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Central Goldfields Shire Council commits to supporting access for all in sport

Central Goldfields Shire Council commits to supporting access for all in sport
June 27, 2024

Central Goldfields Shire Council has endorsed its first draft Fair Access Policy. The Policy comes after the Victoria Government's introduction of the Fair Access Policy Roadmap - marking an Australia-first policy designed to improve access to community sports infrastructure for women and girls, men and boys, gender diverse people and people with disability.

The Policy must be formally adopted by council to ensure the governance, management, and integrity of its implementation.

Effective 1st July 2024, all Victorian councils are required to develop and adopt a Fair Access Policy to be considered eligible to receive Victorian Government and recreational infrastructure funding.

This Policy aims to ensure that:

  • Community sports infrastructure and environment are genuinely welcoming, safe and inclusive.
  • Women and girls, men and boys, gender diverse people, and people with disability will have opportunities to participate in all aspects of community sport and active recreation.
  • Women and girls, men and boys, gender diverse people, and people with disability will have equitable access to and use of community sport infrastructure.
  • Women and girls, men and boys, gender diverse people, and people with disability should be equitably represented in leadership and governance roles.
  • Encourage and support all user groups who access and use community sport infrastructure to understand, adopt and implement access, and use policies that support:
  • Gender equity
  • Participants with diverse needs
  • Overcoming access issues
  • Provide support and, where achievable, prioritise access to Council resources to all user groups who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to equitable access and use of allocated community sport infrastructure

As the new policy is implemented, Central Goldfields Shire Council's Recreation team will work with sporting and community groups to educate them on what fair access means, how the policy will affect them, and how to ensure their community groups and sports infrastructure are safe and accessible for everyone.

To further support this work, via the same website, Central Goldfields Shire Council is also inviting women, girls and LGBTQI+ women to share their experiences, feelings, challenges and beliefs when it comes to participating in sport.

This feedback will help shape future engagement around the Fair Access Policy and the events and activities that form part of the Victorian Government's state-wide This Girl Can initiative to be delivered locally later this year.

Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Liesbeth Long said the Draft Fair Access Policy was an important and positive step towards making sure sport is accessible to everyone and added "Physical activity and exercise are so important for our health and wellbeing and for that reason we want to see as many people as possible being active.

"To do this, we need to break down some of the barriers to participation that we know many in our community are experiencing – particularly women and girls, gender diverse people and people with disability.

"The Fair Access Policy will bring about positive change as it will give us the actions both Council and our local sporting clubs need to take to ensure local sport is accessible to everyone.

"We encourage our community to take the time to read the Draft Policy and provide feedback. At the same time, we'd also love to hear from women, girls and LGBTQI+ women about what their experiences are. Your experiences will not only help inform future actions of the Fair Access Policy but also a program of events and activities that will feature as part of This Girl Can week later in the year".

Community feedback on the Draft Fair Access Policy and its action plan is invited until 3pm, Friday 19th July by visiting www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/accessforall

Visit Fair Access Policy Criteria Guidance

Image. Cover of Fair Access Policy Criteria Guidelines Credit: Vic Gov 

Related Articles

22nd March 2024 - Draft policy endorsed for equitable access to Whittlesea sports facilities

5th April 2024 - Wellington Shire Council first in Gippsland to adopt Fair Access Policy

20th March 2024 - Bass Coast Council introduces fair access sports policy

15th May 2024 - Accessible and inclusive facilities feature in Ron Payne Park’s new sport clubhouse


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