Background
Sport is a highly visible and valued feature of Latrobe City Council’s culture and identity. The sport and active recreation sector provides opportunities for enriching our communities through the promotion of respect and fair mindedness for all people, while also supporting physical and mental wellbeing.
Following the 2015 Inquiry into Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation and the subsequent formation of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, a reform agenda has been developed to change the systems that have perpetuated gender inequality. This includes addressing the built environment, and the traditional structures and ways community sports and recreation organisations operate.
Through the Latrobe City Council Gender Equality Leadership Statement, Council recognises the right of all people to be treated equally and acknowledges its important role in promoting gender equality within the Latrobe City community. By challenging gender inequality in community sport and recreation, Latrobe City Council is well positioned to design and implement place-based, integrated actions that progress gender equality to help create inclusive, equitable, healthy and safe environments for everyone.
Objectives
The Fair Access and Use Policy - Community Sports and Recreation Facilities (the Policy) seeks to address known barriers experienced by women and girls in accessing and using community sports and recreation facilities, and progressively build capacity and capabilities of Latrobe City Council in the identification and elimination of systemic causes of gender inequality. These actions will ensure Latrobe City Council can achieve gender equality for access and use of community sports and recreation facilities. This aligns with Living Well Latrobe 2022-25, Council’s Gender Equality Leadership Statement and the Community Access and Inclusion Policy.
Scope
The Policy applies to all Council owned and operated community sports and recreation facilities, including programs and services operated by third parties and community groups utilising Council facilities and resources.
Latrobe City Council commits to undertaking the necessary and proportionate steps towards implementation of the Policy, by ensuring an effective place-based response for the gender equitable access and use of community sports and recreation facilities. Latrobe City Council will promote gender equality in policies, procedures, programs, communications, and services as they relate to community sports and recreation facilities.
Further Information
The full policy can be found below: