<https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/media-and-resources/publications/victorian-participation-in-organised-sport>14VicHealth2015b,Femaleparticipationinsport&physicalactivity:Asnapshotoftheevidence,accessed8September2017<https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/search/female-participation-in-sport-and-physical-activity-a-snapshot-of-the-evidence>15MelbourneUniversitySport2016a,AnnualReport2016,accessed25October2017<http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/annualreport_9_716462657.pdf>16TheUniversityofMelbourne2017c,UniversityStatistics,accessed8November2017,<http://about.unimelb.edu.au/tradition-of-excellence/university-statistics>17TheUniversityofMelbourne2015a,TheUniversityofMelbourneStrategicPlan2015-2020:GrowingEsteem,accessed26July2017<https://about.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1462065/11364-GROWING-ESTEEM-2015-FA-WEB.pdf>

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enrichment(p.10).ApplyingthisstatementtoMUSportmaysupporttheequityprinciplethatcomparableprograms,ifnotexactlythesame,shouldbeofferedtofemaleandmalestudentsinordertoensureallstudentsareabletoaccesshighqualityandenrichingexperiencesinsport.

TheUniversityofMelbourne–EngagementStrategy(EngagementatMelbourne2015-2020)EngagementatMelbournedetailstheUniversity’sstrategyforengagingwithwidersociety.18Itsvisionforengagementisguidedbythreecommitments:publicvalue,engagedresearchandengagedstudents.EngagementatMelbournerecognisessportandsportingclubsasanimportantpartoftheUniversity’shistory,engagementandstudentexperience,particularlyasameansthroughwhichactivecitizenshipamongstudentsandalumnimayberealised.EngagementatMelbournedoesnotexplicitlyaddressgenderequity,butmakestwoimportantpointsthataffirmMUSport’spositiononenablinggenderequity.Firstly,thestrategyemphasisesthattheUniversity’soperationsmustreflectvaluesoffairnessanddiversity(p.8).Secondly,underitscommitmenttostudentengagement,thestrategyoutlinestheUniversity’saimtosupportstudentsfromequityprioritygroupstoparticipatemorefullyinengagementexperiences,recognisingtheparticularneedsandprioritiesofthesecohorts(p.13).Further,italsoaimstoreportonprogresstowardsachievingitsequityobjectives.Althoughwomenstudentsarenotgenerallyconsideredan“equityprioritygroup”,asequityprioritygroupsaregenerallythosewhofacebarrierstoreachingtertiaryeducation,theUniversityelsewhereacknowledgestheneedtoensurewomenaresupportedtoparticipatewheretheyhavebeentraditionallyunderrepresented.19Therefore,EngagementatMelbournecanbereadasofferingin-principlesupportforinitiativesthatstriveforfairness,diversityandequityinengagementexperiences,particularlyforstudentcohortsthathavehistoricallyexhibitedlowerlevelsofengagement.

TheUniversityofMelbourne–SocialInclusionBarometer2014TheUniversity’sSocialInclusionBarometer,publishedbiennially,depictstheUniversity’sprogresstowardstudentandstaffequityobjectives.20The2014publicationisthemostrecentversionavailableonline.AlthoughtheSocialInclusionBarometerlistsstudentsfromlowsocioeconomicbackgrounds,regionalandremotebackgrounds,IndigenousbackgroundsandstudentswithdisabilityasthemainfocioftheUniversity’sequitystrategies,thedocumentdoesaddressgenderinitsstudentprofile,particularlywomeninnon-traditionalareas.However,itsfocusislargelyonratesofparticipationintheUniversitygenerallyandfemaleconcentrationinspecificacademicdisciplines,ratherthanparticipationacrossthevariousaspectsofextra-curricularengagement.TheSocialInclusionBarometerdoespointoutthatthepercentageoffemalestudentsishigheracrossallcourselevels,inlinewithgeneraltrendsinAustralianhighereducation.In2014,femalestudentscomprised55.2percentofallstudents(p.16).Itfollowsthen,ideally,thatfemalestudentsshouldmakeupasimilarproportionofstudentparticipantsinMUSport’sprograms.

18TheUniversityofMelbourne2015b,EngagementatMelbourne2015-2020,accessed29July2017<http://about.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1713967/Engagement-at-Melbourne-2.pdf>19TheUniversityofMelbourne2014,SocialInclusionBarometer2014,accessed27July2017<http://provost.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1457169/2014SocialBarometer-FINAL-Published.pdf>20TheUniversityofMelbourne2014,SocialInclusionBarometer2014.

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TheSocialinclusionBarometeralsostatestheUniversity’ssupportfortheintroductionofathirdgenderoptiononstudentadministrativerecordstoensureinclusionof“indeterminate/intersex/unspecifiedpersons”,inlinewiththeAustralianGovernment’sGuidelinesontheRecognitionofSexandGender(p.16).

AustralianUniversitySport–InclusionandDiversityGuidelineAustralianUniversitySport(AUS)hasaguidelineoninclusionanddiversity,developedin2016,whichfocusesontheinclusionofparticipantsofdifferentgenders,studentswithdisabilities,andstudentsfrommulticulturalandIndigenousbackgrounds.21AUSrecognisesthatgenderreferstoadiverserangeofgenderexpressionsandidentities,anddevelopedtheGuidelinetoensurethatallparticipantshavethesamerightstoparticipateinuniversitysportingevents.Intermsofgenderspecifically,theGuideline:

• Recognisesthatdiscriminationonthebasisofgenderisagainstthelawunderfederalandstateanti-discriminationlegislation

• StatesthatAUSwillnotrestrictentrytosportstoanyonegender“exceptwherestrength,staminaorphysiqueofthecompetitorisrelevanttothesport”(p.1)

• StatesthatAUSwillprovidecompetitionsthatarerecognisedbyrelevantnationalsportingorganisations(NSOs),andwilladopttherules,regulationsandpoliciesofNSOsinrelationtogender,andthereforemayoffermen’s,women’s,openandmixeddivisions

• AllowsfortwobasesuponwhichAUSmayacceptthatparticipationinasportmaynotbeopentoallcompetitors,whichare:

o “Wherethestrength,staminaorphysiqueofcompetitorsisrelevanttoasportitmay[be]inappropriatetoofferparticipationinallcompetitions.”

o “Whereinsufficientteams/entriesarefieldedinany[one]competitionofasporttoprovideforafairandworthwhilecompetition,AUSacceptsthatanationalcompetitionwillnotbeofferedinthatcompetition.”(p.2)

Clearly,theAUSInclusionandDiversityGuidelineislargelydesignedtobeappliedinadifferentcontext.AsthepeakgoverningbodyofuniversitysportinAustralia,AUSisresponsiblefororganisingintervarsitycompetitionsandthereforemustplayaroleindeterminingcompetitoreligibilityandthecompetitionstobeoffered.Withtheexceptionofitscampusandcommunitysportprograms,questionsaroundgender-basedeligibilityandthedemandthresholdforrunningmen’s,women’sandmixed/opencompetitionsarelargelyoutsidethedomainofMUSport,fallingtoeitherAUSforintervarsitysport,orthestateornationalsportingorganisationstowhichclubsaresubscribed.Therefore,theGuidelineisnotentirelyrelevantinguidingMUSport’sworkaroundgenderequity.However,theGuidelineisausefulreferencepointintermsofthesentimentsitexpresses,particularlyitsaffirmationthatallstudentshavethesamerightstoaccessopportunitiestoparticipateinuniversitysport,anditscommitmenttoprovidingcompetitionssuitableforallgendersprovidedthereareenoughentrantsforafairandworthwhilecompetition–althoughwhatdeterminesa“worthwhile”competitionisnotmadeexplicit.Byandlarge,thesestandardsshouldbereflectedinMUSport’sfuturegenderequitypolicyandprocedures.

21AustralianUniversitySport2016,AUSGuideline:Inclusionanddiversity,accessed29July2017<http://www.unisport.com.au/images/documents/Event_policies/AUS_Guideline_Inclusion__Diversity_final_May2016.pdf>

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Section2:Mediacoverage

2.1 IntroductionAnanalysisofMUSport’scurrentpracticesinrelationtomediacoveragewasrequestedintheprojectbrief.Interviewswereconductedwithtwostaffmembersinthemarketingteam,andananalysiswasundertakenofthepostsandarticlesontheMelbourneUniversitySportFacebookpage,theWingedVictoryFacebookpageandthenewsarchiveontheMelbourneUniversitySportwebsite.Itiswellrecognisedintheindustrythatonlinemediaplaysanimportantroleinpromotingtheachievementsofwomeninsportandinencouragingfemaleparticipation,especiallyaswomentendtoresearchprograms,clubsandfacilitiesindepthbeforecommittingtoattend.22Itisthereforeincumbentonsportingorganisationstoensuretheyhaveasocialmediaandmarketingstrategythatissensitivetotheinterestsofcurrentandpotentialfemaleparticipants.Overall,MUSport’smediacoveragewasverygoodfromagenderequityperspective.Itwasclearthatstaffaremindfulofensuringthediversityofthestudentbody–genderandotherwise–isreflectedinthearticlesandimagespostedonline.ThiswasespeciallyevidentinthephotosappearingontheMUSportandWingedVictoryFacebookpages,wheremostphotoseitherdepictedamixofgenders,orabalancewasachievedintheselectionofphotosofaparticularevent.Therewasaperceptionamongsomestaffmembersthatachievementsofmaleathletestendtobecelebratedmorethanthoseoffemaleathletes,andthisisperhapsreflectedinonlinecontent.Itisrecognisedthattoanextent,MUSportandthemarketingteamrelyonclubsandotherconnectionstoobtaininformationandcontenttoshareonsocialmediachannels.However,therearestillsomeareaswhereimprovementstocurrentpracticecouldbemade,asoutlinedbelow.

2.2 SocialmediaandwebsiteAnanalysiswasundertakenofthepostsontheMUSportandWingedVictoryFacebookpages,aswellasthearticlesappearinginthenewsarchivesectionofthewebsite.Postsmadeandarticlessharedbetween1Januaryand29September2017werecategorisedaccordingtothe(presumed)genderoftheathleteorteamfeatured,orthegendertowhichanopportunitywasopen.Suchpostsincludedarticleshighlightingindividualandteamachievementsandpromotingupcomingcompetitions,eventsandopportunities.Thecategorieswere:

• Female• Male• Mixed(poststhatfeaturedmixed-gendersports)• Multiple(poststhatfeaturedUniversityofMelbourneparticipantsofdifferent

genders,suchaspostsdepictingmorethanoneteamorsport)• General(poststhatprovidedgeneralinformationorpromotedopportunities

opentoall,suchasfacilitiesupdatesandfitnessmemberevents)PostsandarticlesfeaturingnationalrepresentativeteamswereincludedinthegendercategoryoftheUniversityofMelbournestudentoralumnifeatured,andpoststhatfeaturedasportwithbothfemaleandmaleteamsbuthadphotosdepictingonlyone

22Women’sSportandFitnessFoundation2011,Theidealsportsclubforwomen,accessed9September2017<https://www.womeninsport.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Ideal-Sports-Clubs-Web-Ready.pdf>

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genderwereincludedunderthatgendercategory.ThenumberofpostsineachcategoryacrossbothFacebookpagesappearsinthetablebelow.Figure1:Website,MUSportandWingedVictoryFacebookpages–postsbygenderCategory MUSportFacebook

pageWingedVictoryFacebookpage

Website

Female 31 42 15Male 40 65 12Mixed 3 9 0Multiple 51 27 11General 146 12 10Asdemonstrated,boththeMUSportandWingedVictoryFacebookpagesfeaturedslightlymorepostsfocusedonmalestudents,alumniandopportunities.However,inthecaseoftheMUSportFacebookpagethatthisdiscrepancycouldbelargelyattributedtothenumerouspostspromotingstandalonemaleteamevents,suchasGo8orintervarsityAustralianrulesfootballandcricketcompetitions,andisthereforelinkedtothebroaderissueofparticipationopportunities.Forexample,ontheMUSportFacebookpagetherewerethreepostspromotingtheVarsityChallengeT20Cricketmatchon13Marchandsixpostspromotingmen’sintervarsityAustralianrulesfootballmatches,excludingcontentpublishedaftertheseeventswereheld.Whileitisindeedimportantthatsucheventsarepromoted,especiallyasameansofengagingthebroaderstudentpopulationinsport,caremustbetakentoensurethatwomen’ssportingeventsaregivenequivalentattention.WhenequivalentopportunitiesareofferedinthesesportsforwomenitisassumedthattheywillreceiveequalpromotiononMUSport’ssocialmediachannels.Interestingly,newsarticlespostedontheMUSportwebsitewithinthesametimeperiodslightlyfavouredfemalestudentsandalumni.Itisagainimportanttostriveforabalanceofgenders,butitisacknowledgedthatmanyofthesearticlesareproducedinresponsetoanindividualstudentoralumni’ssuccess,whichislargelyoutsideMUSport’scontrol.

2.3 OtherobservationsAnumberofadditionalobservationsforareasforimprovementweremadeduringtheanalysisofMUSport’sFacebookpagesandwebsite.

2.3.1 Useofnon-parallellanguageInsomecases,postsandeventssharedonthetwoFacebookpagesdidnotspecifywhenteamsorcompetitionsweremale,whereasfemaleteamswerealmostalwaysmarkedassuch,withtheexceptionofnetballwhichdoesnotgenerallyoffermen’scompetitions.Examplesincludethe(men’s)intervarsityAustralianrulesfootballmatches,wheretheteamcompetingwasdescribedasthe“MelbournevarsityAFLteam”.Incomparison,itisdifficulttoimagineawomen’sAustralianrulesfootballmatchbeingpromotedwithoutanymentionofwomen,forexample.Regardlessofwhetheranequivalentwomen’steamisfieldedonanyoneoccasion,itisimportantthatgenderisacknowledgedonaconsistentbasis.ThisisapracticethatshouldbeadoptedthroughoutMUSport,notjustinitsofficialmediaandmarketingactivities.Clubsshouldalsobeencouragedtouseequivalentlanguage,especiallywhencreatingonlinecontentthatMUSportwillshareonsocialmedia.Thisuseof“non-parallel”language–wherethefemaleversionofasportismarkedbutthemaleversionisnot–hasaqualifyingeffect,tacitlyreinforcingtheideathatmen’s

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sportisthenormwhilewomen’ssportisaninferior“other”.23Whileitiscommonpracticeinsportatalllevels,suchasinthecaseoftheprofessionalmen’s“AFL”andwomen’s“AFLW”,non-parallellanguageshouldbeavoided,andgrassrootssportingorganisationsshouldattempttoleadthischangebydemonstratingthroughlanguagethatwomen’ssportandmen’ssportarevaluedequally.Recommendation1:UseparallellanguageconsistentlyInallofitssocialmedia,marketingandothercommunications,MUSportshouldensurethatgenderismarkedonaconsistentbasis.

2.3.2 SpecifyinggenderinparticipationopportunitiesStudiessuggestthatwomeninparticularwillresearchsportandrecreationalprograms,clubsandfacilitiesextensivelybeforecommittingtoattend.24Additionally,becausetherehavehistoricallybeenfewersportingopportunitiesavailabletothem,womenmaysometimesassumethatparticularopportunitiesarenot“forthem”–intermsofgenderandabilitylevel–unlessotherwisespecified.Whereparticipationopportunitiesareopentoall,thisshouldbemadeclearsoasnottodeteranyonefromparticipating.Thisisespeciallyimportantforsportsthataretraditionallymale-dominated,suchasAustralianrulesfootball,rugbyandfootball(soccer).Thispracticemaybelessimportantinthepromotionofotheractivitiesthatareuniversallyacknowledgedasopentoall,suchasfitnessmembership.Examplesofwheregendercouldbebetterspecifiedincludepostspromotingsportsclubtrials,particularlythoseclubsthataretraditionallymale(orfemale)dominatedbutwhichnowhavefemale(ormale/mixed)teams,andeventtimetablesfortheclub-run“comeandtry”activities.Recommendation2:EnsuregenderisspecifiedinthepromotionofparticipationopportunitiesPromotionalmaterialsforparticipationopportunitiesshouldclearlystatewhotheopportunityisopento,whetherthatbejustwomenorjustmen,bothwomenandmen,ormixed/opentoall.Thisisparticularlyimportantwheretheremaybeambiguityduetothehistoryofthesportoractivity,andshouldhelpensurethatstudentsarenotunnecessarilydeterredfromparticipating.

2.3.3 ClubsDuringinterviews,sportdevelopmentstaffacknowledgedthatMUSportcoulddomoretoassistsportclubsinpromotingtheirparticipationopportunities.Whileadditionalsocialmediaandonlinepromotionmaynotbeapriorityforallclubs,especiallythosethatreachmembershipcapacityyearly,someclubsmaybenefitfromassistanceinextendingtheironlinereach,particularlytowomenwheretheclubisattemptingtoexpanditswomen’sprogram.Therearemanyonlineresourcesprovidingguidancetosportorganisationsandclubstobetterpromotetheirofferingstowomen;thusviewingpromotionthroughagenderlens.Forexample,theWomen’sSportandFitnessFoundation,whichconductedastudyonthe“ideal”sportsclubforwomen,providesalistoftheinformationandelementsaclubwebsiteshouldcontaininordertoattractmorefemaleparticipants.Thelistincludes:

• Informationaboutwhenandwheretheclubmeets23Huggins&Randell2007,“Thecontributionofsportstogenderequalityandwomen’sempowerment”.24Women’sSportandFitnessFoundation2011,Theidealsportsclubforwomen.

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• Clearinformationaboutfeesandpayment• Informationabouttherequiredabilitylevel,andifitisopentoallthisshouldbe

madeexplicitsowomendonotassumetheyarenotgoodenough• Imagesofcurrentclubmembersthatlookfriendlyandwelcoming• Providingafeelforthecultureandenvironmentoftheclub.25

Althoughananalysisofindividualclubwebsitesandsocialmediapageswasoutsidethescopeofthisproject,MUSportcouldconsiderundertakingworkonthisinfuture,withaviewtoensuringthataffiliatedclubspromotethemselvesinwaysconducivetoencouragingfemaleparticipation.Recommendation3:ExploreopportunitiestosupportclubsindevelopingonlineandsocialmediastrategiesthatencouragefemaleparticipationMUSportshouldinvestigatewaysofsupportingclubstoimprovetheironlinemediastrategiesandexpandtheirreach,wheretheclubisseekingtoincreaseitsfemale(ormale)membership.Thiscouldbeachievedthroughworkshopsorguidesonsocialmediaandwebsitedevelopmentstrategies.

