To improve access to its sports and recreation facilities for girls, women and other underrepresented groups, the City of Melbourne drafted two documents – the ‘Fair Access Sport and Recreation Allocation and Use Policy’ and the ‘Fair Access Sport and Recreation Action Plan’.
Capire supported City of Melbourne to gather feedback on the draft policy and action plan by engaging with local sporting clubs and community agencies.
Approach
In February and March 2024, Capire facilitated two focus groups and 10 interviews with representatives from sporting clubs and community agencies within the City of Melbourne. Participants were invited to share their thoughts on the draft policy and action plan, with most people voicing support for the initiative and draft documents. Participants provided valuable feedback on a number of issues. Capire also analysed results from a broader survey to add to findings.
The lack of accessible women’s and all-gender toilets and change rooms was highlighted as a significant barrier to women’s participation in sport, with women sometimes having to change in carparks before a game. Several actions related to facility upgrades were outlined in the draft action plan – participants provided valuable input into how these should be prioritised.
Other issues raised included sporting clubs’ limited resources to develop inclusion plans and undertake self-assessments, and the need for training and capacity-building to address culture issues present within clubs.
Outcomes
Capire presented the findings and key themes from this engagement in a summary report. The City of Melbourne used this information, as well as its own community consultation, to refine the draft documents. The final policy and action plan to improve access and use of the City of Melbourne’s community sports and recreation facilities were endorsed by Council in June 2024.
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– Agency representative
