National and state-level sporting organisations across Australia must have an equal split of men and women on their boards from 2027 or risk having their funding withheld, the federal government has announced.

The National Gender Equity in Sports Governance Policy, launched by the Albanese government this week, aims to address the chronic under-representation of women across governance and leadership positions in Australian sport by creating a financial incentive for organisations to make their boards more equal.

Despite almost equal rates of participation in sport by men and women across all codes and levels, the vast majority of sport in Australia is governed and led by men.

Currently, just 62 per cent of funded national sports organisations across the country meet the benchmark of gender diversity among board directors. 

But that number falls drastically when it comes to female board chairs, with just 25 per cent of all organisations having a woman in that leadership position.

Further, a 2023 government report found that just 22 per cent of CEOs across 65 national sports organisations in Australia were women.

When it comes to coaching, the numbers are even worse, with less than 10 per cent of Australia’s top sporting national teams coached by women.

This policy, developed in collaboration between the Albanese government, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), and the State and Territory Agencies for Sport and Recreation, will now require all organisations that receive government funding to reach three specific targets by July 1, 2027:

• 50 per cent of all board directors are women
• 50 per cent of all board chairs are women
• 50 per cent of specified board sub-committee members are women

Organisations will be required to report annually through a sports governance self-assessment tool, which will be designed and operated by the ASC, to ensure they are on track to hit the required targets within the timeline.

If they cannot, the government has vowed to withhold various forms of federal funding until the organisation has addressed their shortfall. Depending on the progress that has or hasn’t been made by the organisation, the withheld funding can be total or partial.

Non-compliance measures are applicable to all recognised national sporting organisations, including those for people with disability.

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It does not, however, apply to community clubs or associations, nor to private sports organisations like AFL, NRL, or A-Leagues clubs, though these organisations are encouraged to pursue the same targets in the interests of a stronger, more diverse, and more representative decision-making body.

“We need more women making decisions for more women,” Minister for Sport Anika Wells said.

“Diversity within an organisation’s senior roles provides a more complete mix of skills, perspectives and experiences, resulting in better decision-making and improved performance.

“The incredible results by our women in Paris and the success of teams like the Diamonds, Stingers and Southern Stars have seen a surge in female participation, but we still do not have an appropriate balance of senior leadership.

“I strongly encourage all organisations that operate within the Australian sporting environment to embrace this policy and implement the game-changing gender targets we need.”

The policy is part of a larger suite of funding packages launched by the federal government over the past two years aimed at supporting women and girls in various areas of sport, from playing and coaching to administration and governance.

This policy, which was flagged by Ms Wells in a speech last month, adds to the $36 million Empowering Women and Girls in Sport program aimed at tackling abuse, bullying, discrimination, and sexual misconduct, as well as the $200 million Play Our Way fund that provides community clubs with access to grants to help build or renovate their facilities to make them more female-friendly.

It forms yet another part of the Albanese government’s wider Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality framework, which aims to drive change and improve the representation of women in governance roles across various industries and sectors.

It’s hoped that Monday’s announcement will set a precedent for future policies that aim to increase the diversity and representation of other groups in the boardrooms of Australian sport, thus creating a more inclusive, accessible, and equal sporting space for everyone.

“A range of resources, practical tools, and programs will be made available to organisations to support them to meet these targets and navigate the challenges that may arise with substantial changes like this.

“As someone who has worked in the gender equity and inclusion space for decades, today’s announcement is an important step for the sport sector. I’m optimistic about the positive impact this policy will have for sport at all levels.”