2.3.4 FemaleparticipationcampaignsFinally,giventhatwomenaregenerallyunderrepresentedinmanyofitsprograms,MUSportcouldconsiderdevelopingacampaigntoencouragewomenspecificallytosampleandparticipateinitsprograms.Thiswasanideathatemergedinstakeholderinterviewswithmarketingstaff.Awomen’sparticipationcampaigncouldbefocusedsolelyonfitnessmembership,campusandcommunitysportorclubactivities,orcouldencompassalloftheseprograms.Suchacampaigncouldberuntocoincidewithothereventsoncampusandbeyond,suchasInternationalWomen’sDay.Toensureprominence,MUSportshouldconsiderpartneringwithstudentorganisationsincludingUMSUandtheGraduateStudentAssociation(GSA),relevantUniversityportfolios,andstaffnetworksifthecampaignisenvisionedasincludingfemalestaffaswell.Bywayofbenchmarking,AUShascommittedtofeaturingfemaleparticipationonabroadscale,andsupportsmemberuniversitiestoencouragemorewomentoparticipateinsportviamarketingcampaigns.AnexampleofthisistheSheCanStoriesonlinecampaign,runbyArc@UNSW,whichfeaturesempoweringstoriesoffemalesportparticipants.26Additionally,campaignstoexplicitlyencouragefemaleparticipationarecommonplaceingovernment.OneprominentexampleistheAustralianGovernment’sGirlsMakeYourMovecampaign,basedonSportEngland’sThisGirlCaninitiative.27Recommendation4:DevelopacampaigntoencouragegreaterfemaleparticipationinMUSport’sprogramsAcampaigntargetedatfemalestudents(andstaffifappropriate)mayassistinencouragingmorewomentoparticipateinsportandfitnessactivitiesoncampus,aswellasconveyingtoexistingfemaleparticipantsthatMUSportisactivelyconsideringtheirneedsandinterests.Suchacampaignshouldincludeanonline/socialmediacomponentandeventsallowingwomentosampleandlearnaboutMUSport’svariousprogramsandofferings,includingfitnessmembership,campusandcommunitysport,representativesportandscholarships.

25Women’sSportandFitnessFoundation2011,Theidealsportsclubforwomen.26Arc@UNSW2017,SheCanStories,accessed1November2017<https://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/sport/she-can/women-of-unsw-sport>27AustralianGovernment,DepartmentofHealth2017,Aboutthiscampaign.

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2.4 ConclusionsMUSport’smediacoverageisgoodfromagenderequityperspective,asitisacknowledgedthatgenderimbalancesinpublishedcontentsimplyreflecttheactivitiesofMUSportasawhole.However,someproactiveandrelativelystraightforwardactions,includingconsistentmarkingofgenderandencouragingsportclubstoeffectivelypromotetheiractivitiesonlinetopotentialfemaleparticipants,aswellasamoreinvolvedefforttorunafemaleparticipationcampaign,maygoalongwayinpromotinginclusionandencouragingwomentoengagewithMUSport.

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Section3:Fitnessandspecialtyprogramming

3.1 IntroductionThissectionofthediscussionpaperfocusesontheprogramsofferedtofitnessmembersandcasualusersofthegymandaquaticfacilities,andgroupfitnessprograms.Fourinterviewswereundertakenwithfitnessservicesstaff.Otherdatasourcesusedforthissectionincludedfitnessattendanceanalysisandmembershipdatafor2016and2017andthe2016FitnessSurvey.28Fitnessservicesstaffwerewellawareofthedifferentbutconvergingwaysinwhichwomenandmengenerallyusethefacilities.TheywerealsoconsciousofwaysinwhichcertainaspectsofMUSport’sfitnessfacilities,inparticularthegym,mayhavebeenunwelcomingtowomenthepast,duetoanunderlyingassumptionthatwhatworksforthe(male)majorityofuserswillbesuitableforeveryone.Therewasanacknowledgementthatwhilemanysignificantimprovementshavebeenmade,includingchangestogymlayoutandanemphasisoninstructorswritinggenderneutralfitnessplansformembers,thereisstillsomemoreworktobedoneinensuringtheenvironmentisinclusiveforall.Asoutlinedinthissection,applyingagenderlensinthisareatoensuredifferingneedsareconsideredwillassistinachievingthisgoal.Itisworthnotingthataccordingtothe2015StudentWellbeingSurvey,femalestudentswereslightlymorelikelythanmalestudentstousesportandrecreationalfacilitiesoutsidetheUniversity.29Althoughthismayalsoincludeothertypesofparticipationsuchassportclubs,thereisapossibilitythatcertainaspectsofMUSport’sfacilitieshavediscouragedwomenfromparticipatingoncampus;insteadpreferringtouseexternalfacilities.

3.2 MembershipandfeesAttendanceanalysisdatafrom2016and2017indicatesthattherearemoremalefitnessmembersthanfemalemembers,despitetherebeingmorewomenenrolledasstudentsandemployedasstaff.30Giventhatfitnessmembershipincludesgymandpooluse,traditionallypreferredbymen,aswellasgroupfitnessclasseswhicharemorepopularamongwomen,thisdatasuggeststhatthereisagreaterneedforemphasisonpromotingfemaleparticipationthanmaleparticipation.Bywayofcomparison,in201655.67percentofstudentswerefemale.31Althoughnotallfitnessmembersarestudents,thesefiguressuggestthatmoreworkcouldbedonetoencouragewomentousethefitnessfacilitiesoncampusandremovebarrierstothemdoingso.Figure2:Fitnessmembershipbygender,2016and2017Gender 2016 2017(1January–4

September)Female 5,199(48.7%) 4,887(47.7%)Male 5,476(51.3%) 5,352(52.3%)

28MelbourneUniversitySport2016b,2016FitnessSurveyResults,accessed19August2017<http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/Survey#Fitness>29TheUniversityofMelbourne2016,StudentWellbeingSurvey2015,accessed25September2017<http://sport.unimelb.edu.au/news-wellbeing-survey_4_3093375584.pdf>30TheUniversityofMelbourne2017c,UniversityStatistics.31Ibid.

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TheMonashSport(Claytoncampus)experiencedemonstratesthatgenderparityinfitnessmembershipispossible.Althoughthetotalproportionoffemalestudentsisaround56percent,overafewyearsMonashSportwasabletoincreasefemalemembershipnumbersfromverylowlevelsto50percentbyalteringthelayoutofthegym.Thegymhadbeenrecognisedasintimidatingforsomewomenduetotheheavyweightssectionbeinglocatedneartheentrance,whichwasidentifiedasnotbeingconducivetobeginnermembersjoining.Recommendationsforimprovementthatmayassistinencouragingmorewomentobecomefitnessmemberswillbemadelaterinthissectionofthediscussionpaper.However,itisofutmostimportancethatreliablemembershipdatathataccountsforgenderiscollected,monitoredandreportedatleastannuallyinordertoidentifytrendsovertime.Recommendation5:ImprovecollectionoffitnessmembershipdatabygenderMUSportshouldensurethatitsfitnessmembershipdataaccuratelycapturesgender,asindicatedbymemberswhenjoining,andthatmembershipfiguresbygenderareroutinelymonitoredandreportedon.Itisimportantthatmembersareabletochooseathirdgenderoption,trans/intersex/other,iftheydonotidentifyaseitherfemaleormale,inlinewithcurrentUniversitypractice.Intermsoffees,itisrecognisedthatMUSporthasreducedcasualusefeesin2016and2017,andhasintroducedfreeswimsessionsforstudents,whicharepositivesteps.However,researchsuggeststhatingeneral,thecostofparticipatinginsportandfitnessactivitiespresentsamajorbarriertofemaleparticipation.32VicHealthrecommendsthatsportandrecreationalfacilitiesoffergreaterflexibilitywithcancellationsandpayment,33whiletheVictorianDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices’Femalefriendlysportinfrastructureguidelinesrecommendmore“payasyougo”optionstomaximisefemaleparticipation.34Recommendation6:ConsiderloweringfeesforstudentsMUSportshouldconsiderloweringcasualvisitand/ormembershipfeesforstudents,consideringthatcostsarerecognisedasasignificantbarriertoparticipation,particularlyforwomen.

3.3 GymfacilitiesStaffacknowledgedthatsimilarlytoMonash,gymlayoutwasalsoanissueforMUSport,particularlyintheBeaurepaireCentre,wherethefacilitieshaveuntilrelativelyrecentlybeenassumedtocateraswellforwomenastheydoformen.Theconcentrationofheavyequipmentinthedownstairssectionofthegymisknowntocreateanenvironmentwheresomewomen,andindeedsomemen,donotfeelwelcome.Thishascreatedsomewhatofanupstairs/downstairsdivide,whichhastypicallyseenmostlymenoccupythedownstairssection,andpredominantlywomenusetheupstairssectionwheremostofthecardiomachinesaresituated.Notably,byapplyingagenderlenstothefacility,significanteffortshavebeenmaderecentlytolessenthisdivide.Followingthepurchaseofnewequipment,anumberofcardiomachinesweremoveddownstairstofacilitateabetterbalance.Itisunderstoodthatthebuildingitselfprovideslimitationsontheconfigurationofthegym,howeverMUSportshouldcontinueovertimetowork

32StateGovernmentofVictoria,DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices2017,Femalefriendlysportinfrastructureguidelines.33VicHealth2015b,Femaleparticipationinsport&physicalactivity:Asnapshotoftheevidence.34StateGovernmentofVictoria,DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices2017,Femalefriendlysportinfrastructureguidelines.

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towardsintegratingthetraditional“sections”oftheBeaurepaireCentregymwherepossible.Thisisparticularlyimportantconsideringthatthedownstairssection,beinghighlyvisibletopassers-byonTinAlley,isperhapsthemostprominentadvertisementforMUSport’sfitnessfacilities.Recommendation7:ContinuetoworktowardsintegratingthevarioustypesofequipmentintheBeaurepaireCentregymEnsuringamixofequipmentineachsectionofthegymwillhelptofacilitateagenderbalanceacrossthegym,reducingtheproportionofspacewherebeginnersfeelunwelcome.Althoughitwasmentionedbystaffthatthetypesoftraininggenerallyundertakenbywomenandmenarebecomingmorealigned,therearestillmanywaysinwhichpreferencestendtodiffer–preferencesthatarelargelyinformedbyoutsideinfluences.Itisimportanthoweverthatallfitnessmembersandcasualusers,regardlessofgender,feelconfidentinusingthedifferenttypesofequipmentandtrainingonoffer.Tothisend,onestaffmembersuggestedtriallingawomen-centricstrengthandconditioningprogram.Suchaprogramcouldbedesignedtoteachparticipantspropertechnique,safetymeasuresandthebenefitsofweight-basedtraining.Thismaybeamorepopularmeansofintroducingwomentothistypeoftrainingthanone-on-onesessionswithaninstructorgiventhatwomentendtoprefergroup-basedfitnessactivities.Itmayalsofurtherassistincreatingmoreofagenderbalanceinthedifferentsectionsofthegym.Recommendation8:Trialawomen-centricstrengthandconditioningprogramAwomen-centricstrengthandconditioningprogramislikelytobeaneffectivemeansofintroducingwomen,whotypicallyengageinlessweight-basedtraining,tothistypeoftraining.Emphasisshouldbeplacedonpropertechnique,safetyandthebenefitsofweight-basedstrengthtraining.Alternatively,suchaprogramcouldberunforbeginnersgenerally,thoughthisislikelytoattractfewerwomen.Anotherideathatemergedinmanystakeholderinterviewswastheintroductionofwomen-onlygymtimeslotstoenablewomenwhomaybeuncomfortableworkingoutinthepresenceofmentousethegymfacilities.Thismaybeparticularlyimportantforthosewhoseneedsaswomenintersectwiththeirneedsasmembersofparticularculturalorreligiousgroups,suchasMuslimwomen.However,giventhat49percentofyoungVictorianwomenreportedlyfeelembarrassedexercising,35suchaninitiativemayprovidebenefittoadiverserangeofwomen.Women-onlytimeslotshavebeendiscussedwithinMUSportforquitesometime,anditwasclearthatstaffmembersbelieveditwouldbeapositiveinitiativetoimplementifitcouldberesourced,especiallyconsideringthediversifyingdemographicoftheUniversity’sstudentsandstaff.TheLincolnSquarefacility,whichissmallbutcanmoreeasilybeclosedofftothegazeofpassers-bythantheBeaurepaireCentre,wassuggestedasapossiblevenue.Somestaffmemberswereawarehoweverthatwomen-onlygymtimeslotshavebeenimplementedpreviouslyattheUniversity,butwerediscontinuedfollowingasuccessfulcomplainttotheEqualOpportunityBoardin1990.36Forthisreason,therewassomeanxietyexpressedaroundtheidea.However,solongaslegaladviceissought,35VicHealth2017a,YoungAdults,accessed6September2017<https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/search/life-stages>36Senyard,JE2004,TheTiesThatBind:AHistoryofSportattheUniversityofMelbourne,WallaWallaPress,PetershamNSW.

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particularlyaroundtheprocessofapplyingforanexemptionunderrelevantequalopportunityandanti-discriminationlegislationifnecessary,theinitiativeneednotmeetthesamefateonceagain.Anumberofcommunityrecreationalcentresareknowntoprovidesuccessfulwomen-onlytimeslots,suchastheNorthMelbourneCommunityCentre.37TheCentrerunsfourfemale-onlygymsessionsperweek,whichhasresultedinanincreaseinfemalemembershipfrom31percentto48percent.ForthisinitiativetobesuccessfulatMUSport,anumberoffactorsshouldbeconsidered.Firstly,targetedconsultationmustbeundertakenwithrelevantcommunitiesoncampus,includingtheWomen’sandPeopleofColourDepartments/OfficeBearersatUMSUandtheGSA,internationalstudentgroupsandstudentculturalandspiritualgroups,suchastheUniversityofMelbourneIslamicSociety(UMIS)amongothers.Consultationisofutmostimportanceinensuringthattheinitiativeisviableandissetuptomeettheneedsofthecohortsitisdesignedtobenefit.Seekingfeedbackfromexistingmembersisunlikelytoyieldparticularlyusefuldataondemandforwomen-onlytimeslots,asthosegroupstheinitiativeistargetedtowardsmaynotalreadybeparticipating.Secondly,thereneedstobeareasonablevarietyofwomen-onlytimeslotsavailabletosuitdifferingneeds,otherwiseparticipantsmaynotdeemtheinitiativeworthwhile.Forexample,aweekendtimeslot,aneveningtimeslot,adaytimetimeslotandanearlymorningtimesloteachweekwouldensurethatvariouspreferencesarecateredfor.Thirdly,women-onlytimeslotsshouldbewellpromotedamongstbothexistingfitnessmembersandthewiderUniversitycommunity.Utilisingconnectionswithrelevantstudentgroupsmayassistinspreadingthemessage.Finally,alagtimeinuptakeshouldbeexpected,aspotentialparticipantsmaynotnecessarilybefitnessmembersalreadyandwouldthereforeneedtogothroughtheprocessofjoiningbeforeutilisingthetimeslots.Somemaywaittohearfeedbackfromothersbeforedoingso.Ifthereiscapacityforstudentstotrialthesesessionsbeforejoining,thismayencouragegreateruptakeandsubsequentlygreaternumbersofwomenbecomingfitnessmembers.Recommendation9:Establishwomen-onlygymtimeslotsMUSportshouldworktowardsestablishingaconsistentscheduleofwomen-onlytimeslots,ensuringthatdueconsiderationisgivento:

• Targetedconsultationwithrelevantstudentgroupsandcommunitiesoncampustogaugedemandanddeveloptheinitiativetomeetidentifiedneeds

• Thevarietyoftimeslotsoffered,includingtimeofdayandduration• Thepromotionoftheinitiativetoitstargetcohortsandexistingfitnessmembers• Thepotentialforstudentswhoarenotalreadyfitnessmemberstotrialthe

timeslots• Datacollectiontomeasuresuccess.

3.4 AquaticfacilitiesNoparticulargenderequityconcernswereraisedbystaffaroundtheaquaticfacilities,otherthanthefactthatthepooltendstobeusedbymenmoresothanwomen.Thereasonsforthisarenotknown.

37StateGovernmentofVictoria,DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices2017,Femalefriendlysportinfrastructureguidelines.

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Inasimilarveintowomen-onlygymtimeslots,staffalsosuggestedwomen-onlypooltimeslotsasameansofenablingmorewomen,particularlyMuslimwomen,tousethepool.ItisunderstoodthattoinstallblindsaroundtheBeaurepaireCentrepool,whichwouldbenecessarytoensureprivacy,islikelytobeasignificantlyexpensiveexercise,meaningfinancialassistancefromtheUniversitymayberequired.Thusfartheexpensehasbeenprohibitive.Providedthatfundingcanbesecuredinfuture,MUSportshouldtakestepstoimplementwomen-onlypoolsessions,consideringthesamefactorsasoutlinedaboveforthewomen-onlygymtimeslots.Recommendation10:Establishwomen-onlypooltimeslotsMUSportshouldworktowardsestablishingaconsistentscheduleofwomen-onlytimeslots,ensuringthatdueconsiderationisgivento:




MonashUniversitySportatClaytonrunsaquaticeducationprogramsforfemalestudents,whicharereportedlyverypopular.Aspartofitseffortstogaugedemandforwomen-onlypooltimeslots,MUSportcouldinvestigatewhetherthereisaneedforwomen-onlyswimclassesinadditiontoexistingofferings,especiallygiventhepopularityandsuccessofitsWaterSafetyProgram.

3.5 GroupfitnessAgain,nosignificantgenderequityconcernswereraisedaboutgroupfitness,althoughitwasacknowledgedthatthemajorityofparticipants,approximately80percent,arefemale.Datacollectionhashistoricallybeenanissue,howeveranewonlinebookingsystem,“Connect”,hasrecentlybeenintroduced,whichshouldassistinmeasuringparticipationbygender.MUSportshouldensurethatparticipationstatisticsbygenderareregularlyreviewed.Thisdatamayassistinidentifyingopportunitiestoincreasemaleparticipationbyindicatingwhichclassesaremostpopularamongmen,ifincreasingmaleparticipationingroupfitnessisconsiderednecessary.

