Women Leaders in Sport – Equity Governance Grant

Provides targeted support to women who face systemic barriers to leadership and board participation.

The ASC is proud of the Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) program, which since 2002 has supported more than 28,000 women and over 800 sporting organisations. An Australian Government initiative that is managed by the ASC and funded through the Office for Sport, WLIS is designed to strengthen the pipeline of experienced, capable women leaders who shape decision-making, challenge systems, and contribute to a more equitable and effective sport sector.

The ASC’s commitment to gender equity is further reinforced through the National Gender Equity in Sport Governance Policy (2024), which mandates that national and state sporting organisations maintain 50% women/gender diverse directors and chairs. This policy sets a clear expectation for inclusive, representative governance across Australian sport.

To support this commitment, the Equity Governance Grants provide targeted support to women who face systemic barriers to leadership and board participation. While the program is open to all women, priority is given to women from under-represented groups, including First Nations women, women with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse women, LGBTIQ+ women and women living in regional and remote communities.

The program supports women to access high-quality governance education and development opportunities, equipping emerging leaders with the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to contribute effectively at the board table. By prioritising women who have historically been excluded from leadership pathways, the program aims to strengthen decision making, unlock diverse perspectives and support sporting organisations to build more inclusive, future ready boards that reflect the diversity of Australian communities.

Provides targeted support to women who face systemic barriers to leadership and board participation.

To be eligible to apply, an applicant must satisfy all the following criteria:
- Be a woman aged 18 years or over
- While the program is open to all women, priority will be given to women from under-represented groups including:
-> Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and other First Nations women
-> Culturally and linguistically diverse women
-> LGBTIQ+ women
-> Women living with disability
-> Women living in regional and remote locations
- An Australian citizen or have permanent residence status
- Currently involved in a paid or volunteer capacity for either:
-> A National Sporting Organisation (NSO) or National Sporting Organisation for people with Disability (NSOD), recognised by the ASC (Australian Sports Directory),
-> Local Club or State/Territory Sporting Organisations (SSO) affiliated with an NSO or NSOD recognised by the ASC (Australian Sports Directory),
-> The Australian Olympic Committee,
-> Commonwealth Games Association,
-> The National Institute Network (NIN),
-> Australian Sports Foundation.
- Have completed the free Australian Sports Commission Director Education Course – The Start Line at time of application. The course is self-paced, delivered in five modules and takes approximately two hours to complete.
- Not be a current employee of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC),
- Not have received WLIS support for governance activities within the last two years.

Individual grants of up to $10,000 are available. Funding will be allocated across the following streams:

Stream 1
- $0 - $3,999
- Foundational Governance
- Women beginning their governance journey or exploring leadership opportunities in sport

Stream 2
- $4,000 - $7,999
- Intermediate Governance
- Women with some leadership experience who want to strengthen governance knowldege and confidence

Stream 3
- $8,000 - $10,000
- Advanced Governance
- Women preparing for board appointments, senior governance roles, or who already sit on committees/boards