Women Sport Australia have formally and directly requested a meeting with Parliament representatives regarding the closure of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation (OWSR). We encourage others to do the same, by sending the below letter to their local Member.
Dear [your local Member],
I am writing to express my deep concern at the Victorian Government’s decision to cut critical programs and dedicated funding supporting women and girls in sport – specifically the defunding of the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation (OSWR).
The Office for Women in Sport and Recreation has been essential in addressing the stark gender disparities that still dominate our sporting landscape. According to the 2023 State of Play report:
- Only 35% of girls aged 15–17 participate in community sport – a steep drop from childhood levels of around 48%.
- By adulthood, just 33% of women participate in weekly sport or physical activity, compared to 50% of men.
- 1 in 3 women in community sports in Victoria have considered leaving their club due to inequitable treatment.
How lucky we are to have this data – thanks to the very office the Victorian Government have just defunded. These numbers aren't just disappointing – they are the result of years of systemic exclusion. Cutting this office isn’t just shortsighted; it actively dismantles progress.
The OWSR has contributed to changing perceptions of what women are capable of in schools, workplaces and communities across the state of Victoria. It has given women a voice, and confidence, it has demonstrated a vital Government commitment to gender equality and helped move other states and territories in Australia forward by providing a blueprint of what is possible. Something we as Victorians should be immensely proud of, not folding into a larger department and hoping the work continues.
I urge you, as my local representative, to speak out against these cuts and take every possible action – including raising this in Parliament and with relevant ministers – to push for the reinstatement of funding for the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation.
Women and girls deserve better than this, they deserve belonging, someone waking up every day thinking about how to make sport better for them on and off the field. They don’t deserve to be put back into a mainstream, homogenous Department tackling a myriad of issues.
This is a defining moment for Victorian sport. Your action – or inaction – will be remembered.
I would appreciate a response to this letter and your engagement with Women Sport Australia (WSA), the peak independent advocacy body for women and girls in sport. WSA are seeking a meeting with the Minister’s responsible for defunding OWSR, sitting members of government and others who can help answer questions regarding this decision and work together to ensure the needs of women and girls in sport, current and future, are truly front of mind and looked after by the Victorian government.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Club or Organisation – if relevant]
For supporters who live outside of Victoria, please sign the Not All Clubs petition here.