3.6 FitnesssurveyEverytwoyears,asurveyoffitnessmembersisconducted.Whilethesurveygathersdataonthegenderofrespondents,dataisnotcrosstabulatedbygender.Thismeansthatimportantinsightsintothesatisfaction,usagetrendsandfeedbackofmembersasinfluencedbygenderarenotbeingcapturedbyMUSport.Additionally,includingotherrelevantcategories,suchasstafforundergraduate/postgraduateandlocal/internationalstudentstatusmayalsoprovidesomevaluabledatathatcouldbeusedtoinformfutureprograms,facilitiesimprovementsandtargetedmarketingcampaigns.ItisthereforerecommendedthatMUSportensuresthatdatafromfuturefitnesssurveyscanbecrosstabulatedbygender,aswellasothercategories.Recommendation11:EnsurefitnesssurveydatacanbecrosstabulatedbygenderCrosstabulationoffitnesssurveydatabygender,aswellasotherrelevantstudentorstaffcategories,mayprovideusefulinsightstoMUSporttoinformfutureprograms,facilitiesimprovementsortargetedmarketingcampaigns.

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3.7 ConclusionsMUSport’sfitnessprogramsandfacilitiesaregenerallygoodfromagenderequityperspective.However,becausemenhavetraditionallybeenmoreprolificusersoffitnessfacilitiesinMUSportandelsewhere,suchfacilitieshavegenerallybeendevelopedforapredominantlymaleclientele,andthereforea“one-size-fits-all”orgenderblindapproachhasbeentaken.Therefore,morecouldbedone–asdescribedbytherecommendations–tomakesurethespecificneedsofwomenareprovidedfor,andthatprogresstowardsamoreequalproportionoffemaleandmalememberscanbemeasured.

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Section4:Representativesportandscholarships

4.1 IntroductionThissectionaddressesstudentparticipationinrepresentativesport,aswellassportsscholarships,andmakesrecommendationsforimprovementintheseareas.RepresentativesportincludesAUSevents,suchasAustralianUniversityGames(AUG),SouthernUniversityGames(SUG)andAustralianUniversityChampionships(AUC),aswellastheVarsityChallengeseriesagainstMonashUniversity,otherintervarsitycompetitions,anddomesticandinternationaltournaments.Sourcesofdataforthissectionofthediscussionpaperincludeinterviewswithsportdevelopmentstaff(withcontributionsfromothers),andparticipationandscholarshipdataprovidedbyMUSport.

4.2 Representativesport

4.2.1 OverallparticipationopportunitiesParticipationdatasuggeststhateveryyearfrom2012to2016,moremalestudentsthanfemalestudentshavecompetedinrepresentativesport,asperthetablebelow.ThismeansthatMUSporthasfacilitatedmoreopportunitiesformalestudentstorepresenttheUniversitythanithasforfemalestudents.Figure3:ParticipationinrepresentativesportbygenderYear Femaleparticipants Maleparticipants Participantsin

open/mixedcompetitions*

2016 291 428 902015 235 276 1482014 301** 330** 1032013 215** 256** 1442012 169 226 77*Notethatitisnotpossibletoidentifyfromthedatahowmanystudentsofeachgendercompetedinopenandmixedcategories.**ThesefiguresexcludethenumberofstudentswhoparticipatedinAUCdistancerunning,whichispartoftheMelbourneMarathon.Thisisbecausethemajorityofthesestudentshadlittle-to-nocontactwithMUSport,andthelargenumbers(281femaleand199malein2014;187femaleand159malein2013)wouldhaveskewedtotalssignificantly.2017datawasnotincludedinthisanalysisgiventhatcompetitionswerenotyetcompleteatthetimeofdatacollection.Thereareanumberoffactorsthatthisdatadoesnottakeintoaccount,includingtheneedforsometeamsbutnototherstoqualifyforAUGthroughSUG,andcaseswhereAUShasnotrunacompetitionduetoinsufficiententries.Thisconsidered,theproportionofwomenasoverallparticipantscouldbehigherthanitis,giventhegreaterpercentageoffemalestudentsenrolled,andthefactthattwosports,netballandsoftball,onlysupportwomen’scompetitionsattheNSOlevel(exceptfornetballwhichsupportsmixedcompetitions),whereaseveryothersportrecognisesbothwomen’sandmen’s,oropen,competitions.Onecontributingfactortothedisparityinparticipation,especiallyin2016and2015,istheadditionofopportunitiesformentocompeteinAustralianrulesfootballcompetitionsthroughtheGo8inter-universitymatches.DuetothelargestandardsquadsizesinAustralianrulesfootball,theseopportunitieshaveinflatedmaleparticipationfigures.Ininterviews,staffwereveryawareofthefactthattheestablishmentofthis

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competitionwithnofemaleequivalentwasproblematicformanyreasons,butitwaschosenbecauseitwasfamiliarandlikelytoachievesuccess.

4.2.2 SendingrepresentativeteamsandathletestocompetitionsParticipationdatafrom2012to2016furthersuggeststhatwomen’steamsandfemaleindividualathletesweremorelikelythantheirmalecounterpartsnottocompeteataneventwhereanopportunitywasavailable.However,thiscannotbecompletelyverifiedduetomissingAUSdataastowhichcompetitionswentaheadeachyear.MUSport’sparticipationdatasuggeststhatatleast23women’steamsdidnotcompeteincompetitionswhereanequivalentUniversityofMelbournemaleteamcompetedandawomen’scompetitionwassupposedlyavailable,whereasonlyfourmaleteamsdidnotcompetewhereMUSportsentafemaleteamorathlete,andwhereacompetitionwasavailable.Ideally,foreverymen’steamfieldedandeveryindividualmaleathletetocompetetherewouldbeacorrespondingwomen’steamorathlete.Thisisdifficulttoachieveinpracticehowever,especiallyinindividualsports,wherestudentinterestlevelsandpersonnelfluctuateyearlyduetothetransientnatureofthestudentpopulationandnumerousindividualfactorssuchascost.DespitetherebeingmoreinstancesofMUSportfailingtosendwomen’steamsthanmen’steams,basedoninterviewswithstaff,MUSportdoesnotdirectlydiscriminatebygenderwhendecidingwhichteamsmaycompeteatAUSandotherevents.Ithasthreecriteriathatprospectiveteams(andwhereapplicableindividualathletes)mustmeet.Theseare:

• Leadership(theremustbealeaderorleaderswhoarewillingandcapableoforganisingtheteam)

• Competitiveplayers• Asenior,non-playingcoach.

Thesecriteriaarereasonable,particularlygiventheadministrativeworkrequiredtosendnumerousteamsandathletestolarge-scalecompetitions.Whilethesecriteriaappeartotreatallpotentialteamsequallyandthereforedonotdiscriminate,fromagenderequityperspectivetherecouldbesomeproactiveworkdonebothtoencouragemorewomentocompeteinrepresentativesport,andtosupportthoseteamswhowishtocompetebutwhomaybestrugglingtomeettheinternalcriteriaforenteringateam.Giventhelargestudentpopulationandhighproportionoffemalestudentswithinthis,thereshouldnotbemanyreasonswhywomen’steamsareroutinelynotfielded,particularlyinnationallypopularsports.AlthoughitisacknowledgedthatthiskindofsupportwouldaddtotheadministrativeburdenofsportdevelopmentstaffintheleaduptoeventssuchasAUG,someaffirmativeactioninthisspacemayassistinreinforcingtheimportanceofwomen’ssport,encouragingstudentstoseevalueincompetingandtotakethisforwardintothecommunity.

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Recommendation12:SupportpotentialrepresentativeteamsthatmaybestrugglingtomeeteligibilitycriteriaforcompetingatAUScompetitionsMUSportshouldproactivelysupportteamsandathletesincaseswhereasporthasoftenfailedtomeettheinternalcriteriatocompeteatAUSevents,toassistinfacilitatingmoreequalparticipationofwomenandmeninrepresentativesport.Suchsupportcouldinclude:

• Engagingwiththerelevantclubdirectlyandwellinadvanceoftheeventtoidentifypotentialcompetitors,managersandcoaches

• Supportingstudentstopromotetrialsfortheevent,suchasthroughsharingsocialmediacontentandprovidingprintingfacilitiesiftheorganiserswishtodistributepostersorflyers

• DirectingaproportionofAUGscholarshipsonaprioritybasistosportsthatstruggletosendbothfemaleandmaleteamsorathletes,andensuregenderequityisanoverallconsiderationinawardingthesescholarships.

4.2.3 Non-AUSinterstateandinternationalopportunitiesParticipationdataindicatesthatthemajorityofopportunitiesavailableforstudentstocompeteininterstateandinternationalcompetitionsortournamentsexternaltoAUShavebeenofferedtomen.Therewerefourinstancesofthisbetween2012and2016,whichincludedthreeAustralianrulesfootballgamesagainstotherGo8universities(oneofwhichwasplayedinMelbourne)andamen’sfootball(soccer)tournamentinChina(theWorldEliteUniversityFootballTournamentorWEUFT).Therewasonlyonecasewhereawomen’steamcompetedintheabsenceofamaleequivalent,whichwastheGreatRace(rowing)inNewZealand.Thistrendseemstobebecomingmorepronounced,withafurtherthreematchesandonetournamentbeingofferedtomenandnottowomenin2017alone.Thesecases,whileformingonlyasmallportionoftotalparticipationopportunities,areparticularlynoteworthygiventhecostsinvolvedinprovidingthem.WhileinmostcasesstudentathletespaytheirownwaytocompeteinAUSevents,itisunderstoodthatMUSport,andinsomecasestheUniversity,hassubsidisedparticipationinsomeoftheseeventssubstantially,includingcoveringthecostofflights.Financialfigureswerenotanalysedaspartofthisproject,butitisestimatedthatmalestudentsaremorelikelythanfemalestudentstobenefitfromexpenditureinthisarea,whichisnotafairorequitableoutcome.Toprovideforgreatertransparency,andtomeasureprogresstowardgenderequityinthisareaoverthecomingyears,itisrecommendedthatMUSportclearlyreportexpenditureonrepresentativesportingevents,includingfiguresthatindicateexpenditureonopportunitiesforeachgender.Recommendation13:ReportclearlyonexpenditurebygenderonrepresentativecompetitionsandtournamentsToprovidefortransparencyandthemeasurementofprogressongenderequity,MUSportshouldensureitsexpenditureonrepresentativetournamentsandcompetitionsisclearlyreportedinrelevantfinancialreportsandideallyinitsannualreportsaswell.ThiswillalsoallowtheAdvisoryBoardtoeasilyidentifysignificantexpenditurediscrepanciesbetweenmen’sandwomen’scompetitions,withaviewtodiscussingopportunitiesforimprovementonacontinualbasis.MUSporthasbeenupfrontinacknowledgingtheproblemofinequityinrepresentativesport,andisattemptingtoidentifyopportunitiesforimprovement.InrelationtotheGo8Australianrulesfootballcompetition,MUSportandothersintheGo8networkhaverecognisedtheproblematicnatureofhavingatraditionallymale-dominatedsportasthemarqueeeventwhenanequivalentwomen’sopportunityisnotoffered.Ithasbeen

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suggestedthatawomen’scompetitioninAustralianrulesfootballornetballbeestablishedoncethemen’scompetitionisupandrunning.Similarly,MUSport’sparticipationinWEUFThasbeenextensivelydiscussed.TheUniversityandMUSportacceptedtheinvitationtoparticipateinWEUFTinpartduetotheUniversity’sinterestinengagementintheAsianregion.Thetournament’sorganisersinChinahavereportedlynotshownawillingnessestablishingafemalecompetitionatWEUFT,andMUSporthasactivelyconsideredwithdrawingitsparticipationuntilsuchanopportunityisavailableforwomen,andmakingitspositionknowntotheorganiserstoencouragethemtoconsiderawomen’scompetition.IfMUSport’sparticipationinthisorsimilaropportunitiesweretocontinue,staffraisedanumberofideasforprovidingforbettergenderequityoutcomes,suchasidentifyinganinternationaltournamentinthesamesportforwomentocompetein,hostingasimilartournamentattheUniversity,orfindingatournamentforadifferentwomen’steamtocompetein,suchassendinganetballteamtoNewZealand.Theseareallpositiveideas,andeachmaybeappropriateunderdifferentcircumstances,asagenderequityapproachallowsfordifferencesintheopportunitiesavailablewheretheoveralloutcomeisfair.However,thereisariskofopportunitiesforwomen’sparticipation“pooling”intraditionallyfemale-dominatedsports,suchasnetball,ifthesebecomethe“go-to”sportswhereMUSportseekstoestablishanopportunityforwomentocorrespondtoanopportunityalreadyprovidedformen.Therefore,asoutlinedinthefollowingrecommendation,considerationshouldfirstbegiventoprovidinganopportunityinthesamesport.Recommendation14:Provideequivalentopportunitiesforeachgendertocompeteinnon-AUSinterstateorinternationalcompetitionsIncaseswhereMUSportisinvitedtoparticipateinarepresentativesportingeventthatdoesnotofferacompetitionforbothwomenandmen,MUSportshouldconsiderthedecliningtheinvitation,andlobbyingpublicallywithotherinstitutionsfortheestablishmentofacompetitionfortheunrepresentedgender.IfthisisnotpossibleandMUSportstillwishestocompete,itshould:

• Identifyanequivalentopportunityinthesamesportinthesameyearfortheothergender,whetherthisisorganisedexternallyorbyMUSportitself

• Provideanopportunityinadifferentsportforateamoftheunrepresentedgendertoparticipateinasimilarcompetitionofequivalentstatusandvalue,iftheaboveisnotpossible

• Declinetheinvitationifthereisinsufficientfundingortimetocoordinateparticipationinanequivalentevent.

4.3 ScholarshipsAbasicanalysisofMUSport’sallocationofsportsscholarshipsbasedonthedataprovideddidnotrevealsignificantsystemicinequitiesbasedongender,althoughitwasnotedthatconsistentlymoremalestudentsreceivescholarshipsoverall.However,animportantmitigatingfactoristhatmoremalestudentsapply,whichcaninmanycasesbeattributedtoexternalinfluencesgiventhatstudentsoftenapplyforscholarshipspriortoorsoonaftercommencingattheUniversity.Thetake-uprateofscholarshipsisabout95percent,meaningthatmostapplicationsaresuccessful.MUSport’sallocationofscholarshipsoperatesinthesamewayastheAustralianSportsCommission,andstaffadvisedthatgendertargetsforscholarshipallocationsarenotcommonplaceintheindustry.

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AbreakdownofEliteAthleteProgram(EAP)scholarshipholdersbygenderispresentedinthetablebelow.ItisnotedthatthepercentageoffemaleEAPscholarshipholdershasgenerallybeenincreasing.Figure4:EAPscholarshipholdersbygenderYear %Female %Male2017 43.7 56.32016 41.5 58.52015 45.8 54.22014 38.9 61.12013 35.7 64.3IntermsofHighPerformanceScholarshipsandFriendsoftheSportsAssociationScholarships,whichsupportrecipientswiththeircompetitioncosts,theoverallgenderbreakdownoffundingawardedtofemaleandmalerecipientswasfairlyevenconsideringthatmoremenapplyforandreceivescholarships.Thesepercentages,asprovidedbyMUSport,arepresentedinthefollowingtable.Figure5:PercentageofHighPerformanceandFriendsoftheSportsAssociationscholarshipfundsallocatedtowomenandmenYear %offundsallocatedto

femalescholarshiprecipients

%offundsallocatedtomalescholarshiprecipients

2017 41.5 58.52016 51.3 48.72015 52.0 48.02014 59.3 40.72013 43.8 56.3Average2013-2017 49.6 50.4Notethatfiguresareroundedtoonedecimalplace.ItispositivethatMUSporthasconsistentlyrecordedthisdata,anditshouldcontinuetodosoinordertomonitortrends.Shouldthenumberofapplicationsreceivedfromwomenplateauordecrease,MUSportshouldconsiderpromotingtheavailabilityofscholarshipstofemalestudentsspecifically.Thismayassistinencouragingmorewomentoapply,giventhatinmanyaspectsofsportwomentendtounderestimatetheirabilities.Recommendation15:Continuetomonitorscholarshipdatabygender,andpromotescholarshipofferingstowomenIfMUSportidentifiesthattheproportionoffemalescholarshiprecipientshasplateauedordecreased,scholarshipopportunitiesshouldbepromotedinawaythatencouragesmorewomentoapply.Examplesofsuchpromotioncouldinclude:

• Incorporatingscholarshipinformationinafemale-centricparticipationcampaign,assuggestedinRecommendation4

• Targetedadvertisingofopportunitiesonsocialmedia• Promotingscholarshipopportunitiestoclubmembers.

4.4 ConclusionsEncouragingly,MUSporthasgenerallykeptgooddataonscholarshipsandstudentparticipationinrepresentativesport,whichhasallowedforanalysisofparticipationandscholarshipfiguresovertime.Whilescholarshipallocationprocessesandoutcomesseemtobesoundfromagenderequityperspective,thereisroomforimprovementinthenumbersofwomencompetingfortheUniversityinintervarsitycompetitions.Althoughitisacknowledgedthatwomenhavetraditionallydemonstratedlessinterest

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thanmeninsuchcompetitions,fromagenderequityperspectiveitisimportantthatspecificattentionispaidtoboostinginterestanduptakelevelsamongwomen,particularlybypromotingopportunitiesandsupportinginterestedparticipantsandteams.Asaddressedintherecommendationsandpolicyframework,itisalsoofutmostimportancethatMUSportactivelyidentifiesrepresentativesportingopportunitiesthatcatertobothfemaleandmalestudents,toensurethatitisnotfurthercontributingtotheoverallgenderimbalanceinrepresentativesport.

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Section5:Clubactivities

5.1 IntroductionThissectionaddressestheactivitiesandpracticesofsportclubsinrelationtogenderequity.DatacollectedforthissectionincludedinterviewswithsportdevelopmentstaffandcommentaryfromotherMUSportstaff,aswellasMUSport’sdataonclubmembershipandfunding,andacombinationofinterviewdataandwrittenresponsestoquestionnairesfromclubexecutivesandcommitteemembers.Fourclubs–MelbourneUniversityBasketballClub(MUBC),MelbourneUniversity(Australianrules)FootballClub(MUFC),MelbourneUniversityRugbyFootballClub(MURFC),andMelbourneUniversitySoccerClub(MUSC)–wereaskedtoparticipateinthisproject.MUSportselectedtheclubsandprovidedcontactdetailsforrelevantclubexecutivesandcommitteemembers.Clubrepresentativeswereaskedaboutgenderequityinvariousaspectsoftheircluboperations,includingmembershipandgrowth,facilitiesuseandresources,andgovernanceandfunding.Responseswereprovidedintheformmostconvenientforeachclub.Giventhatonlyfourclubsparticipated,thisdiscussionpaperdoesnotprovideacomprehensiveorrepresentativeoverviewofpracticesofallMUSport-affiliatedclubs.Therefore,eachclubispresentedasacasestudyindevelopingwomen’sparticipation,whichwillbefollowedbyaseriesoflearningsandrecommendationsbasedontheseexperiences,aswellasgeneralrecommendationsaimedbothatallMUSportclubsgenerallyandMUSportitself.

