Description of the Tool
A policy statement is commonly used to identify what needs to be done and why. The National Gender Equity Policy tool provides a simple framework outlining the basic information included in a national policy, and a model using the Active Women policy developed by the Australian Sport Commission.

When to Use it?

• When you need to raise awareness of the issues around gender and sport
• When you want to gain commitment to changing the current situation from senior policy makers
  
• When you want commitment of resources to implement action.

Format
The tool provides a framework in chart format, followed by a sample policy: Australia's Active Women.

"Australia must foster a culture that encourages and supports the full involvement of all women and girls in every aspect of sport, recreation and physical activity in Australia."

B. Rationale for the Policy (Why is it necessary? What needs to change?)

"Nearly a third of the Australian adult population does not undertake 30 minutes of even moderate intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, on most days of the week, which recent scientific evidence shows is the minimum required to maintain health.

Becoming more physically active is a key step towards improving quality of life. The involvement of women and girls in all aspects of the sport and recreation industry provides social and economic benefits to the broader community, including improving community health, establishing more support networks, reducing antisocial behaviour and creating a better community identity.

Historically women and girls have experienced barriers to their participation in sport, recreation and physical activity. This has meant neither they nor the community has been able to reap these benefits and rewards. Over the last 10 years several strategies have been developed in Australia and overseas to redress this situation and advance opportunities for women and girls. These strategies have partly resulted in more women and girls being involved in sport, recreation and physical activity and more competitive opportunities for them, both in Australia and internationally. These opportunities were brought about by strategies ranging from the creation of national leagues in netball, softball, basketball, cricket, soccer and hockey, to an increased number of disciplines and sports at Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

However, despite these initiatives and improvements, research indicates that women and girls continue to be under-represented in all aspects of sport, recreation and physical activity. Indicators highlighting inequitable status and low rate of involvement, particularly in sport, include:

Factors that are directly responsible for the low participation rate of women and girls in sport, recreation and physical activity include:

• Lack of time or perceived lack of time
• Social stereotyping
• Lack of childcare and lack of awareness of childcare options
• Fewer opportunities available for participation
• Reduced leisure time owing to family responsibilities
• Concern for personal safety
• Lack of access to financial resources
• Harassment
• Lack of information about what is available
• Lack of skills
• Lack of culturally appropriate facilities/programs
• Lack of confidence in approaching activities alone
• Lack of access to accessible, affordable and acceptable facilities and services, and
• Cultural and social pressures."

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C. Desired Outcomes (what will be different as a result of effective implementation of the policy?)

"The policy must foster a culture …. by:

D. Benefits (Who will benefit and how?)

"The benefits to Australian women and girls will be:

The benefits to the Australian community will be:

The benefits to sport, recreation and physical activity providers will be:

• An expansion of the market
• A lower drop-out rate for girls and young women
• A greater ability to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse community
• More membership and participation revenue
• A larger talent pool of volunteers (including coaches, officials and referees)
• A larger talent pool of participants (which can result in a higher profile for the organisation)
• Better management through broadening the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, skills, talents and abilities of those in decision-making roles."

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E. Strategies (How will the changes be made?)

(NOTE: Active Women includes 'how the changes will be made' under three guiding principles: Equity and equality; Participation and well-being; and Education and information. Not all content contained in the policy is included in this example.)

"Equity and equality
Those organisations and individuals who provide sport, recreation and physical activity should address gender equity in all areas, including in the design and distribution of resources, and in the distribution of power and responsibility. They should particularly redress any inequities in the opportunities and outcomes available to women and girls.

Areas requiring special attention include:

• Planning, designing and managing sport, recreation and physical activity facilities to ensure that they are safe, affordable, accessible and culturally appropriate environments in which to participate
• Ensuring an equitable range and choice of participation opportunities
• Eliminating all forms of harassment, abuse, violence, exploitation and discrimination
• Ensuring that all high-performance sports programs and support services including competition, sports science, promotion, sponsorship, media liaison and financial assistance take account of the specific needs and requirements of female athletes and deliver such programs and support services equitably
• Promoting gender equity through intersectoral and international cooperation and the sharing of examples of good practice.

Participation and well-being
Effective collaboration between sectors should ensure …. that the importance of physical activity to health and well-being is communicated in ways that reach and stimulate all Australian women and girls, including those from diverse social, economic, cultural and physical backgrounds and circumstances. They should ensure that both the health benefits and any potential dangers of sport, recreation and physical activity as they affect women and girls are clearly understood.

Those providing sport, recreation and physical activity opportunities should develop policies, programs and strategies that increase the participation, general health and well-being of women and girls by:

• Encouraging them to participate regularly in sport, recreation and physical activity
• Ensuring that the values, needs and aspirations of women and girls from all backgrounds and circumstances are taken into account
• Increasing the number of female coaches, instructors, decision makers, officials and administrators at all levels, and
• Giving special attention to the recruitment, development and retention of women and girls in decision making and leadership roles.

Education and information
Organisations responsible for funding, developing and delivering childcare services, education, training, development and research programs in schools and other education institutions, and for the sport and recreation industry, should ensure that they:

• Provide children in long day care with care that ensures unbiased treatment, fosters the development of both their fine and gross motor skills, and ensures that food and drink provided meets the children's daily nutritional needs
• Create positive school environments through physical education programming that reflects gender inclusiveness and equity, fosters school-community links and incorporates a higher awareness of the physical, psychological and social benefits of sport and physical activity
• Accurately reflect women's roles in sport, recreation and physical activity; take account of women's values, attitudes, experiences (including cultural values) and levels of ability; and address issues relating to gender equity and cultural diversity
• Develop policies and programs to increase knowledge and understanding about women, ensuring that such information and research is gender inclusive and based on valid parameters '
• Encourage more women to carry out research on sport, recreation and physical activity and encourage all researchers to examine critical issues relating to women in sport, recreation and physical activity, and,
• Take into account the needs of women and girls with different backgrounds and circumstances, such as literacy levels, when delivering relevant information and resources in formats other than written English."

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F. Evaluation of Implementation (How will we know if we are successful?)

"It is expected that this policy will produce many results, and that different industry sectors, organisations and levels of government will show results in different ways. Taking this into account and allowing for probable budgetary constraints, the evaluation of this policy will focus on selected key issues for which benchmark data are currently available. More qualitative and quantitative data will be collected through structured consultation with stakeholders in 2002.

We expect to see positive trends in future data in comparison with the following currently available data. (Note: original Policy includes a list of existing data in Australia.)

Additional Data: As indicated above, further qualitative and quantitative data will be gathered through structured interviews with key stakeholders around Australia in 2002. Those stakeholders who have provided a statement of their commitment, and indicated ways in which they plan to implement the policy, will be asked to assess their organisations against these criteria in 2002 to determine the changes that have occurred and the results of those changes."

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