Community sporting groups are being encouraged to make their organisations more welcoming and inclusive after La Trobe University research found systemic challenges made women officials feel excluded, undermined and unsafe.
The research, supported by the Victorian Government, highlighted some of the common barriers faced by female officials in community sport and suggested actions to attract and retain women officials in community sport.
Research lead, Dr Pam Kappelides from the School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, said the research, which focused on community football (soccer), basketball and Australian rules football, showed that creating clear and accessible pathways for women in officiating is essential.
"We found sport organisations should address the cultural and structural barriers that threaten the safety and security of women officials," Dr Kappelides said.
"Without appropriate measures to prevent and respond to sexual assault, harassment and violence, women remain vulnerable in these environments."
Dr Kappelides said they found women and girl officials – those who judge, referee, umpire, score or officiate over the conduct of a sport event or game - often faced abuse and exclusion from their male peers, including being told to step aside so male officials could make the call.
"These experiences undermine their authority and confidence," she said. "Women officials play a vital role in sport, yet their contributions are often overlooked. Recognising and valuing their expertise is essential to fostering an inclusive and equitable sporting environment."
Dr Kappelides said stronger enforcement of policies, improved training programs and clear accountability measures were required to support gender equity in officiating.
"There needs to be more intentional interventions to support women who officiate in community sport, with clear and accessible pathways for women in officiating roles and providing progression plans and professional development opportunities," she said.
"Ensuring strong policies, education and accountability is essential to creating a safe and inclusive sporting community."
The research, funded by the Victorian Government's Office for Women in Sport and Recreation program, outlines a practical guide for recruiting and retaining women sport officials, emphasising the need for a strategic approach that prioritises outreach, support and ongoing development.
Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence said: "Officials are an important part of the community sport workforce - we're breaking down stereotypes and getting more women involved in sport at every level and this research will help us recruit and retain more women officials in sport across Victoria."
The resource, Steps to recruit and retain women officials will be shared with thousands of community sports clubs across the state through the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation.
Office for Women in Sport and Recreation Director Sarah Styles said: "Women and girls stepping up as officials must be welcomed into sport, not forced to turn away due to poor, outdated behaviours. Together, we can create a culture that attracts and, importantly, retains more women officials, which in turn will strengthen all aspects of community sport."
Case study
Swimming Victoria President Michelle Harris
"Early on in my volunteer role as a Technical Official, I found it very confronting that trivial issues were really turned into barriers and points of confrontation. This made me feel upset as I didn't deserve to be spoken to in a negative way. An example was the colour of shoes and socks, needing to be black or white and the same colour. I advocated for a change to the Swimming Victoria uniform policy to ensure this was no longer a barrier, but still today people choose to focus on these matters instead of reading and following the new updated policies.
"I have experienced, seen examples of unacceptable behaviour, and responded to complaints about Technical Officials who do not show respect to the staff or other volunteers, particularly women, which is very disappointing and something that we at Swimming Victoria are always quick to address.
"We want to grow the number and broaden the diversity of our officials which means we need to create a fun, safe and rewarding experience for all, aligned to current knowledge, breaking down the outdated views and stereotypes.
"I find evidence-based resources and case studies extremely useful in my leadership capacity, as it gives me confidence to include strategies and actions in the way we work as industry-based practice. I hope that more women will enjoy their officiating journey, aspire to more senior roles and support other women on their journey. This is the core reason that I love community sport and see how I can make a difference."
*Michelle is also Chair of the SV Technical Officials Development Committee (TODC), a qualified Technical Official including Chief Referee, and has been officiating community and state swimming for more than 10 years.