5.2 Casestudy:MelbourneUniversityBasketballClub(MUBC)AquestionnairewascompletedbytheClub’sTreasurer,whichaddressedbothmaleandfemaleparticipationattheClub.Aswithmostsports,women’sparticipationinbasketballisgrowing.IntermsoftheClub’smembership,thereisareasonablebalance,withtwelvemen’steamsandtenwomen’steams.Therearebothmen’sandwomen’selite,competitive,intermediateandbeginnerteams.TheClubregularlyhastoturnawaypotentialmembersofbothgenders,andthisisdonebasedonattendanceattrials.AlthoughtheClubdoesnotspecificallypromoteitsopportunitiestowomen,itwasacknowledgedthatthewomen’srepresentativeontheexecutivehadbeendoingagoodandimportantjobofmanagingthewomen’steams.TheClubhasnotestablishedinformalorlessstructuredparticipationopportunities,butsomeofitslowergradeteamsareconsideredfairlysocial.Intermsofgovernance,theClubisrunbyasinglecommittee,whichisviewedasworkingeffectively.Encouragingly,thegenderbreakdownofthecommitteeisusuallyabout50/50.FundingtotheClubfromMUSportisdirectedtowardsthehigh-levelstateleagueteamsforthedevelopmentofplayerswhoarestudents.Thisfundingbenefitswomenandmenequally.Facilitiesandresources-wise,womenandmenaregivenequalaccesstothe“prime”timeslots,andtheequipmentusedisofequalstandard.WiththeClubbasedoncampus,thefacilitiesaregood.HoweverthereissomestrainontheiruseascourtallocationfromMUSporthasnotkeptpacewiththegrowthoftheclub.Intermsofcoachesandvolunteers,theClubhadthreefemalecoachesin2017,anditsvolunteerbaseissaidtogenerallyreflectthegenderbreakdownofthemembership.

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5.3 Casestudy:MelbourneUniversityFootballClub(MUFC)AninterviewwasconductedwithmembersoftheMUFCBoardandtheMelbourneUniversityWomen’sFootballClub(MUWFC)committee.MUFCoverseesthreeseparatedivisions:theUniversityBlacks,theUniversityBlues(bothmen’s)andMUWFC.AustralianRulesFootballhasseenextensivegrowthinfemaleparticipationinrecentyears,particularlysincethelaunchoftheAFLWcompetition.FemaleparticipationintheClub’sactivitiesgrewby67percentin2017,andMUWFC’Smembershipnowcomprises180femalemembers;halfofwhicharestudents.Theclubhassofarkeptpacewiththeinfluxoffemaleplayersbyexpandingtoaccommodatethem,butisreachingcapacity.Therewerefourseniorwomen’steamsin2017,whichwasequaltothenumberofsenior(includingunder-19)teamsineachoftheBlacksandBluesdivisions.Ashasbeenthecaseformanyyears,MUWFChasoneteamthatplaysatthehighestlevel,whiletwoofitsteamscaterforlessexperiencedplayers.DuetotheincreasingpopularityofAustralianrulesfootballforwomeninthecommunity,MUWFChasnotneededtoactivelypromoteitselfoutsideofstandardactivitiessuchasOWeek,howeveritdoespromoteitselfinschoolstosupportjuniorpartnerclubs.Giventherisingdemandforparticipationinthewomen’sgame,theimportanceofcreatingsocialandlessstructuredopportunitiesisstronglyacknowledged.Forexample,MUWFCoffersatraining-onlymembershipforthosewhowanttogetfitandhavefunwithoutthecommitmentofmatches,andwilllooktorunafour-weekintroductiontofootballprogramforbeginnersandamixedAFL9scompetitionforstudentsinfuture.Intermsofgovernancearrangements,thecurrentMUFCsetupofthreeseparate“arms”,ordivisions,isviewedasthebestandmostnaturalwayofoperating.Thisarrangementenableseachbranchtooperatewithgeneralautonomy,butallowsforcollaborationwheremostefficient,suchasinliquorlicencing.Autonomyisconsideredimportantgiveneachdivisionhashistoricallydevelopeditsownculture.ForMUWFC,italsoprovidesaspacetooperateinawaythatspecificallyencouragesfemaleparticipation,giventhatintheClub’sexperience,applyingpracticesthathavebeensuccessfulformen’steamswillnotnecessarilyworkforwomen’steams.AnotherstrengthofthisgovernanceapproachwastheMUFCBoard,towhicheachdivisionreports.TheBoardisseenasprovidingsome“distance”indecision-makingfromtheday-to-dayoperationsoftheClub’sthreedivisions.TherearefourMUWFCrepresentativesontheBoard,inlinewiththerepresentationoftheotherdivisions.Withregardtofacilitiesuseandresources,matchdayfieldallocationhasgenerallynotbeenanissuegiventhatthemen’sandwomen’steamsplayondifferentdays.DuetolimitedavailabilityoftheUniversityofMelbourneoval,MUWFChashadtobecreativeinsourcinganalternativetrainingvenue,andwasabletoestablishapartnershipwithNorthMelbourneFootballClubinvolvingaccesstotheirground.ThishasactuallyledtoMUWFChavingaccesstohigherqualityfacilitiesthantheBluesorBlacks.AlsoofnotewasthefamilyfriendlyculturesthathavebeenfosteredacrossallMUFCdivisions,whichhasencouragedwomentogetinvolvedasvolunteersandcommitteemembersintheBluesandBlacks.Additionally,MUWFCnotedthatitscultureprovidesaninclusivespaceforLGBTIQwomen.Intermsofbarrierstoparticipation,itwasnotedthatchildcareisanissueforfemaleplayersinparticular.

5.4 Casestudy:MelbourneUniversityRugbyFootballClub(MURFC)Althoughrugbyunionisatraditionallymale-dominatedsport,women’sparticipationisgrowing.MURFCprovidedinputintothisprojectthroughaninterviewwiththeClub’sPresident.

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Intermsofmembership,theClubcurrentlyhassixmen’steamsandtwowomen’steams(theUniPanthers),includingaseniorteamandayouthteam,whichispromotedthroughschools.Increasingfemaleparticipationisviewedasafairaswellasapragmaticgoal,giventhefinancialimperativetobeabletoincludemorepeople.TheClubhasnotyethadtoturnawayfemaleplayersduetoanoversubscription.Akeyissuepreventingtheexpansionofthefemalegameisthelackofopposition,asonlyaminorityofrugbyclubsinVictoriahavewomen’steams.Althoughitalsodoesnotyetoffermodifiedorlessstructuredformsofthesport,MURFCrecognisesthatrugbysevensisavehicleforgrowthinthewomen’sgameparticularly,inpartduetotheAustralianwomen’srugbysevensteam’ssuccessatthe2016Olympics.MURFCarehopingtobeabletosupportateamtocompeteintheWomen’sUniversitySevensSeriesinfuture,evenifthereisnomaleequivalent,asthisprovidesapathwaytonationalselectionthatfemalerugbyplayershavenotalwayshad.Withregardtofacilitiesuseandequipment,theoff-campusfacilitiesMURFChiresfromthelocalcouncil,particularlythechangerooms,areconsideredsub-standardandnotparticularlyfemalefriendly.AworkinggroupincludingbothMURFCandtheMelbourneUniversityGridironClubhasbeenestablishedtodiscussandaddressthisissue.TheschedulingofmatcheswasoneareatheClubfeltwasinequitable,withitsfemaleteamsoftenscheduledtoplayattheless-preferredtimeslots,usuallyinthemorningasthefirstgameoftheday.Theschedulingofmatcheshoweveristhedomainofthegoverningbody,VictorianRugbyUnion(VRU),andMURFChasmadeasubmissiontoVRUtorequestthatwomen’smatchesarescheduledatmorepopulartimes.TheClub’sresources,equipmentandfundingareconsideredtobenefitallmembersequally.Intermsofgovernance,theClubisgovernedbyasinglecommittee,andthefirstwomanhasnowbeenappointed.TheClubhopestoachieveabalanceofskillsonthecommittee,whichmayalsoleadtoagreaterrepresentationofwomen.MURFChasplacedastrongemphasisoncreatingaculturewhereeveryonefeelswelcomedtohaveago.TheClubcurrentlyhastwofemalecoaches,andanumberoffemalevolunteersandphysios.Onebarriertowomen’sparticipationidentifiedbytheClubischildcare,whichithopescanbegraduallyovercomebyfosteringafamilyfriendlyculturewherechildrenarewelcome.

5.5 Casestudy:MelbourneUniversitySoccerClub(MUSC)MUSCparticipatedinthisprojectviawrittenquestionnairesansweredbytheClub’sPresidentandWomen’sVice-President.Femaleparticipationhasgrownsignificantlyinfootball(soccer)inrecentyears,andisnowthesecondmostplayedteamsportamonggirlsinAustralia.Duetothelegacyofsoccerbeingatraditionallymale-dominatedsport,asmightbeexpectedtheClubhasmoremen’steamsthanwomen’steams–13andsixrespectively–althoughparticipationanddemandhasgrownforboth.Everyyear,theClub’smen’sdivisionturnsawayseveralhundredplayerswhoexpressinterest,whichoccursthroughcompetitivepreseasontrials.In2017,thewomen’sdivisionhadtoturnawaypotentialplayersforthefirsttime.Giventheemphasisonprovidingopportunitiesforplayerswithavarietyofskilllevels,commitmentwasthekeycriterionforwomenjoiningtheClub,suchasthroughattendanceatpreseasontrainingsessionsandregisteringbyadeadline,althoughtheClubfoundthistobeadifficultprocess.TheClubisatapointwhereitisunabletoaddnewteamsduetoaresourcescap;namelyalackoftrainingandmatchfacilitiesallocatedbylocalcouncils.Bothdivisionsacknowledgethatoneoptionwouldbetowithdrawsomeofthelesscompetitivemen’s

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teamstoallowroomforgrowthinthewomen’sdivision,althoughthisisnotanidealscenariogiventhenumberofmenwhoareturnedawayannually.Toeasethestrain,bothdivisionsareinterestedinrunningmodifiedorsmall-sidedcompetitions,recognisingthatsomeplayerswouldpreferlessformalparticipationopportunities.However,theClubisunabletosecurefacilitiesforthisbecausethelocalcouncilprioritisescompetitivefixtures.AccesstoasyntheticpitchwouldassisttheClubinprovidingsuchopportunities,butpitchesareinshortsupplyinthelocalarea.Intermsoffacilitiesuse,bothdivisionsfeltthatprogresshadbeenachievedincreatingafairerbalanceintrainingtimeslots.ThisdirectioncamefromtheClub’sBoard,takingintoaccountthehigherlevelsatwhichthetopwomen’steamsplay,althoughitdoesmeanthatfewermen’steamsareabletotraintwiceperweekwhileallwomen’steamsdo.LikeMUWFC,thewomen’sdivisionofMUSChasestablishedandmaintainedrelationshipsoutsideoftheUniversity,andhashadaccesstoafacilityinaneighbouringmunicipality,whichisofmixedquality.MUSCapproachesmatchdayschedulingasawholeclub,andthetopmen’sandwomen’steamsbothhaveaccesstothe“prime”timeslotsgiventhattheyplayondifferentdaysbyconvention.Governance-wise,MUSCisgovernedbyanoverarchingboardwithseparatemen’sandwomen’soperationalcommittees.TheBoardcomprisesexecutivemembersofeachcommittee,andatpresenttherearefourmaleandthreefemaleboardmembers.Bothdivisionsidentifiedissueswiththissplitapproach,particularlyinefficienciesduetoduplicationoftasksandalackofinvestmentineachsideoftheclubbytheother.However,thewomen’sdivisionindicatedthathavingitsowncommitteeprovidesforsomeautonomyandameansthroughwhichwomen’sinterestscanberepresented,giventhatwomenareaminoritywithinoverallclubmembership.WhiletheBoardpreviouslysplitMUSportfundingforcoachesproportionately,itnowdividesthisfundingequallybetweenmenandwomen.In2017,theClubhadtwofemalecoachesandwouldliketoseemoreinfuture,thoughitacknowledgesthatsocietalissuesareatplayhere.Itwasalsonotedthatfemaleplayerstendtobemoreactivelyinvolvedinvolunteeringwithclubactivitiesthanmaleplayers.

5.6 GeneralrecommendationsforclubsportBasedontheexperiencesdetailedbytheclubsthatparticipatedinthisproject,aswellasinterviewswithMUSportstaff,anumberofrecommendationsaremadethatrelatetomultipleaspectsofcluboperations,includingmembershipandgrowth,facilitiesuseandgovernance.Subsequently,recommendationswillbeoutlinedforeachofthecategorieslistedabove.

5.6.1 ClubserviceagreementsAlthoughMUSporthasoversightovermanyaspectsofclubgovernance,fundingandoperations,clubsaregenerallylefttotheirowndeviceswhenitcomestoallocatingresourceswithintheclub.Sportdevelopmentstaffwereconfidentthatclubsgenerallyallocateresourcesfairlybetweenparticipantsofdifferentgenders,asseemedtobethecasefortheclubsthatparticipatedinthisproject,andnotedthatnoclub-relatedcomplaintsofagenderequitynaturehadbeenmadetoMUSportinmemory.However,fairnessinresourceallocationcannotbeguaranteedacrossallclubsatthistime,andMUSportmustbeproactiveinlayingthefoundationsforfairoutcomeswithinitsaffiliatedclubs,ratherthanjustreactiveinrespondingtoidentifiedproblems.Consideringsportsclubsreceiveasignificantamountoffunding,thereisaneedforindividualclubpracticestobeexaminedonacase-by-casebasisbyMUSport,withsomeaccountabilitymeasuresputinplace.

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Whatbecameevidentindiscussionswithclubrepresentativeswasthateachcluboperatesquitedifferently,andthereforeaone-size-fits-allapproachtogenderequityinclubswouldnotbeappropriateatthispointintime.Thedifferentneedsandpracticesofclubsarereflectedintheirdifferingclubserviceagreements,whichrecognisetheaffiliationofaclubtoMUSport,outlinetheobligationsandresponsibilitiesofeachparty,andsetoutfacilityaccess,operationalandfinancialsupportarrangements.Itisrecommendedthatfutureclubserviceagreementsincludeagenderequitystrategyspecifictoeachclub.ThisislikelytobefairlystraightforwardtoincorporateintoexistingagreementsconsideringthetemplateagreementprovidedbyMUSportalreadystatesatclause2.8:

“TheClubwill,totheirbestendeavours,deliveropportunitiesthatalignwiththeobjectivesoftheUniversity’sSportStrategicPlanandwilldeliveronClub-specifickeyperformanceindicatorsasmaybeagreedannually.”

Genderequitystrategieswithinclubserviceagreementscouldeithertaketheformofalistofequity-relatedkeyperformanceindicatorscontainedinitsownsectionofthedocument,orspecificcommitmentstocertainactionsortargetsembeddedthroughoutthedocumentintherelevantsections.Recommendation16:EmbedgenderequitystrategiesinclubserviceagreementsMUSportshouldworkwithclubstodevelopappropriategenderequitystrategiesforinclusionineachclub’sclubserviceagreement.Thesecouldbediscussedinstrategymeetingsandreviewedannuallyalongwiththeagreementatlarge,andmustbetiedtotheclub’sfundingarrangementsorfacilityallocationssoastoincentivisecompliance.Thestrategyshouldalsobereportedon,asaseparateagendaitem,ateachclub’sAnnualGeneralMeeting.Genderequitystrategiesshouldincludekeyperformanceindicators,targetsand/orcommitmentstospecificactionsrelatingto:

• Recruitmentandmembershipproportionsofwomenandmen• Thenumberofteamsandparticipationopportunitiesavailabletoeachgenderat

differentlevelsofcompetition(frombeginnertoelite)• Facilityuse• Schedulingoftrainingtimesandmatches,particularlyaccessto“prime”

timeslotsandhigh-qualityplayingfacilities• Thenumberandvalueofclub-specificscholarshipsavailabletomembersofeach

gender• Coachingandstaffappointments,performanceandresponsibilities,where

applicable• Genderrepresentationontheboardorcommittee

Eachclub’sgenderequitystrategyshouldbedevelopedtoalignwiththefuturegenderequitypolicyframework.Bywayofcomparison,MonashUniversityrequiresclubstore-affiliateeachyear.Forcompetitiveclubs,particularattentionispaidtogenderequityprovisionsduringthisprocess,includinghavingorganisationalsectionsforeachgenderandbalancedgenderrepresentationamongofficebearers.Clubsarealsorequiredtopresenttheirtimetableoftrainingandmatchallocationsforrevieweachyear,whicharesubjecttoapolicyonequitableaccesstoallteamssubjecttostandardandrequirements.Additionally,intermsofgrantsforclub-runprojects,onlyprojectsthatwillbenefitallclubmembersreceivefunding,exceptforstartupprograms;arecentexampleofwhichwastheestablishmentofawomen’ssectionoftheMonashBluesFootballClub(Australianrules).

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5.6.2 DatacollectionFromanMUSportperspective,genderproportionswithinclubmembershipfigureshavebeendifficulttotrack,whichdoesnotallowforanoverallgenderanalysisofclubparticipation.MUSportreliesonclubstoreporttheirmembershipfiguresunderitsClubMembershipPolicy.However,sportdevelopmentstaffindicatedthatthefiguresreceivedarenotalwaysaccurate.Further,clubsarerequiredtocollectinformationfrommembersunderallthefieldscontainedintheClubMembershipFormTemplate.Thetemplateformdoesnotprovideforclubmemberstospecifygenderdirectly,rather,itcontainsalistoftitlestochoosefrom.Thismeansthatdataongenderisnotnecessarilycapturedaccurately,asthetitlesof“Dr”and“Prof”aregenderneutral.Additionally,thisformdoesnotallowformemberstoexpressthattheyidentifyasneitherfemalenormale,whereastheUniversitynowrequiresthatallstudentadministrativeformsprovideathirdgenderoption.Recommendation17:EnsureclubmembershipdataaccuratelycapturesgenderToenableMUSporttomonitorprogresstowardgenderequitytargetsandidentifyareasforimprovement,clubmembershipdatamustaccuratelycapturegender.Thiscanbefacilitatedby:

• AmendingtheClubMembershipFormTemplatetoprovidecleargenderoptionsformemberstochoosefrom,includingathirdoptionformemberswhoidentifyastrans/intersex/other

• AmendingtheClubMembershipPolicytomakeitexplicitthatclubsmustreportthegenderbreakdownoftheirmembership,aswellasotherrelevantcategories

• Communicatingtoclubstheimportanceofprovidingaccuratedataongender.

