Our Fair Access Action Plan 2024–2028(PDF, 415KB) outlines Shire's commitment to breaking down barriers for women and girls in accessing and utilising community sport facilities in our local community. This plan outlines practical actions to ensure our sports infrastructure, programs, and initiatives are genuinely welcoming, safe, and inclusive for everyone.

We are dedicated to supporting local clubs as they implement fair access policies and processes, providing guidance, resources, and training to help create equitable opportunities for women and girls to participate, lead, and thrive in all aspects of community sport. We invite you to explore the Fair Access Action Plan and join us in driving positive change for gender equity in sport on the Mornington Peninsula.

Gender Equity Workshop 1 Recap

GippSport recently hosted an online Gender Equity Workshop for local sports clubs on March 19, 2025. Club volunteers explored practical strategies for building inclusive club cultures and learned about the Fair Access Roadmap to advance gender equity in sport. The session highlighted ways to remove barriers for women and foster safer, more welcoming environments for all.

A copy of the PowerPoint slides(PDF, 4MB) is now available.

Gender Equity in Action Workshop 2 Recap

On Wednesday 7 May 2025, local sports club committee members gathered at Mt Martha House for the second Gender Equity in Action Workshop, presented by GippSport. Building on the strong engagement and positive feedback from our first session, this hands-on workshop focused on turning gender equity ideas into practical action within clubs. Participants worked collaboratively to develop tailored mini–Fair Access Action Plans for their clubs, using the Shire’s Gender Inclusive Sports Club Toolkit.

A copy of the PowerPoint Slides(PDF, 5MB) is now available.

These workshops form part of the Shire’s ongoing commitment to the Victorian Fair Access Policy Roadmap, aiming to dismantle systemic barriers for women, girls and under-represented groups, and create more welcoming and inclusive sporting environments across clubs on the Peninsula.

The Peninsula Women in Sport Leadership network is dedicated to empowering and supporting women in sports leadership roles, or those aspiring to such roles across the Shire. Our mission is to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters personal and professional growth, facilitates knowledge sharing, and increases the representation of women in leadership roles within our local clubs.

We aim to achieve this through four key objectives:

1. Empowering women in leadership through tailored workshops and networking opportunities.
2. Creating a supportive and collaborative community where women can share experiences and build meaningful connections.
3. Enhancing participation and representation of women in decision-making processes.
4. Facilitating professional development through access to guest speakers and training sessions.

Our network will offer quarterly meetings featuring peer support, workshops on crucial topics such as creating inclusive club cultures and balancing family and leadership responsibilities, and inspiring guest speakers. We will also celebrate local success stories at our annual end-of-season event.

By bringing together a diverse group of women from various sports backgrounds, we're creating a powerful platform for change and growth in the Shire. 

For more information about the network, please contact us at sportsclubs@mornpen.vic.gov.au.

The Mornington Peninsula Shire Gender Inclusive Sports Club Toolkit is a comprehensive resource designed to help local sporting clubs create more welcoming and inclusive environments for women and girls. This toolkit provides clubs with a self-assessment tool to evaluate their current practices across six key areas: club information, leadership, club culture, membership and engagement, volunteers and employment, and facilities. By completing the self-assessment, clubs can identify their strengths and areas for improvement in gender inclusion. The toolkit also includes case studies of successful local initiatives, an action plan template, and supportive resources to guide clubs in implementing positive changes. Overall, this toolkit aims to increase female participation in sports, promote gender equality in leadership roles, and foster a more inclusive sporting culture within the Mornington Peninsula community.

(PDF, 2MB)MPSGenderInclusiveToolkit_2025v2.pdf(PDF, 2MB)

The This Girl Can Week organized by VicHealth, ran from November 10 to November 17 2024. This campaign aims to celebrate and encourage women and girls to engage in physical activity and sports, promoting a message of inclusivity and empowerment. The initiative focuses on breaking down barriers that prevent women from participating in sports, such as fear of judgment and lack of confidence, by fostering a supportive community environment.

We’re thrilled to announce the winners of our 2024 This Girl Can photo competition.

• First place: Tilly B - bike
• Second place: Ava H - surfing
• Third place: Willow - playing footy

Join us in celebrating their incredible achievements! Thank you to everyone who participated—you’re all an inspiration! 

Stay tuned for more details for the upcoming 2025 This Girl Can initiatives.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, takes place from Monday November 25 to Tuesday December 10. We are encouraging clubs to organise a "Respect Round" during this period. This is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about gender-based violence and promote respect and inclusivity within our sporting communities.

Here’s how you can get involved:

Organising a "Respect Round"

• Wear Orange: Encourage all players, coaches, and supporters to wear orange during your designated match. This colour symbolizes the fight against violence and promotes awareness.
• Raise Awareness: Use this occasion to share messages about respect and inclusivity. Shire will provide a template speech that you can use or adapt for your announcements before the match.
• Promote your efforts: Share your participation on Shire's social media platforms using hashtags #16Days, #mornpenforequality and #16DaysOfActivism to amplify our collective message.

See the 16 Days Toolkit for more information and resources 16 Days of Activism Toolkit 2024 | Respect Victoria.

Your participation in this initiative will not only help raise awareness but will also foster a culture of respect within your club and the wider community. Together, we can make a significant impact during these 16 Days of Activism.

For more information on how the Shire is helping the community to get involved with 16 Days of Activism please click here: 16 Days of Activism - Mornington Peninsula Shire

The Safe and Inclusive Sport: Preventing gender-based violence toolkit, developed by Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV), is a comprehensive resource designed to help sporting organizations create safer and more inclusive environments. This toolkit provides practical guidance and strategies for preventing gender-based violence in sports settings. It covers key areas such as policy development, education and training, reporting mechanisms, and cultural change. The toolkit aims to empower sports clubs and associations to take proactive steps in addressing and preventing gender-based violence, fostering a culture of respect and equality. By implementing the recommendations and best practices outlined in this resource, sporting organizations can work towards creating safer spaces for all participants, regardless of gender, and contribute to broader societal efforts to combat gender-based violence.

SRV Club Gender Audit and Gender Equity Action Plan Template PDF(PDF, 451KB)

SRV Club Gender Audit and Gender Equity Action Plan Template (Accessible Word version)(DOCX, 93KB)