Currently, women and girls across Victoria do not have equal access to community sport and recreation, including in the City of Melbourne. We want to increase opportunities and the participation rates of women, girls, and others.

To achieve this, City of Melbourne is embarking on the Fair Access project. This project is in response to the Victorian Government Office of Women and Girls - 2022, Fair Access Policy Roadmap. The City of Melbourne’s Fair Access project seeks to identify ways to reduce barriers and increase the participation rates of women, girls and other underrepresented groups.

The City of Melbourne has developed principles to guide this project. They are:

  • inclusivity
  • full participation
  • equal representation
  • encouraging and supporting user groups
  • prioritising user groups committed to equality.

This project will result in a new council policy and action plan that aims to eliminate systemic causes of gender inequality, ableism and cultural bias in infrastructure allocation, programs, communications and delivery of services. At this stage of the project, we would like feedback on the reasons why it is difficult for some people to participate and what can be done to make it easier.

Have your say

We're asking for feedback on actions Council can take to ensure that sport and recreation facilities are welcoming, equitable, safe and inclusive for all. You can provide feedback via multiple channels, including the survey below, pop ups and focus groups workshops.

Pop ups

We'll be hosting pop up stalls where the project team will be able to provide more information and assist you in completing the survey.

Tuesday 19 September 2023 05:00 pm – 07:30 pm

Future Melbourne Committee, North Melbourne Community Centre

Wednesday 27 September 2023 03:00 pm – 05:00 pm

Boyd Park, South Bank

Wednesday 27 September 2023 03:00 pm – 06:00 pm

North Melbourne Community Centre

Focus group workshops

We would like to speak to a range of people who do not currently participate in sport or recreation activities, including women and girls, men and boys, people from multicultural communities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community, people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and International students.

  • 10.30am to 12pm, Monday 2 October, People with a disability. Book session
  • 1pm to 2.30pm, Monday 2 October, International students. Book session
  • 2pm to 3.30pm, Wednesday 4 October, women and girls. Book session
  • 4pm to 5.30pm, Thursday 5 October, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Book session
  • 2.30pm to 4pm, Friday 6 October, men and boys. Book session
  • 6.30pm to 8pm, Tuesday 10 October, members of the LGBTIQ+. Book session
  • 10am to 11.30am, Tuesday 10 October, multicultural community members. Book session

News

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Community Engagement – Phase 1

    31 August to 13 October 2023

  • Timeline item 2 - incomplete

    Analysis and policy development

    November 2023 to February 2024

  • Timeline item 3 - incomplete

    Draft policy released

    Late February 2024

  • Timeline item 4 - incomplete

    Community Engagement – Phase 2

    March 2024

  • Timeline item 5 - incomplete

    Policy endorsement

    June 2024

Contact us

Have questions or want to learn more about the project?