5.6.3 CoachingGenerallyspeaking,womenaresignificantlyunderrepresentedincoachingpositionsandmanagementofsportsteams,38andbasedonthedatafromtheclubsthatparticipatedinthisproject,thisislikelytoholdtrueformostMUSportclubsaswell.Encouragingly,allfourparticipatingclubshadfemalecoachesintheirranks,butmorecanbedonetoincreasetheproportionofwomenincoachingroles.Thiswouldprovidebenefittoclubmembersintheformoffemalerolemodels,andtothecoachesthemselvesthroughtheacquisitionofvaluableleadershipskills.Inaddition,femalecoachesneednotexclusivelycoachfemaleteams,soallclubmemberscouldbenefitfromhavinggreaterdiversityincoachingstaff.Targetsforfemalecoacheswouldnotbepracticalgiventhedifficultiesclubsalreadyfaceinrecruitingvolunteercoaches,howeversupportcouldbeputinplacetoencouragewomeninclubstotakeoncoachingroles.AgoodexampleofthisisMUWFC,whichencouragesfemaleplayerswhoareunabletoplaythroughinjurytoundertakecoachingcourses.TheClubpaysforthesecourses,andthisapproachallowsformerplayerstostayactivelyinvolvedintheclub.Thispracticeshouldbeencouragedinallclubswherewomenareunderrepresentedincoaching,andMUSportshouldprovidefinancialsupportforthiswherenecessary.38Huggins&Randell2007,“Thecontributionofsportstogenderequalityandwomen’sempowerment”.

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Recommendation18:SupportthedevelopmentoffemalecoachingClubsshouldattempttoincreasethenumberoffemalecoacheswithintheirranksbyencouragingfemaleclubmembersandformerplayerstoundertakecoachingcoursesandprovidingfinancialsupportforthemtodoso.Whereclubsareunabletoprovidefinancialsupportforthispurpose,MUSportshouldconsiderthisindiscussionsaroundtheClub’sfundingarrangementsandprovideappropriatefinancialsupport.Insomecases,clubsreceivedirectfundingfromMUSporttocovercoachingcosts.Thissupportusuallyallowsclubstorecruitandcoverthecostsofhighlyqualifiedcoachesfortheirmostcompetitiveteams,whilethemajorityofcoachesremainvolunteers.Thewayinwhichthismoneyisdistributedtocoacheswithinaclubisthedomainoftheclubitself,howevergivenMUSport’scontribution,clubsshouldensurethatbothmaleandfemalememberswillbenefitfromtheexpertisethatpaidcoachesprovide.MUSCdecidedin2017thatthefundingreceivedfromMUSportforcoachingshouldbesplitbetweenthecoachesofthehighestmen’sandwomen’steams,takingintoaccountthatwhilethemajorityoftheclub’smembersaremale,itstopfemaleteamplaysatahigherlevel.Thisexampledemonstratesafairoutcomeintermsofgenderequity,andotherclubsshouldfollowsuitwhereapplicable.Thisprovisioncouldalsoapplytootherpaidclubpositions,assuggestedwithinRecommendation16.Recommendation19:EnsurethatfemaleandmaleclubmembersbenefitfromfundingprovidedforcoachingpurposesMUSportshouldensure–throughdiscussionswitheachclubinstrategymeetingsandprovisionsincludedinclubserviceagreements–thatfundingprovidedforcoachingpositionswillbeusedinawaythatbenefitsbothfemaleandmalemembers.Thiscouldmeanthatallpaidcoachesmustworktothebenefitoffemaleandmalemembers,orthatindividualcoachesappointedtocoacheithermen’sorwomen’steamsareremuneratedequally.

5.6.4 ChildcareChildcarewasmentionedbytwooftheparticipatingclubsasabarriertoparticipation,particularlyforfemalememberswhohavecaringresponsibilities.Giventhatthereislimitedavailabilityofchildcareoneveningsandweekendswhenclubteamsaremostlikelytotrainandplay,thisisadifficultissuetoaddress.However,MUSportcouldexploreopportunitiesforestablishinganarrangementwithchildcareprovidersneartheUniversity,whichcouldenableclubmembers,andperhapsalsofitnessmembers,toaccesschildcareservicesfortheirchildrenatasubsidisedrate.Recommendation20:ExploreopportunitiesforestablishingachildcarearrangementwithlocalprovidersforclubandfitnessmembersMUSportshouldinvestigatewhetheranarrangementcanbemadewithachildcarefacilityneartheParkvillecampusthatwouldallowclubandfitnessmemberstoaccesschildcareatasubsidisedrate.

5.6.5 ClubmembersurveyConsideringthatthescopeofthisprojectonlyrequiredengagementwithasmallnumberofclubs,theremaybeothergenderequityissuesinclubsthathavenotbeenidentifiedinthisdiscussionpaper.Inthepast,MUSporthasrunasportsclubmembersurvey.Resultsofthe2013surveyindicatedoverallsatisfactionamongclubmembers,with87.3percentofrespondentsexpressingsatisfactionwiththefriendliness,

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approachabilityandinclusivenessoftheirclub,39whichisverypositive.However,futureiterationsofthesurveyshouldbeabletorecordandaccountforgendertomeasurewhethertheneedsoffemaleandmaleclubmembersarebeingmet,andidentifywhatimprovementscouldbemadealonggenderlines,orindeed,basedontheresponsesfromanyotherdemographic.Recommendation21:EnsurefutureclubmembersurveysaccountforgenderTogenerateaclearpictureoftheexperiencesofclubmembershipasinfluencedbygender,futureiterationsoftheClubMemberSurveyshouldrecordgender,anddatashouldbeabletobecrosstabulatedbygenderaswell.

5.7 Recommendations:membershipandgrowthAmongthefourclubstoparticipateinthisproject,allwereexperiencinggrowthinmembershipanddemand,particularlyfromwomen.Inmostcases,aresourcescapduetoinsufficientfacilityallocationsandconstraintsonvolunteers’timewasprohibitingfurthergrowth.Althoughtheseissuesarenotspecificallygenderequityissues,theymayaffectgenderequityoutcomesiftheypreventclubsfromgrowingfemaleparticipationtoalevelthatismorecomparablewiththeexistinglevelsofmaleparticipation.Alackoffacilitiesoncampusandinthesurroundingareasisalong-termissuethatMUSportisactivelyworkingtoaddress.Withconstraintsonfacilitiesconsidered,providingmoresocialandmodifiedsportingopportunitieswasviewedbytwooftheparticipatingclubsasareasonablecompromise,especiallyconsideringtheseopportunitiesarelikelytorequirelesstimeandspace,andcouldinsomecasesbeheldoncampus.Suchopportunitiescouldincludesmall-sidedcompetitions,trainingonlymembershipsandintroductoryskillsprograms.ItisthereforerecommendedthatMUSportworkwithandsupportclubstoplanandestablishsuchopportunities,ashasbeendiscussedforsometimewithinMUSport.However,theseopportunitiesshouldnotbetheonlymeansthroughwhichwomen’sparticipationisallowedtogrow.Insomecases,clubsmayneedtoactivelyconsiderreducingthenumberofmen’steamstocreateamoreequalbalanceofteams,eventhoughthisisnotanidealsituation.Recommendation22:ContinuetosupportclubsinestablishingsocialandmodifiedparticipationopportunitiesfortheirmembersSuchopportunitiescouldbecreatedinthefollowingcases:

• Toprovideopportunitiesforwomen,particularlythosewhoarenewtoasport,toparticipatewhereadditionalwomen’steamscannotbeestablishedtomeetdemand–althoughthisshouldnotbetheonlyvehicleforgrowingfemaleparticipation

• Toprovideanalternativetoformalclubmembershipandcompetitionformenwhereaclubreducesthenumberofmen’steamstoallowforthecreationofmorewomen’steams,orviceversa

• Tofacilitatecollaborationbetweenwomen’sandmen’sdivisionsofclubsthroughrunningsmall-sidedmixedcompetitions,forexample.

MUSportcouldassistclubsincreatingtheseopportunitiesbyofferingstrategicadvice,startupgrantsoradditionalfunds,andsupporttosourcevenues.

39MelbourneUniversitySport2013,MUSportClubs2013AnnualMemberSurveyResultsPresentation,accessed28August2017<http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/images/Survey_3_98054598.pdf>

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5.8 Recommendations:facilitiesuseAsidentifiedbytheclubsthatparticipatedinthisproject,theavailabilityofsuitablefacilitiesisasignificantissue.ThreeofthefourclubssurveyedusedfacilitiesexternaltotheUniversity,andtwoclubs,MUSCandMURFC,identifiedissueswiththequalityofsomeofthefacilitiesused.InthecaseofMURFC,thechangeroomfacilitieswereperceivedasnotbeingfemalefriendly.AccordingtotheInternationalWorkingGrouponWomenandSport,femaleparticipationisinfluencedbytheextent,varietyandaccessibilityoffacilities.40Therefore,facilitiesshouldappropriatelyandequitablymeettheparticularneedsofthewomeninthecommunityintheirplanning,designandmanagement.TheVictorianGovernment’sFemalefriendlysportinfrastructureguidelineshighlightseveralimportantfeaturesthatcontributetocreatinganinclusivefacility,whichincludechangingfacilitiesthatcaterforwomenaswellasmen,invitingcommunityspaces,familyfriendlyattributessuchasbabychangefacilitieswherepossible,andbeingcleanandwell-lit.41Althoughthesefacilitiesareownedandmaintainedbylocalcouncils,clubsandMUSportcanplayaroleinlobbyingforfacilityupgradesandrefurbishmentsatbothacouncilandstategovernmentlevel,asdemonstratedbytheworkinggroupthatMURFCareinvolvedin,particularlyastheUniversityhassignificantpullpowerinbringingpeopleintothesurroundingcommunities.Recommendation23:ContinuetosupportclubsinadvocatingforupgradestolocalcouncilfacilitiesMUSportshouldadvocateforandsupportimprovementstofacilitiesutilisedbyitsaffiliatedclubs,particularlyupgradesintendedtomakethefacilitymoreaccessibleinlinewiththeVictorianGovernment’sFemalefriendlysportinfrastructureguidelines.

5.9 Recommendations:governanceClubgovernancearrangementsarecomplex,influencedbynumerouspracticalandhistoricalfactors,andattimessubjecttodebate.Forthesereasons,thispaperdoesnotsubstantiallyaddressclubgovernancestructures,otherthantopointoutthattherearebenefitstobothsplitstructures,whereclubshaveseparatedivisionsforwomenandmensuchasthoseinMUFCandMUSC,andunifiedstructuresasinMUBCandMURFC.Splitstructuresprovidegender-baseddivisionswithautonomytooperateinwaysthatbestsuittheirparticipants,giventhatbestpracticesacrossarangeofoperationalactivitiesmaybedifferentforwomenandmen.Theymayalsoensurestrongrepresentationwheretherearefewermembersofonegenderasatotalproportionofclubmembership.Ontheotherhand,unifiedstructuresfacilitatebetterintegrationbetweenparticipantsofeachgender,allowinglessestablishedprogramstoleverageoffexistingprogramsandencouragingthebaseofmalememberstosupportthegrowthanddevelopmentoffemaleteams,orvice-versa.Anotheraspectofgovernancethatrelatestogenderequityistherepresentationofwomenonclubboardsandcommittees.Theclubsthatparticipatedinthisprojectgenerallyhadareasonablegenderbalanceontheirgoverningboardorcommittee,howeveritisnotknownhowthegenderbalanceplaysoutacrossallofMUSport’saffiliatedclubs.

40StateGovernmentofVictoria,DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices2017,Femalefriendlysportinfrastructureguidelines.41Ibid.

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ClubparticipantsandMUSportstaffalikeacknowledgedtheimportanceoffemalerepresentationinsportsclubgovernance,bothsymbolicallyandpractically.Modellingdiversityinthiswayislikelytohavearippleeffect,influencingclubculturestobecomemoreexplicitlyinclusiveofwomenandotherunderrepresentedgroups.Asignificantvolumeofliteraturesupportsthisviewinabroadercontext,particularlywherewomenhavebeenunderrepresented.Forexample,womeninboardandseniorrolesarelikelytobringdiverseconsiderationsand“value-adding”talents,andtorepresentstakeholderswhohavepreviouslybeenexcluded,42whileclubcommitteememberswhoarerepresentativeofthemembershipmayassistincreatinganidealatmosphereforfemaleparticipation.43Further,volunteerinvolvementinclubgovernanceandoperationsfostersleadershipskillsandotherattributesthatarevaluabletothefuturecareerprospectsofstudentsandalumni.Therefore,MUSportshoulddevelopwaysofensuringthatwomenarebeinggivenappropriateopportunitiestoparticipateinclubgovernanceanddecision-making,andaresupportedtodoso.Asoutlinedintherecommendationsbelow,thiscouldoccurthroughasettingatargetof50percentfemalerepresentationongoverningboardsandcommitteesacrossallofMUSport’saffiliatedclubs,andestablishingwomeninsportnetworktosupportwomenleadersandvolunteers,consideringtheimportanceofnetworkinginsportsmanagementandthefactthatwomenhavehistoricallynotbeenwellincludedinthis.44Recommendation24:Setatargetof50percentfemalerepresentationongoverningboardsandcommitteesacrossallofMUSport’saffiliatedclubsToensurethatwomenandmenarebothwellrepresentedinclubgovernanceanddecision-making,MUSportshouldaimtohave50percentfemalerepresentationonclubboardsandgoverningcommitteeswithinaspecifiedtimeframe.Thistargetwouldrequirethathalfofthetotalofboard/committeemembersofaffiliatedclubsidentifyaswomen,ratherthan50percentwithineachindividualclub,providingforsomebalancewhereclubmembershipisskewedinfavourofoneparticulargender.Theratiooffemaleandmaleboard/committeemembersshouldbereviewedatclub’sannualstrategymeetingsandmonitoredoverall.Wherethegenderbalanceisunequal,MUSportshouldcommunicatetoclubsthattheymustbeproactiveinencouragingfemalememberstonominateforboardandcommitteepositionswhenpositionsopen.Recommendation25:EstablishawomeninsportnetworkMUSportshouldconsiderestablishingawomeninsportnetworkforfemaleclubleadersandvolunteers.Thisnetworkcouldbecomeausefulresourceforclubadministrators,suchasthrough:

• Theinformalsharingofbestpracticerelatingtogenderequityandfemaleparticipation

• Seminarsonpracticalaspectsofimprovingfemaleparticipationwithinclubs,suchasrecruitmentandretentionstrategiesandstrategiesforobtaininggrantsandsponsorship.

Alternatively,abroaderapproachcouldbetakenwherebywomeninvolvedinMUSportinvariouscapacities,includingaseliteathletes,intervarsityteammanagersandcoaches,staff,AdvisoryBoardmembers,clubmembersandotherparticipants,couldbeinvitedtoattendandhearfromindustryleadersandotherguestspeakers.

42Adriaanse,JA&Schofield,T2013,“Analysinggenderdynamicsinsportgovernance:Anewregimes-basedapproach”,SportManagementReview,vol.16,no.4,pp.498-513.43Women’sSportandFitnessFoundation2011,Theidealsportsclubforwomen.44Hoffman,J2013,“TheOldBoys’Network”,JournalfortheStudyofSportsandAthletesinEducation,vol.5,no.1,pp.9-28.

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5.10 ConclusionsThefourclubsthatparticipatedinthisproject–MUBC,MUFC,MURFCandMUSC–providedvaluableinputintermsofidentifyinggenderequityissuesandexemplifyingwaysofalleviatingthem.Itwasclearthattheseclubs,andonewouldexpectclubsacrosstheboard,areactivelyconsideringhowtomaketheirclubsmoreequitable.However,ashasbeendescribed,clubsmustcontendwithnumerousconstraints,includinglimitedavailabilityoffacilities,funds,volunteerresources,aswellastheever-increasinginfluxofnewparticipantsyearly.Therecommendationsinthissectionthataddressclubactivitiesatagovernancelevel,includingthenegotiationofclubserviceagreementsandtheemphasisonincreasingfemalerepresentationinclubleadership,willensurethatgenderisembeddedasarelevantconsideration,settingthesceneformorepracticalmeasurestoimprovegenderequitywithinclubs.Foritspart,MUSportmustensurethatimprovementsacrossgenderequitymeasurescanberecordedthroughbettercapturinggenderinbothclubmembershipdataandtheexperiencesofclubmembersviatheClubMemberSurvey.

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Section6:Participationopportunities

6.1 IntroductionThissectiondiscussesparticipationopportunitiesnotcapturedinprevioussectionsofthepaper.Inparticular,itfocusesoncampusandcommunitysportandsuggestionsforexpandingprogramsofthisnature.AnumberofMUSportstaffmembersdiscussedtheimportanceofsocialandmodifiedsportingopportunitiesininterviews,particularlyasameansofengagingwomenwhoareseekingtobecomeinvolvedinsportagainafteraperiodawayfromparticipating,andthosewhoaretryinganewsportforthefirsttimeatuniversity.

6.2 ImportanceofsocialandmodifiedformatsofsportAsdiscussedintheprevioussectioninrelationtoclubs,socialandmodifiedformsofsport,particularlythosethatarelessformalintermsoftimecommitment,areanimportantgrowtharea.Suchprogramsaresaidtoeliminateparticipationbarriersinherentincompetitive,highcostandtimeintensivesportingactivities,particularlythosetraditionallyofferedbysportsclubs.45Socialandmodifiedsportactivitiesarewellsuitedtothosewhohavenotparticipatedinsportpreviouslyonaconsistentbasis,aswellasthosewhomayhaveneverparticipatedinasportatall.Althoughtheyarelikelytoprovidebenefittoparticipantsofallgenders,socialandmodifiedsportingopportunitiesmaybeparticularlyimportantforwomen,duetothewelldocumentedphenomenonofyoungwomenceasingsportsparticipationintheirteenyears.46Universitycampusesthereforeprovideanidealsettingforwomentore-engagewithsportatanon-competitivelevel.

