Roadmap: An all-inclusive approach to governance and leadership in Australian sport
The Australian Sports Commission has worked with Myriad Kofkin Global to develop an Intersectionality Roadmap for the Australian sporting sector titled, An All-Inclusive approach towards governance and leadership in Australian Sport.
The Roadmap is driven by the vision that sport should be accessible to everyone, delivering outcomes that make Australia proud.
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) recognises that achieving this vision requires building inclusive cultures, systems, practices, and processes within the sporting system.
Below are some useful strategies and resources sports can utilise to ensure everyone feels welcomed and valued.
PURPOSE
There are a plethora of benefits for sports organisations adopting the Roadmap.
Who is the Roadmap for?
The Roadmap was developed for anyone with decision-making responsibilities or in a governance or leadership role in a sports organisation.
It is a guide to starting the journey of intersectional practice in governance and leadership.
Sporting bodies across Australia have increasingly recognised the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. However, despite progress, many still struggle to address the complex intersections of identity that shape individuals’ experiences within the sector.
Traditional approaches to diversity often fail to fully address the unique challenges faced by individuals who experience multiple forms of marginalisation. Without intentional efforts to incorporate an intersectional perspective, sports organisations risk perpetuating systemic inequalities and missing out on the talents and perspectives of diverse populations.
Australia’s demographic data tells us that the need for inclusive practices in sport is more pressing than ever:
- 3.2% of the Australian population identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (an increase of 25.2% since 2016)
- over half of Australians are first- or second-generation migrants
- 50.7% of Australia’s population identify as female
- 21.4% of Australians have a disability¹
Adopting the intersectionality Roadmap can provide numerous benefits for sports organisations.
Sports organisations can foster increased participation from underrepresented groups, tapping into a wider pool of talent and broadening the reach of their programs.
By prioritising the principles of intersectionality in governance and leadership, sports organisations can create a more equitable, vibrant, and resilient sporting landscape for all.
Intersectionality strengthens all diversity and inclusion efforts!
Ready, Set, Go!
An all-inclusive approach towards governance and leadership in Australian Sport
The roadmap is arranged into three practical sections: Ready, Set, Go!
It is critical to begin with:
Ready: organisational readiness.
Set: implementation section is designed to be flexible and guide you through the Examine, Evolve and Elevate stages. Your sports organisation may wish to pursue one theme at a time or address those themes most pertinent at the current time to create change.
Go: resources section contains examples, videos and templates to guide and support you on your journey
Game Rules:
Just like an athlete cannot compete without all the preparatory work that goes into developing the physical and mental aptitude required for competition, your leadership and governance team cannot produce the intended results by going to straight to Go.
Ready
Ready prepares you for the Roadmap journey – it gives you the necessary foundations to get set for action
Set
Set is the critical stage that equips you to deliver. It starts with introspection – developing the mindset to soar!
Go
Go supports and guides you through the journey. By this stage, you’re ready to ‘compete’.
"The Roadmap adopts a flexible approach. There are no specific timelines for working through each section. The pace at which you work through it will depend on the size of your sports organisation, level of commitment, time and resources you are willing to commit. The sooner you implement GO, the sooner you will see results."
Click through the linked arrows on the right, as a guide to what you will learn in the roadmap.
