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In partnership with Deakin University, Bowls Victoria has presented the findings of the Women in Bowls Research Project and has formed a taskforce to put strategic recommendations into action.

Women’s participation in bowls has been declining, down by as much as 45% in the past two decades. Bowls Victoria has taken a proactive approach to address this decline and make the experience of bowls better for women.

Bowls Victoria teamed up with sport management specialists from Deakin Business School to conduct research and using their findings, they created a Women’s Participation Strategy together.

Findings
Information was gathered from nearly 2,500 bowls members through a statewide survey. In addition, interviews with more than 50 individuals involved in the delivery of bowls across Victoria were conducted.

This rich data illuminated a range of barriers that prevent women from participating in bowls, as well as some opportunities that can help women discover the sport of bowls, and to enjoy it more often.

In summary, the research uncovered three key areas of strategic significance for Bowls Victoria to engage in for the future of the sport in Victoria. These include:

1. Diversity

• In bowls, women were not always presented opportunities which matched their diverse participation needs and motivations
• Weekend pennant bowls takes priority of resourcing and facilities which creates significant barriers for clubs to create alternate bowls offerings that would also be attractive to women bowlers to participate in

2.Gender and Culture

• Women did not always feel safe, welcomed, or included in their bowls clubs
• Women often felt discriminated against because the lack of participation opportunities (in Pennant & beyond) and facilities available to them

3.Social Bowls

• Social bowls has a suite of participation options that are highly valuable for women and beneficial for the sport more broadly
• There is a significant opportunity for social bowls to be a central pillar to not only recruit new members, but also to improve the experience for existing members

Strategic Actions & Recommendations
These three areas of strategic significance formed the foundation for several strategic actions in the Bowls Victoria’s Women’s Participation Strategy. Examples of some of these strategic actions include:

• Review types of programs and the times they are offered to better match women’s preferences
• Audit existing policies, procedures, and facilities with a gender perspective in mind
• Develop “program delivery guides” to help bowls clubs envision what social bowls offerings might look like, and how to best deliver them
• Develop a scheme that provides bowls clubs with incentives that encourage them to enhance the products and services they offer for women participants
• Identify a major partner to help Bowls Victoria clubs focus more on women’s interests and perspectives in bowls and to provide ways to showcase bowls clubs, their environments, and the multiple ways that the sport can be enjoyed

To put these strategic recommendations into action, Bowls Victoria has formed a Taskforce, and will also consult the Participation Advisory Committee, and other informal groups made up of bowls members and organisers from across the State. These consultative groups are collaborating with Bowls Victoria to fine-tune the strategies and finalise the planned actions. Bowls Victoria anticipates confirming these strategic actions before the upcoming season and commencing implementation shortly thereafter.

Bowls Victoria is also engaged with several Local Government Authorities and have been discussing these Council’s responsibilities under the Fair Access Policy and their expectations of Bowls Clubs.

Strategic Future for Bowls
Through this research and strategic development, it is the goal of Bowls Victoria to better women’s participation experiences in every club and on every green in Victoria. As Bowls Victoria embarks on this strategic opportunity, they will work closely with Deakin University and the Task Forces to effectively communicate, facilitate, manage, and evaluate the Women’s Participation Strategy.

If you are interested in learning more about the research findings or about next steps for the Bowls community, please complete the Expression of Interest form

Bowls Victoria is particularly keen to hear from Clubs who have improved participation for women and girls in bowls at their club.

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