6.3 MUSport’scurrentofferings:campusandcommunitysportInadditiontosocialandinformalsportsopportunitiesprovidedbyitsaffiliatedclubs,MUSporthastwosimilarprogramsthatprovidesocialopportunitiesinteamsports.Campussportprovidesweekdaycompetitionsinfutsal,basketball,netballanddodgeball,whilecommunity/TinAlleysportoffersnetballcompetitionsonweeknights.Thefollowingtableliststheopportunitiesavailablebygenderin2016.Figure6:2016CampusandcommunitysportopportunitiesSport CompetitionsavailableBasketball 1mixedcompetitionDodgeball 1mixedcompetitionFutsal 1mixedcompetition

1men’scompetitionNetball 6mixedcompetitions

1women’scompetitionAtpresent,thegenderbalanceisappropriate,withthemajorityofopportunitiesbeingavailabletoall,supplementedbytwosingle-gendercompetitionsinpopularsports.MUSportshouldcontinuetomonitordemandforcampusandcommunitysportopportunities,andconsiderexpandingtheseofferingsifuptakeisexpected.Trackingparticipationbygendermayassistinidentifyingareasofgrowingdemand.Whilemixed-gendercompetitionsarelikelytomeettheneedsofmostwomenandhavetheaddedbenefitofbeinginclusiveofall,increasingthenumberofwomen’scompetitions

45StateGovernmentofVictoria,DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices2017,Femalefriendlysportinfrastructureguidelines.46Craike,MJ,Symons,C&Zimmerman,JM2009,“Whydoyoungwomendropoutofsportandphysicalactivity?Asocialecologicalapproach”,AnnalsofLeisureResearch,vol.12,no.2,pp.148-172.

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mayencouragemorewomen,particularlythosewhomaylackconfidenceintheirabilities,toparticipateinsportsthathavetraditionallybeenlessaccessibletothem.Recommendation26:Continuetomonitordemandforcampusandcommunitysportopportunities,andcreateadditionalopportunitiesforwomenwhereuptakeislikelyMUSportshouldcontinuetomonitorinterestinitscampusandcommunitysportprograms,andshouldtrackactualparticipationratesbygender.Expansionoftheseprogramstomeetidentifieddemandshouldbeconsidered,particularlygiventheirbenefittothestudentcommunityandwomeninparticular.

6.4 SuggestionsforfutureprogramsAlthoughsmall-sidedteamsportsareusuallywhatcometomindwhenconsideringsocialsportingopportunities,therearemanyotheroptionsthatcouldbeconsidered.Programsthataimtointroducenoviceplayerstoasportinanon-competitive,socialenvironmentmaybeeffectiveinengagingstudentswhohavenotconsistentlyparticipatedinsportinthepast,orwhoarelookingtolearnanewsport,improvetheirfitnessormeetnewpeople.Suchprogramsmayalsoprovidea“bridge”intomorecompetitivesport.Women-onlyprogramsofthistypeareparticularlyimportantconsideringthatwomensometimeslackconfidenceintheirskilllevel,47andthereforemaybereluctanttogoalongtomore“serious”competitivesportingactivitieswheretheyexpecttofeelself-consciousandoutoftheirdepth.TheMelbourneUniversityTennisClubbeganofferingawomen-onlyprogramin2017,whichprovidesanexampleofasuccessfulmodelforintroductoryandsocialsportingprograms.TheprogramwasrunbycoachingproviderBreakPointAnalysiswithsupportfromtheClubandMUSport,andinvolvedcardiotennisclassestakingplaceoverasix-weekperiodwithmorningorafternoonteaprovided.Initsfirsttimerunning,32womenparticipated,andthereareplanstoexpandthereachoftheprogramandthevarietyofactivitiesofferedin2018.48AnothersuggestionthatwasraisedininterviewswithMUSportstaffwasabikesafetyandmaintenanceprogramtargetedspecificallyatwomenand/orinternationalstudents.Thistypeofprogramwouldprovidebenefitsbeyondthoseusuallyassociatedwithsport.Inasimilarvein,self-defenceclassescouldbeanotherskills-basedoptiontoexplore.Inexaminingthesepossibilitiesandothers,MUSportshouldconsidertherangeofprogramsthatalreadyexistintheUniversitycommunity,suchasthoseofferedbyUMSUandtheGSA,toavoidduplication.Whereappropriate,MUSportcouldconsidersupportingorpartneringwithgroupsthatofferexistingprograms,whichmayassistinextendingtheirreach.Recommendation27:Exploreopportunitiestoestablishintroductoryandskills-basedsportprogramsforstudentsMUSportshouldconsideroptionsfordevelopingprogramswithafocusonlearningandskilldevelopmentinarelaxedenvironment;eitherconcentratedonparticularsports,oronphysicalactivitiessuchascyclingthatrequiresafetyconsiderations.Theseactivitiescouldbeofferedaswomen-onlyormixed-gender,dependingontheactivityanddemand,andcouldberunincollaborationwithsportclubs,coachingprovidersandstudentorganisationswhereappropriate.47Lirgg,CD1992,“GirlsandWomen,Sport,andSelf-Confidence”,Quest,col.44,no.2,pp.158-178.48MelbourneUniversityTennisClub2017,Facebookupdate,22September,viewed21November2017<https://www.facebook.com/melbourneunitennis/posts/1610168825702630>

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6.5 ConclusionsMUSport’scurrentofferingsintermsofsocialandmodifiedsportareappropriate,andprovideaccessibleopportunitiesforstudentstoparticipateinsportingactivitiesthatdonotrequirehighlevelsofskill,experience,timeorfinancialcommitment;allofwhicharerecognisedbarrierstofemaleparticipation.Asdemandforandawarenessoftheimportanceofsuchopportunitiesgrows,MUSportshouldconsiderinnovativewaysofexpandingitssocial,modifiedandskills-basedofferingsasoutlinedintherecommendationscontainedinthissection.

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Section7:Implementationandreporting

7.1 IntroductionThissectioncontainsrecommendationsthataregeneralinnature,orapplicableacrossvariousdifferentsectionsofthisreport.Theypertaintothereportingofprogressonrecommendedgenderequitymeasures,aswellasconsultationwithstudentsinrelationtopotentialnewprogramsandtheimplementationoftheproject’srecommendations.

7.2 ReportingItisvitallyimportantthatMUSportreportsonitsgenderparticipationdatainawaythatisclear,transparent,andusefulinmeasuringprogresstowardsitsgoals.MUSport’sannualreportprovidesagoodopportunitytopublishthisdata,giventhereportispublicallyavailable.Participationdatabygendershouldbepublishedundereachsectionofthereport,asisalreadydoneforeliteathletesupport.Recommendation28:PublishparticipationdatabygenderintheannualreportToensurethatMUSport’sprogresstowardsgenderequitygoalsisclearandeasilyaccessible,participationdatabygendershouldbepublishedundertherelevantsectionsoftheannualreport.Thesefiguresshouldincludedataonparticipationinthefollowingareasasaminimum:

• Campussport• Communitysport• FitnessServices(participation/membership)• Sportingclubs(genderreportedasatotalofallMUSportclubmembers,or

withineachindividualclub)• RepresentativeSport• EliteAthleteProgram• BluesandSportsAwards

7.3 StudentconsultationOneissuethatwasraisedinanumberofinterviewswithstaffisthequestionofhowtoengagewithstudentswhoarenotcurrentlyparticipatinginMUSport’sprograms–whicharemorelikelytobewomenandespeciallypostgraduatewomen.AnumberofrecommendationscontainedinthisdiscussionpaperinvolveactivitiesthatwouldnotonlybenewforMUSport,butmayalsoseektoengagegroupsofstudentscurrentlyunderrepresentedasMUSportparticipants.Therefore,inestablishingdemandfornewprograms,MUSportmayneedtolookoutsideitsownparticipationdataandintothewiderstudentcommunity.Opportunitiestotestthelikelyuptakeandviabilityofproposednewprograms,ortoprovidestudentswithopportunitiestosuggestideasprogramstheywouldliketoseeestablished,couldbeincorporatedintoexistingsurveys,suchastheWellbeingSurvey.MUSportcouldalsorunfocusgroupstothiseffecttoassistinidentifyingcurrentlyunmetneedsamongstudents.Recommendation29:ConductconsultationwiththewiderstudentbodyaroundproposednewprogramsandinitiativesConsultingwiththebroaderstudentpopulationthroughwidely-distributedsurveysorfocusgroupsmayassistMUSportinidentifying:

• Thelikelyuptakeandviabilityofproposedprogramsandinitiativesdesignedtoencouragebroaderparticipation

• Currentlyunmetneedsandideasforfutureinitiatives• ReasonswhycertaingroupsofstudentsdonotengagewithMUSport,andwhat

canbedonetoencouragethemtodoso.

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Itshouldbenotedthatforproposedinitiativesaimedspecificallyatcertaingroupsofstudents,suchasculturalandreligiousgroups,targetedconsultationshouldalsobeundertakenwithrelevantstudentclubsandrepresentativeorganisations,asisapplicabletoRecommendations9and10.

7.4 ImplementationofrecommendationsTosupporttheimplementationofthepolicyframeworkandtherecommendationscontainedinthispaper,MUSportshouldconsidercreatinganequityanddiversitystaffportfolio,orsimilar,ifthereiscapacitytodoso.Thistypeofroleisrelativelycommonincommunitysportandrecreationalcentres,andalsoexistswithinAUSasanInclusionandDiversityOfficerrole.TheAUSInclusionandDiversityOfficerfocusesonestablishinganinclusiveculturethatfostersequitablesportingparticipationforstudentsfromdiversebackgroundsandworkstoengageculturallydiversestudentsinAUSprograms.AsisthecasewiththeAUSrole,theportfoliowouldideallyfocusnotjustongender,butonarangeofequitygroupswhereparticipationinsportmaybelow,orwheretherearelikelytobeunmetneedsorbarrierstoparticipation.Alternatively,anequityanddiversitycommitteecouldbeestablished,involvingMUSportstaffandAdvisoryBoardmembers,forexample,althoughthismaynotbeaseffective. Recommendation30:CreateanequityanddiversitystaffportfolioAstaffportfoliothatfocusesspecificallyonequityanddiversitywithinMUSportwouldprovidesupportandexpertiseintheimplementationofthepolicyframeworkandrecommendationsgeneratedbythisreport.ItwouldalsoprovideongoingstrategicdirectiontoMUSportonfutureequityissuesandinitiativesforpromotingparticipationamongstdiversegroupsofstudents.Theroleshouldfocusongenderequity,aswellas:

• GenderdiverseandLGBTIQstudents• Studentswithdisability• Studentsfromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds• Indigenousstudents• Internationalstudents.

Asanadditionalrecommendation,furtherworkshouldbeundertakentoinvestigateequityissuesandbarrierstoparticipationforthegroupslistedinRecommendation30,withaviewtoensuringthatthespecificneedsofthesegroupsarebeingmetbyMUSport.Recommendation31:UndertakefutureworkfocusingonotherequitygroupsFurtherreviewsofpracticeandtheimplementationofresultingrecommendationsmayassistinensuringthattheprofileofMUSport’sstudentparticipantsalignswiththatofthestudentbodymorebroadly.Futureworkcouldfocusonthefollowinggroupsofstudents:


7.5 PolicyframeworkAsrequestedbyMUSport,apolicyframeworkhasbeendraftedforendorsementbytheMUSportAdvisoryBoard,andisattachedindraftformatAppendix2.ThepolicyframeworkwillprovideongoingguidancetoMUSportthroughaseriesofpolicyobjectivesapplicabletoallitsstudent-facingprogramsandactivities,andmaybeusedinfuturetoinformthedevelopmentofprocedurestoaddressgenderequityinmore

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specificareasofMUSport.Policiessuchasthisarecommonplaceinmanydifferentinstitutionalsettings;adirectlyrelevantexamplebeingSydneyUniversitySport’sgenderequitypolicy.Recommendation32:AdoptagenderequitypolicyframeworkTheMUSportAdvisoryBoardshouldadoptagenderequitypolicyframeworktoprovideongoingguidancetoMUSportthroughpolicyobjectivesapplicabletoallitsstudent-facingprogramsandactivities.

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Section8:Conclusions

8.1 SummaryofprojectfindingsTheUniversityofMelbourne’sgeneralpolicystatementsindocumentssuchasGrowingEsteemandEngagementatMelbourneofferin-principlesupporttoinitiativesthatstriveforfairness,equityanddiversityinUniversityprograms,andstatethatallstudentsshouldhaveanexperiencethatiscomparableintermsofqualityandenrichment.TheprogramsofferedbyMUSportcertainlyprovideenrichmenttothestudentexperience,andplayanimportantroleinbringingtogetherpeoplefromadiverserangeofbackgrounds–assportisuniversallyrenownedfor.ThisprojecthassoughttoguideMUSportinstrengtheningtheseoutcomes,specificallyinrelationtogenderequity.Basedonthefindingsofthisproject,MUSporthasnotdeliberatelysoughttoadvantageonegenderovertheotherintermsofthevariousparticipationandfundingopportunitiesonoffer.However,inmanycases,ithastendedtotakea“genderblind”approachinassumingthatthepracticesthatcaterforitstraditionallylargestbaseofparticipants,men,areequallysuitableforallparticipants.ThistendencyisnotuniquetoMUSport,andismirroredinsportingorganisationsatalllevels,fromcommunitysportsclubstointernationalsportingbodies.MUSportstaff,aswellasclubexecutives,areincreasinglyacknowledgingtheirobligationtobesensitivetoamorediverserangeofneedsandpreferences,andthereisanemergingemphasisonbeingproactivearoundissuesofequityandinclusion.Thisisasapplicabletoothertypesofdiversity,suchasculturaldiversity,asitistogender.Asdetailedintheprevioussectionsofthisdiscussionpaper,thefollowingissuesrelatingtogenderequitywereidentifiedaspartofthisproject:

• AnapparentunderrepresentationofwomenacrossmanyofMUSport’sprograms,includingfitnessmembership,clubmembershiprepresentativestudentathletesandscholarshipholders

• Inconsistentmarkingofgenderincommunications,includinguseofnon-parallellanguage

• IssueswithaccuratedatacollectionongenderinvarioussectionsofMUSport,includinguseoffitnessfacilities,clubmembershipandthevariousevaluationsurveysthathavebeenundertaken

• Alackofaccessibleoptionsforwomenwhowouldprefertoexerciseinawomen-onlyenvironmentforcultural,religiousorotherreasons

• Certainaspectsofthelayoutofgymfacilitiesbeinguninvitingforwomenandbeginners

• MoreopportunitiescreatedformenthanforwomentorepresenttheUniversityinintervarsitycompetitions

• Agreaterproportionofinterstateandinternationalcompetitionopportunitiesbeingofferedtomalestudents

• Off-campusfacilitiesusedbyaffiliatedclubsthatareinsomecasesnotfemalefriendly

• Schedulingofwomen’sclubmatchesattimesthatarelessfavourable(althoughthisissometimesadecisionofthestatesportingorganisation)

• AlackofoversightofthewaysinwhichclubsallocateresourcesandfundingprovidedbyMUSport

• Alackofchildcarefacilitiesforclubandfitnessmemberswithcaringresponsibilities

• Limitationsonthecapacityforfemaleclubmembershiptogrowduetostrainonfacilities.

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Recommendationsforaddressingtheseissueshavebeendescribedinthepaper,andarelistedatAppendix1.Whilesomeoftheseissueswillrequireatimeandresources-intensiveefforttoaddress,othersmaybequitestraightforwardtorectify.Inconsideringtheserecommendations,MUSportshouldcategoriseeachonthebasisofitsprioritylevelandlikelytimeframeforimplementation.

8.2 LookingaheadWhilethisprojectdididentifyanumberofgenderequityissuesinMUSport’scurrentpractices,MUSportshouldbeencouragedbythefactthatitsstaffandparticipatingsportsclubsdemonstratedwillingnesstostriveforcontinuedimprovement.MUSporthastakenanimportantstepinapositivedirectionbyundertakingthisproject.Overthecomingmonths,MUSportshouldcarefullyconsidertherecommendationscontainedinthisdiscussionpaper,andworkcollaborativelywithstakeholders,particularlysportsclubsandstudentgroups,tomakeimprovementsthatwillenableittoachieveequitableoutcomesforallstudentparticipants,regardlessofgender.Throughtheseactions,MUSportcanestablishitselfasaleaderinthegenderequityspace,bothwithinandoutsidetheUniversitycommunity.

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TheauthorHanaDaltonisaUniversityofMelbournealumnaandaformerstudentmemberoftheMUSportAdvisoryBoard(June2016-March2017).ShecompletedaBachelorofArts(Honours)inPoliticsandInternationalStudiesandaDiplomainLanguagesin2016.DuringhertimeasaUniversityofMelbournestudent,HanaheldthepositionsofEducation(AcademicAffairs)OfficerandGeneralSecretaryattheUniversityofMelbourneStudentUnion(UMSU).HanahasrepresentedtheUniversityattheAustralianUniversityGamesinwomen’sfootball(soccer)onthreeoccasions,andreceivedascholarshiptodosoin2015.Oneachoccasion,theteamearnedabronzemedal.HanaisalsoacurrentmemberoftheMelbourneUniversitySoccerClub,andhasservedonitswomen’sdivisionalcommittee.Shehasalsobeenafitnessmemberforanumberofyears.HanacurrentlyworksattheCommunityandPublicSectorUnion,VictorianBranch.

