Sport Australia has opened applications for the 2021 Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) Development Grants and Leadership Workshops.

The WLIS Development Grants and Leadership Workshops are part of the broader WLIS program of activities and provide women in the Australian sport industry with opportunities to gain new skills, knowledge, and qualifications to progress on their leadership pathway in the sector.

Managed by Sport Australia in partnership with the Office for Women, the highly regarded WLIS program is now in its 20^th year, having provided over 25,000 women in the sports industry with leadership development since 2002.

These grants will enable women working in the sport industry to apply for individual grants up to the value of $10,000 to support their professional development or to attend online leadership workshops. Organisations will also be invited to apply for leadership development grants up to the value of $20,000 to run workshops, seminars, or conferences for their staff.

Sport Australia Acting CEO Rob Dalton said: “We know that having a greater balance of men and women in executive leadership positions makes sporting organisations more dynamic and well-rounded in the way they conduct their businesses. Having that diversity at a leadership level has a direct impact on engagement in sport and ultimately, positively impacts the bottom line for sports.

“It is vitally important to ensure that our next generation of female sports leaders are provided with genuine development opportunities, which is what this program delivers and why it has been extended and expanded for a four-year cycle.

“Sport Australia is so pleased the Australian Government has acknowledged the importance of the WLIS program with an increased funding commitment of $3.4 million over the next four financial years, ensuring the program can expand and deliver even further development opportunities for women to reach their leadership potential in our industry”.

Applications for the WLIS Development Grants and Workshops close on 17 March 2021.

Eligibility criteria and information on how to apply is available at: https://www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding/women_leaders_in_sport