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AcknowledgementsIwouldliketoexpressmygratitudetoeverystakeholderwhomadethetimetomeetwithme,orprovidemewithinformationandsupportforthisproject.TheinputofMUSportStaff,sportsclubrepresentativesandothers,includingAUS,SydneyUniversitySport,MonashUniversitySportandTeamMONASH,wasinvaluable,asweretheinsightsofElizabethCapp(Director,StudentsandEquity),ProfessorJimAngus(Chair,MUSportAdvisoryBoard)andUMSUstudentrepresentatives.IhopethatthisdiscussionpaperanditsrecommendationswillprovidesignificantandongoingbenefittoMUSportanditsparticipants.HanaDalton

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ReferencesAdriaanse,JA&Schofield,T2013,“Analysinggenderdynamicsinsportgovernance:Anewregimes-basedapproach”,SportManagementReview,vol.16,no.4,pp.498-513.Arc@UNSW2017,SheCanStories,accessed1November2017<https://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/sport/she-can/women-of-unsw-sport>AustralianGovernment,DepartmentofHealth2017,Aboutthiscampaign,accessed2November2017<https://campaigns.health.gov.au/girlsmove/about-this-campaign>AustralianHumanRightsCommission2017,Changethecourse:NationalreportonsexualassaultandsexualharassmentatAustralianuniversities,viewed26August2017<https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sex-discrimination/publications/change-course-national-report-sexual-assault-and-sexual>AustralianUniversitySport2016,AUSGuideline:Inclusionanddiversity,accessed29July2017<http://www.unisport.com.au/images/documents/Event_policies/AUS_Guideline_Inclusion__Diversity_final_May2016.pdf>CanadianAssociationfortheAdvancementofWomenandSportandPhysicalActivity(CAAWS)2013,WhatisGenderEquity?Accessed8August2017<http://www.caaws.ca/gender-equity-101/what-is-gender-equity/>Craike,MJ,Symons,C&Zimmerman,JM2009,“Whydoyoungwomendropoutofsportandphysicalactivity?Asocialecologicalapproach”,AnnalsofLeisureResearch,vol.12,no.2,pp.148-172.Hoffman,J2013,“TheOldBoys’Network”,JournalfortheStudyofSportsandAthletesinEducation,vol.5,no.1,pp.9-28.Huggins,A&Randell,S2007,“Thecontributionofsportstogenderequalityandwomen’sempowerment”,InternationalConferenceonGenderEquityinSportsforSocialChange,Kigali,2007,accessed28September2017.Leslie,E,Sparling,PB&Owen,N2001,“Universitycampussettingsandthepromotionofphysicalactivityinyoungadults:lessonsfromresearchinAustraliaandtheUSA”,HealthEducation,vol.101,issue3,pp.116-125.Lirgg,CD1992,“GirlsandWomen,Sport,andSelf-Confidence”,Quest,col.44,no.2,pp.158-178.MelbourneUniversitySport2016a,AnnualReport2016,accessed25October2017<http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/annualreport_9_716462657.pdf>MelbourneUniversitySport2016b,2016FitnessSurveyResults,accessed19August2017<http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/Survey#Fitness>MelbourneUniversitySport2013,MUSportClubs2013AnnualMemberSurveyResultsPresentation,accessed28August2017<http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/images/Survey_3_98054598.pdf>

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MelbourneUniversityTennisClub2017,Facebookupdate,22September,viewed21November2017<https://www.facebook.com/melbourneunitennis/posts/1610168825702630>MorelandCityCouncil2017,MorelandActiveWomenandGirlsStrategy2009,accessed16September2017<http://www.activemoreland.com.au/activity-providers/Resources-for-Moreland-sports-clubs/active-women-and-girls/>OurWatch2017,SportsEngagementProgram,accessed20November2017<https://www.ourwatch.org.au/What-We-Do/%E2%80%8BSports-Engagement-Program>PremierofVictoria2017,TrailblazerSetToLeadTheWayForWomenInSport,accessed2November2017<https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/trailblazer-set-to-lead-the-way-for-women-in-sport/>Senyard,JE2004,TheTiesThatBind:AHistoryofSportattheUniversityofMelbourne,WallaWallaPress,PetershamNSW.Soler,S,Prat,M,Puig,N&Flintoff,A2016,“ImplementingGenderEquityPoliciesinaUniversitySportOrganization:CompetingDiscoursesfromEnthusiasmtoResistance”,Quest,vol.69,no.2,pp.276-289.StateGovernmentofVictoria,DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices2017,Femalefriendlysportinfrastructureguidelines,accessed8September2017<http://sport.vic.gov.au/publications-and-resources/female-friendly-sport-infrastructure-guidelines>TheUniversityofMelbourne2017a,Diversityandinclusion,accessed29July2017<https://staff.unimelb.edu.au/diversity-inclusion>TheUniversityofMelbourne2017b,Respect.Now.Always.Nationalstudentsurveyofsexualassaultandsexualharassmentinuniversitycommunities:UniversityofMelbourneSummaryFindingsandActions,accessed26August2017<http://safercommunity.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/2439409/rna-unimelb-summary.pdf>TheUniversityofMelbourne2017c,UniversityStatistics,accessed8November2017,<http://about.unimelb.edu.au/tradition-of-excellence/university-statistics>TheUniversityofMelbourne2016,StudentWellbeingSurvey2015,accessed25September2017<http://sport.unimelb.edu.au/news-wellbeing-survey_4_3093375584.pdf>TheUniversityofMelbourne2015a,TheUniversityofMelbourneStrategicPlan2015-2020:GrowingEsteem,accessed26July2017<https://about.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1462065/11364-GROWING-ESTEEM-2015-FA-WEB.pdf>TheUniversityofMelbourne2015b,EngagementatMelbourne2015-2020,accessed29July2017<http://about.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1713967/Engagement-at-Melbourne-2.pdf>

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TheUniversityofMelbourne2014,SocialInclusionBarometer2014,accessed27July2017<http://provost.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1457169/2014SocialBarometer-FINAL-Published.pdf>VicHealth2017a,YoungAdults,accessed6September2017<https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/search/life-stages>VicHealth2017b,Exercisedaily,accessed5November2017<https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/be-healthy/be-healthy-exercise>VicHealth2015a,SportParticipationinVictoria,2015,accessed7September2017<https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/media-and-resources/publications/victorian-participation-in-organised-sport>VicHealth2015b,Femaleparticipationinsport&physicalactivity:Asnapshotoftheevidence,accessed8September2017<https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/search/female-participation-in-sport-and-physical-activity-a-snapshot-of-the-evidence>Women’sSportandFitnessFoundation2011,Theidealsportsclubforwomen,accessed9September2017<https://www.womeninsport.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Ideal-Sports-Clubs-Web-Ready.pdf>

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Appendix1:ListofrecommendationsRecommendation1:UseparallellanguageconsistentlyInallofitssocialmedia,marketingandothercommunications,MUSportshouldensurethatgenderismarkedonaconsistentbasis.Recommendation2:EnsuregenderisspecifiedinthepromotionofparticipationopportunitiesPromotionalmaterialsforparticipationopportunitiesshouldclearlystatewhotheopportunityisopento,whetherthatbejustwomenorjustmen,bothwomenandmen,ormixed/opentoall.Thisisparticularlyimportantwheretheremaybeambiguityduetothehistoryofthesportoractivity,andshouldhelpensurethatstudentsarenotunnecessarilydeterredfromparticipating.Recommendation3:ExploreopportunitiestosupportclubsindevelopingonlineandsocialmediastrategiesthatencouragefemaleparticipationMUSportshouldinvestigatewaysofsupportingclubstoimprovetheironlinemediastrategiesandexpandtheirreach,wheretheclubisseekingtoincreaseitsfemale(ormale)membership.Thiscouldbeachievedthroughworkshopsorguidesonsocialmediaandwebsitedevelopmentstrategies.Recommendation4:DevelopacampaigntoencouragegreaterfemaleparticipationinMUSport’sprogramsAcampaigntargetedatfemalestudents(andstaffifappropriate)mayassistinencouragingmorewomentoparticipateinsportandfitnessactivitiesoncampus,aswellasconveyingtoexistingfemaleparticipantsthatMUSportisactivelyconsideringtheirneedsandinterests.Suchacampaignshouldincludeanonline/socialmediacomponentandeventsallowingwomentosampleandlearnaboutMUSport’svariousprogramsandofferings,includingfitnessmembership,campusandcommunitysport,representativesportandscholarships.Recommendation5:ImprovecollectionoffitnessmembershipdatabygenderMUSportshouldensurethatitsfitnessmembershipdataaccuratelycapturesgender,asindicatedbymemberswhenjoining,andthatmembershipfiguresbygenderareroutinelymonitoredandreportedon.Itisimportantthatmembersareabletochooseathirdgenderoption,trans/intersex/other,iftheydonotidentifyaseitherfemaleormale,inlinewithcurrentUniversitypractice.Recommendation6:ConsiderloweringfeesforstudentsMUSportshouldconsiderloweringcasualvisitand/ormembershipfeesforstudents,consideringthatcostsarerecognisedasasignificantbarriertoparticipation,particularlyforwomen.Recommendation7:ContinuetoworktowardsintegratingthevarioustypesofequipmentintheBeaurepaireCentregymEnsuringamixofequipmentineachsectionofthegymwillhelptofacilitateagenderbalanceacrossthegym,reducingtheproportionofspacewherebeginnersfeelunwelcome.Recommendation8:Trialawomen-centricstrengthandconditioningprogramAwomen-centricstrengthandconditioningprogramislikelytobeaneffectivemeansofintroducingwomen,whotypicallyengageinlessweight-basedtraining,tothistypeof

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training.Emphasisshouldbeplacedonpropertechnique,safetyandthebenefitsofweight-basedstrengthtraining.Alternatively,suchaprogramcouldberunforbeginnersgenerally,thoughthisislikelytoattractfewerwomen.Recommendation9:Establishwomen-onlygymtimeslotsMUSportshouldworktowardsestablishingaconsistentscheduleofwomen-onlytimeslots,ensuringthatdueconsiderationisgivento:




Recommendation10:Establishwomen-onlypooltimeslotsMUSportshouldworktowardsestablishingaconsistentscheduleofwomen-onlytimeslots,ensuringthatdueconsiderationisgivento:




Recommendation11:EnsurefitnesssurveydatacanbecrosstabulatedbygenderCrosstabulationoffitnesssurveydatabygender,aswellasotherrelevantstudentorstaffcategories,mayprovideusefulinsightstoMUSporttoinformfutureprograms,facilitiesimprovementsortargetedmarketingcampaigns.Recommendation12:SupportpotentialrepresentativeteamsthatmaybestrugglingtomeeteligibilitycriteriaforcompetingatAUScompetitionsMUSportshouldproactivelysupportteamsandathletesincaseswhereasporthasoftenfailedtomeettheinternalcriteriatocompeteatAUSevents,toassistinfacilitatingmoreequalparticipationofwomenandmeninrepresentativesport.Suchsupportcouldinclude:

• Engagingwiththerelevantclubdirectlyandwellinadvanceoftheeventtoidentifypotentialcompetitors,managersandcoaches

• Supportingstudentstopromotetrialsfortheevent,suchasthroughsharingsocialmediacontentandprovidingprintingfacilitiesiftheorganiserswishtodistributepostersorflyers

• DirectingaproportionofAUGscholarshipsonaprioritybasistosportsthatstruggletosendbothfemaleandmaleteamsorathletes,andensuregenderequityisanoverallconsiderationinawardingthesescholarships.

Recommendation13:ReportclearlyonexpenditurebygenderonrepresentativecompetitionsandtournamentsToprovidefortransparencyandthemeasurementofprogressongenderequity,MUSportshouldensureitsexpenditureonrepresentativetournamentsandcompetitionsisclearlyreportedinrelevantfinancialreportsandideallyinitsannualreportsaswell.ThiswillalsoallowtheAdvisoryBoardtoeasilyidentifysignificantexpenditure

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discrepanciesbetweenmen’sandwomen’scompetitions,withaviewtodiscussingopportunitiesforimprovementonacontinualbasis.Recommendation14:Provideequivalentopportunitiesforeachgendertocompeteinnon-AUSinterstateorinternationalcompetitionsIncaseswhereMUSportisinvitedtoparticipateinarepresentativesportingeventthatdoesnotofferacompetitionforbothwomenandmen,MUSportshouldconsiderthedecliningtheinvitation,andlobbyingpublicallywithotherinstitutionsfortheestablishmentofacompetitionfortheunrepresentedgender.IfthisisnotpossibleandMUSportstillwishestocompete,itshould:

• Identifyanequivalentopportunityinthesamesportinthesameyearfortheothergender,whetherthisisorganisedexternallyorbyMUSportitself

• Provideanopportunityinadifferentsportforateamoftheunrepresentedgendertoparticipateinasimilarcompetitionofequivalentstatusandvalue,iftheaboveisnotpossible

• Declinetheinvitationifthereisinsufficientfundingortimetocoordinateparticipationinanequivalentevent.

Recommendation15:Continuetomonitorscholarshipdatabygender,andpromotescholarshipofferingstowomenIfMUSportidentifiesthattheproportionoffemalescholarshiprecipientshasplateauedordecreased,scholarshipopportunitiesshouldbepromotedinawaythatencouragesmorewomentoapply.Examplesofsuchpromotioncouldinclude:

• Incorporatingscholarshipinformationinafemale-centricparticipationcampaign,assuggestedinRecommendation4

• Targetedadvertisingofopportunitiesonsocialmedia• Promotingscholarshipopportunitiestoclubmembers.

Recommendation16:EmbedgenderequitystrategiesinclubserviceagreementsMUSportshouldworkwithclubstodevelopappropriategenderequitystrategiesforinclusionineachclub’sclubserviceagreement.Thesecouldbediscussedinstrategymeetingsandreviewedannuallyalongwiththeagreementatlarge,andmustbetiedtotheclub’sfundingarrangementsorfacilityallocationssoastoincentivisecompliance.Thestrategyshouldalsobereportedon,asaseparateagendaitem,ateachclub’sAnnualGeneralMeeting.Genderequitystrategiesshouldincludekeyperformanceindicators,targetsand/orcommitmentstospecificactionsrelatingto:

• Recruitmentandmembershipproportionsofwomenandmen• Thenumberofteamsandparticipationopportunitiesavailabletoeachgenderat

differentlevelsofcompetition(frombeginnertoelite)• Facilityuse• Schedulingoftrainingtimesandmatches,particularlyaccessto“prime”

timeslotsandhigh-qualityplayingfacilities• Thenumberandvalueofclub-specificscholarshipsavailabletomembersofeach

gender• Coachingandstaffappointments,performanceandresponsibilities,where

applicable• Genderrepresentationontheboardorcommittee

Eachclub’sgenderequitystrategyshouldbedevelopedtoalignwiththefuturegenderequitypolicyframework.Recommendation17:EnsureclubmembershipdataaccuratelycapturesgenderToenableMUSporttomonitorprogresstowardgenderequitytargetsandidentify

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areasforimprovement,clubmembershipdatamustaccuratelycapturegender.Thiscanbefacilitatedby:

• AmendingtheClubMembershipFormTemplatetoprovidecleargenderoptionsformemberstochoosefrom,includingathirdoptionformemberswhoidentifyastrans/intersex/other

• AmendingtheClubMembershipPolicytomakeitexplicitthatclubsmustreportthegenderbreakdownoftheirmembership,aswellasotherrelevantcategories

• Communicatingtoclubstheimportanceofprovidingaccuratedataongender.Recommendation18:SupportthedevelopmentoffemalecoachingClubsshouldattempttoincreasethenumberoffemalecoacheswithintheirranksbyencouragingfemaleclubmembersandformerplayerstoundertakecoachingcoursesandprovidingfinancialsupportforthemtodoso.Whereclubsareunabletoprovidefinancialsupportforthispurpose,MUSportshouldconsiderthisindiscussionsaroundtheClub’sfundingarrangementsandprovideappropriatefinancialsupport.Recommendation19:EnsurethatfemaleandmaleclubmembersbenefitfromfundingprovidedforcoachingpurposesMUSportshouldensure–throughdiscussionswitheachclubinstrategymeetingsandprovisionsincludedinclubserviceagreements–thatfundingprovidedforcoachingpositionswillbeusedinawaythatbenefitsbothfemaleandmalemembers.Thiscouldmeanthatallpaidcoachesmustworktothebenefitoffemaleandmalemembers,orthatindividualcoachesappointedtocoacheithermen’sorwomen’steamsareremuneratedequally.Recommendation20:ExploreopportunitiesforestablishingachildcarearrangementwithlocalprovidersforclubandfitnessmembersMUSportshouldinvestigatewhetheranarrangementcanbemadewithachildcarefacilityneartheParkvillecampusthatwouldallowclubandfitnessmemberstoaccesschildcareatasubsidisedrate.Recommendation21:EnsurefutureclubmembersurveysaccountforgenderTogenerateaclearpictureoftheexperiencesofclubmembershipasinfluencedbygender,futureiterationsoftheClubMemberSurveyshouldrecordgender,anddatashouldbeabletobecrosstabulatedbygenderaswell.Recommendation22:ContinuetosupportclubsinestablishingsocialandmodifiedparticipationopportunitiesfortheirmembersSuchopportunitiescouldbecreatedinthefollowingcases:

• Toprovideopportunitiesforwomen,particularlythosewhoarenewtoasport,toparticipatewhereadditionalwomen’steamscannotbeestablishedtomeetdemand–althoughthisshouldnotbetheonlyvehicleforgrowingfemaleparticipation

• Toprovideanalternativetoformalclubmembershipandcompetitionformenwhereaclubreducesthenumberofmen’steamstoallowforthecreationofmorewomen’steams,orviceversa

• Tofacilitatecollaborationbetweenwomen’sandmen’sdivisionsofclubsthroughrunningsmall-sidedmixedcompetitions,forexample.

MUSportcouldassistclubsincreatingtheseopportunitiesbyofferingstrategicadvice,startupgrantsoradditionalfunds,andsupporttosourcevenues.

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Recommendation23:ContinuetosupportclubsinadvocatingforupgradestolocalcouncilfacilitiesMUSportshouldadvocateforandsupportimprovementstofacilitiesutilisedbyitsaffiliatedclubs,particularlyupgradesintendedtomakethefacilitymoreaccessibleinlinewiththeVictorianGovernment’sFemalefriendlysportinfrastructureguidelines.Recommendation24:Setatargetof50percentfemalerepresentationongoverningboardsandcommitteesacrossallofMUSport’saffiliatedclubsToensurethatwomenandmenarebothwellrepresentedinclubgovernanceanddecision-making,MUSportshouldaimtohave50percentfemalerepresentationonclubboardsandgoverningcommitteeswithinaspecifiedtimeframe.Thistargetwouldrequirethathalfofthetotalofboard/committeemembersofaffiliatedclubsidentifyaswomen,ratherthan50percentwithineachindividualclub,providingforsomebalancewhereclubmembershipisskewedinfavourofoneparticulargender.Theratiooffemaleandmaleboard/committeemembersshouldbereviewedatclub’sannualstrategymeetingsandmonitoredoverall.Wherethegenderbalanceisunequal,MUSportshouldcommunicatetoclubsthattheymustbeproactiveinencouragingfemalememberstonominateforboardandcommitteepositionswhenpositionsopen.Recommendation25:EstablishawomeninsportnetworkMUSportshouldconsiderestablishingawomeninsportnetworkforfemaleclubleadersandvolunteers.Thisnetworkcouldbecomeausefulresourceforclubadministrators,suchasthrough:

• Theinformalsharingofbestpracticerelatingtogenderequityandfemaleparticipation

• Seminarsonpracticalaspectsofimprovingfemaleparticipationwithinclubs,suchasrecruitmentandretentionstrategiesandstrategiesforobtaininggrantsandsponsorship.

Alternatively,abroaderapproachcouldbetakenwherebywomeninvolvedinMUSportinvariouscapacities,includingaseliteathletes,intervarsityteammanagersandcoaches,staff,AdvisoryBoardmembers,clubmembersandotherparticipants,couldbeinvitedtoattendandhearfromindustryleadersandotherguestspeakers.Recommendation26:Continuetomonitordemandforcampusandcommunitysportopportunities,andcreateadditionalopportunitiesforwomenwhereuptakeislikelyMUSportshouldcontinuetomonitorinterestinitscampusandcommunitysportprograms,andshouldtrackactualparticipationratesbygender.Expansionoftheseprogramstomeetidentifieddemandshouldbeconsidered,particularlygiventheirbenefittothestudentcommunityandwomeninparticular.Recommendation27:Exploreopportunitiestoestablishintroductoryandskills-basedsportprogramsforstudentsMUSportshouldconsideroptionsfordevelopingprogramswithafocusonlearningandskilldevelopmentinarelaxedenvironment;eitherconcentratedonparticularsports,oronphysicalactivitiessuchascyclingthatrequiresafetyconsiderations.Theseactivitiescouldbeofferedaswomen-onlyormixed-gender,dependingontheactivityanddemand,andcouldberunincollaborationwithsportclubs,coachingprovidersandstudentorganisationswhereappropriate.Recommendation28:PublishparticipationdatabygenderintheannualreportToensurethatMUSport’sprogresstowardsgenderequitygoalsisclearandeasilyaccessible,participationdatabygendershouldbepublishedundertherelevantsections

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oftheannualreport.Thesefiguresshouldincludedataonparticipationinthefollowingareasasaminimum:

• CampusSport• CommunitySport• FitnessServices(participation/membership)• Sportingclubs(genderreportedasatotalofallMUSportclubmembers,or

withineachindividualclub)• RepresentativeSport• EliteAthleteProgram• BluesandSportsAwards

Recommendation29:ConductconsultationwiththewiderstudentbodyaroundproposednewprogramsandinitiativesConsultingwiththebroaderstudentpopulationthroughwidely-distributedsurveysorfocusgroupsmayassistMUSportinidentifying:

• Thelikelyuptakeandviabilityofproposedprogramsandinitiativesdesignedtoencouragebroaderparticipation

• Currentlyunmetneedsandideasforfutureinitiatives• ReasonswhycertaingroupsofstudentsdonotengagewithMUSport,andwhat

canbedonetoencouragethemtodoso.Recommendation30:CreateanequityanddiversitystaffportfolioAstaffportfoliothatfocusesspecificallyonequityanddiversitywithinMUSportwouldprovidesupportandexpertiseintheimplementationofthepolicyframeworkandrecommendationsgeneratedbythisreport.ItwouldalsoprovideongoingstrategicdirectiontoMUSportonfutureequityissuesandinitiativesforpromotingparticipationamongstdiversegroupsofstudents.Theroleshouldfocusongenderequity,aswellas:


Recommendation31:UndertakefutureworkfocusingonotherequitygroupsFurtherreviewsofpracticeandtheimplementationofresultingrecommendationsmayassistinensuringthattheprofileofMUSport’sstudentparticipantsalignswiththatofthestudentbodymorebroadly.Futureworkcouldfocusonthefollowinggroupsofstudents:


Recommendation32:AdoptagenderequitypolicyframeworkTheMUSportAdvisoryBoardshouldadoptagenderequitypolicyframeworktoprovideongoingguidancetoMUSportthroughpolicyobjectivesapplicabletoallitsstudent-facingprogramsandactivities.

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Appendix2:Draftpolicyframework1. Policystatement

1.1 MelbourneUniversitySporthasaresponsibilitytoprovideequitablesporting

andrecreationalopportunitiestoallstudentsregardlessofgender,andtoensurethatitsprogramsandservicesaremeetingtheneedsandexpectationsofstudentsofallgenders;

1.2 MelbourneUniversitySportislegallyobligedtocomplywithstateandfederal

equalopportunityandanti-discriminationlegislation.

2. Purpose

2.1 Thispolicyaimsto:

a) OutlinetheroleofMelbourneUniversitySportinprovidingforgenderequitythroughoutitsprogramsandeliminatinggender-basedbarrierstoparticipation;

b) EmbedgenderequityasbothanimportantvalueandarelevantconsiderationinallofMelbourneUniversitySport’sactivities.

3. Scope

3.1 ThispolicyappliestoallaspectsofMelbourneUniversitySport’sstudent-

facingoperations,includingrepresentativesport,fitnessservices,specialtyprogramming,affiliatedsportingclubsandmediacoverage.

4. Definitions

Term DefinitionGender Genderreferstothesociallyconstructedcharacteristics,including

rolesandbehaviours,thatsocietiesattributetowomenandmen.Itdifferstosex,whichreferstothebiologicalandphysiologicalcharacteristicsthatdistinguishfemalesandmales.Itisacknowledgedthatgenderandsexarenotbinaryandexistonacontinuum.Thismeansthatthereisadiverserangeofgenderidentities,suchastransgender,genderqueerandagender,aswellasmanysexvariationsasinthecaseofintersexpeople.Thetermswomen/femaleandmen/maleareusedinthispolicytomirrorthestandardgendercategoriesusedwithinsport,althoughitisrecognisedthatsuchtermsmaynotbeinclusiveofallidentities.

Genderequity Genderequityreferstotheprocessofbeingfairandjusttowomenandmen,acknowledgingthattheirneeds,interestsandexperiencesmaydifferduetothesocialcontext.Genderequityrequiresallocatingresources,programsanddecision-makingfairlybetweengenders,andtakesintoaccountthatdifferentstrategiesareoftennecessarytoaddressexistingimbalancesandachieveequalopportunitiesandoutcomesforallparticipants.

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Genderequality

Genderequalityreferstotheidenticaltreatmentof,andprovisionofresourcesto,womenandmen.Genderequalitymaybebestpracticeinsomecases,howeverinothercasesitmaynotresultinfairorequivalentoutcomesiftheparticularneedsofeachgenderarenottakenintoaccount.

Genderlens Applyingagenderlensistheprocessofassessinghowpeopleofdifferentgendersmaybeimpacteddifferentlybyaprogram,practiceorpolicy,forexample.Whengender-basedconsiderationsbecomepartofthedesign,implementationandevaluationofallactivities,thisisknownasgendermainstreaming.

5. Context

5.1 Informulatingthispolicy,MelbourneUniversitySportacknowledgesthe

followingcontextualfactors:a) Thatwomenhavehistoricallybeendisadvantagedinsport,dueto

traditionalgender-basedexpectationsandresultingbarrierstoparticipation,andalackofopportunities;

b) Thatparticipantsofdifferentgendersmayhavedifferentneedsand

preferencesinrelationtoundertakingsportandrecreationalactivities;

c) ThatallstudentscontributetoMelbourneUniversitySportthrough

paymentoftheStudentServicesandAmenitiesFee,anddeserveparticipationopportunitiesthatareaccessibletoandinclusiveofall.

6. Policyobjectives

6.1 Toprovideforfairandequitableoutcomes,MelbourneUniversitySportwill

workto:

a) Provideequitableopportunities–intermsofnumber,scopeandquality–forstudentsofallgenderstoparticipateinsportandrecreationalactivities;

b) Allocatefundingforprogramsandactivitiesinawaythat

demonstratesoverallfairnesstofemaleandmaleparticipants;

c) Ensureavailabilityofsportingopportunitiesforeachgenderatalllevelsofparticipation,frombeginnertoelite;

d) Applyagenderlenstothedesignandongoingimprovementofallprogramsandinitiatives;

e) EnsurethatparticipantsofeachgenderhaveequitableaccesstothehighestqualityfacilitiesandequipmentavailabletoMUSportanditsaffiliatedclubs;

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f) Identifygender-baseddisadvantageandunderrepresentationinparticipationwheretheymayoccur,andimplementproactivemeasuresforaddressingthese;

g) Promoteparticipationopportunitiesandsportingachievementsinawaythatdemonstratesequalvaluingofwomen’sandmen’ssport;

h) Facilitateleadershipopportunitiesforparticipantsofallgenders,particularlyinareasorroleswhereonegenderhasbeenhistoricallyunderrepresented;

i) Useitsinfluencetoadvocateforequitableopportunitiesforparticipantsofallgendersinuniversitysport.

7. Measuringsuccess

7.1 MelbourneUniversitySportwill:

a) Ensuretheaccuratecollectionandrecordingofparticipationand

membershipdatabygenderacrossallprograms;

b) Monitordatatotrackparticipationtrends,demandandprogresstowardequallevelsofparticipation;

c) Documenthowgenderhasbeentakenintoaccountintheplanningandimplementationofprogramsandinitiatives;

d) Reportongenderequityoutcomesinatransparentandaccessiblemanner.

8. Review

8.1 ThispolicywillbereviewedbytheMelbourneUniversitySportAdvisory

Boardeverytwoyears.

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Appendix3:StakeholderinterviewquestionsMUSportstaffThefollowingquestionsarethegenericquestionsaskedtoMUSportstaffmembers.Eachindividualwasalsoaskedtoprovideinformation,insightsandinsomecasesdatafortheirparticularportfoliowithinMUSport.SomeofthebroaderquestionscontainedinthislistwerealsoaskedoftheMUSportAdvisoryBoardChair,theDirector,StudentsandEquity,andUMSUrepresentatives.

• Tellmeabitaboutyourrole,andhowlongyou'vebeenatMUSport.• Istheredataon(areaofparticipation)bygender?Ifso,hasthischangedmuch

overtime?• HowwouldyousayMUSporttracksintermsoffemaleparticipationin(areaof

MUSport)?• Inyourexperience,arethereanymajordifferencesinthewaysthatmaleand

femalestudents/members/clubsusethefacilitiesandprograms?• Arethereanyparticularcomments/feedbackitems/criticismsthattendtocome

fromonegendermorethantheother?• Lookingattheorganisationgenerally,howdoyouperceivethestateofgender

equityinMUSportintermsoftheprograms/services/eventsoffered?• InwhatwaysdoyouthinkMUSportcouldimproveitsgenderequitypracticesin

termsoftheservicesandopportunitiesoffered?• Ifyoucouldmakeanyimprovementsthatwouldassistwithgenderequity

withintheorganisation,whatwouldtheybe?• Whatwouldyousayarethebiggestbarrierstowomen’sparticipationinsport,

bothinsocietygenerallyandinauniversitycontext?• Howdoyouthinkthesecouldbeaddressed/overcomeinauniversitysport

context?SportClubsThefollowingquestionswereaskedofparticipatingsportclubsininterviews,oralternativelyissuedtotheminawrittenquestionnaireviaemail.Membership&growth

• Iswomen’sparticipationinyoursportgrowing?• Howmanyteamsofeachgenderdoesyourclubhave,andwhatlevelsdothey

playat(roughlydividedintobeginner/intermediate/competitiveorelite)?• Brieflydescribethetrendsovertimeintermsofoverallmembershipnumbers

andtheratioofmaletofemalemembers.• Hasyourclubhadtoturnawaypotentialmembersduetoanoversubscriptionof

teamsoralackofresources?o Ifso,roughlyhowmanyplayersofeachgenderhadtobeturnedaway

eachseason?o Howwasthisdone(e.g.throughtrials,registeringplayersonafirstcome

firstservedbasis,etc.)?• Whatistheyearlyregistrationfee?• Doesyourcluboffersocialteamsormodifiedformsofthesport(suchasa

trainingorplayingonlyopportunities,small-sidedcompetitionsetc.)?• Hasyourclub,noworinthepast,madespecialeffortstoattractmorewomento

theclub?Ifso,howwasthisdone?

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• Someclubsarereachingapointwheretheyarenolongerabletosimplyaddnewteamsduetoacaponresources,especiallyplayingandtrainingfacilities.Ifthisisorwasthecaseforyourclub,howwouldyougoaboutincreasingfemaleparticipation?

Facilities&resources

• Howarefields/courtsandtraining/matchtimeslotsallocated?Whatconsiderationsaremadeinthisprocess?

• Wouldyousaymen’sandwomen’steamsaregivenequalaccesstothe“primetime”/optimalmatchandtrainingtimeslots?Why/whynot?

• Wouldyousaythatthequalityofequipment,trainingandhomefacilitiesusedbymen’sandwomen’steamsisgenerallyofthesamestandard?

• Doyoufeelthatthe“home”facilitiesyourclubuses(whetheronoroffcampus)arewelcomingforwomen,suchas,forexample,includingunisexprovisionsfortoiletsandshowers,well-litinternalandexternalspaces,equalaccesstomemorabiliaspace,babychangefacilities,etc.?

Governance&funding

• Isyourclubgovernedbyasingleboard/committee,orarethereseparatemen’sandwomen’scommittees?

o Doesyourcurrentsystemworkwell,ordoyouthinkitcouldworkbetter?

• Whatisthebreakdownbygenderofcommittee/boardmembership?• Doesyourclubhaveawholeclubapproachtonegotiatingfundingandother

revenue,oraremen’sandwomen’steams/divisions/committeesresponsiblefororganisingthisthemselves?(FundingandrevenuehereincludesfundingfromMUSport,sponsorship,grants,fundraising,donations,etc.)

o Whobenefitsfromthesestreamsoffunding/revenueie.isitgenerallyspentasneededacrossthewholeclub,dividedequallyorproportionatelybetweenmen’sandwomen’steams,spentbywhicheverpartoftheclubcollectedit,etc.?

• WhatisthedirectfundingyourclubreceivesfromMUSportputtowardsandwouldyousaythatthisbenefitsmaleandfemalemembersequally/proportionatelytomembershipnumbers?

Miscellaneous

• Howmanyfemalecoachesdoesyourclubhave?Dothecoachesandvolunteersgenerallyreflectthemembershipoftheclubintermsofgender?

• Whatdoyouseeasthebiggestbarriersforwomentogetinvolvedinyourclub?Thesecanbepractical/logisticalorsocietal.

o Ascoachesorvolunteerso Asplayers

• Arethereanywaysinwhichyouthinkyourclubcouldbecomemoreequitableforwomen?

• HowcouldMUSportsupportyourclubinprovidingmore,ormoreequitable,opportunitiesforwomen?

• Anyothercomments?AustralianUniversitySport(AUS)ThequestionsbelowwereissuedtoAUSinawrittenquestionnaire.

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• HowwastheInclusion&DiversityGuideline(and/oritspredecessorpolicies)

developedandwasitdevelopedinresponsetoanythinginparticular?• TheGuidelinetalksaboutprovidingequalopportunitytoallintermsof

competing.DoesthisalsoapplytootherpracticalaspectsoforganisingAUScompetitions,suchas,forexample,theallocationoffacilitiestomaleandfemalecompetitionsandtheallocationoftimeslotsformen’sandwomen’scompetitions?

o Howarefacilitiesandtimeslotsforcompetitionsallocated,andisgenderequityaconsiderationinthisprocess?

• WhatsortsofdatadoesAUScollectonfemaleparticipationrates,andifsuchdataiscollected,whatistheapproximatepercentageofmaleandfemalesatAUGandSUG…

o Asathletes?o Ascoaches/managers?o Hasthischangedmuchovertime?Ifso,why?

• Wouldyousaythatmaleandfemaleathletesinanygivensportaretreatedequally?Arethereanysportswhereyouthinktheopportunitiesprovidedtowomen,ortomen,couldbeimprovedtobemoreequitable?

• HasAUSinthepastidentifiedanybarrierstowomen’sparticipation(asathletesorcoaches/managers),orwaysinwhichfemaleparticipantshavebeentraditionallydisadvantaged,andifsowhathasbeenputinplacetoaddressthis?

• DoyouhaveanyothercommentsregardingAUS’sapproachtoinclusion/genderequity?

OtheruniversitiesThefollowingquestionsweresentviaemailtoMonashUniversitySport/TeamMONASHandSydneyUniversitySport.SydneyUniversitySportrespondedbyprovidingtheirgenderequitypolicy.

• Doyoucurrentlyhaveapolicyoranyguidelinesrelatingtogenderequityforsportsparticipants?Ifso:

o Whenwasthisdeveloped,andwasitdevelopedinresponsetoanythinginparticular?

o Whatareasofsportdoesitcover(eg.sportsclubs,intervarsitysport,fitness,scholarships,coaches,mediacoverageetc.)?

o Hasthepolicymadeadifferencetogenderequityintermsofopportunitiesofferedtostudents?Howissuccessmeasured?

o Doesthepolicyrelatetoallsportparticipants/usersorjuststudents?• Whatdatadoyoucollectthatmeasuresparticipationbygender?• Doyouhaveanymechanismsinplacetoensurefundingputtowardsmaleand

femaleparticipation(whetherthroughclubs,intervarsitycompetitions,etc.)isequal,orproportionatetothenumberofparticipantsofeachgender?

• Doyouhaveanyprogramsorstrategiesdesignedtoalleviatebarrierstofemaleparticipationasathletes/sportparticipants(eg.womenonlygymtimeslotsorspaces,womenonlybeginnerssessionsforparticularsports,childcareforparticipants’children,etc.)?

• Doyouhaveanyprogramsorstrategiesdesignedtoalleviatebarrierstofemaleparticipationascoaches/administrators/volunteers(eg.supporttoundertakefemalecoachingclinics,womeninsportnetworks,etc.)?

• Doyouhavepolicies/proceduresforallocatingfacilitiesandresources(includingfields/courts,match/trainingtimeslots,etc.),andisgenderequityaconsiderationhere?

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• Arewomenwellrepresentedinsportsleadership,andhavestepsbeentakeninthepasttoensurethisisthecase(eg.gendertargetsorquotasonthegoverningboard/committee,leadershipprograms,etc.)?

• Isgenderequityaconsiderationintheawardingofsportsscholarships?Ifso,howisgendertakenintoconsideration?

• Arethereanymechanismsforreviewingormeasuringprogressongenderequitygoals,ifapplicable?Ifso,whatarethese?

o Doyouhaveastaffmemberorcommitteewhoseroleitistoensuregenderequityisaconsiderationintheorganisation?

• Arethereanyotherwaysnotalreadyaddressedinwhichyourorganisationsupportsfemalesportparticipationandparticipants,whetherasathletes/fitnessmembers/volunteers/coaches,etc.?

• Anyothercomments?

final discussion paper - melbourne university sport · prepared by hana dalton for melbourne...

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