InnovateHER Forum focuses on increased female participation in sport

The InnovateHER Forum held yesterday at Bondi Pavillion and hosted by NSW Government with sport and business sectors, focussed on increasing participation of adolescent girls in sport.

The Forum showcased the innovative programs being delivered by sports to increase female participation as well as the latest insights, research and solutions on women’s sport.

Despite the impact of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and other recent achievements by our women’s national teams, participation rates for adolescent girls continue to lag behind boys.

The Forum looked at the barriers holding adolescent girls back from participating in sport and ways sports can better engage girls to create a level participation playing field.

NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper noted “Women’s sport has made significant progress in recent years but the NSW Government recognises that more needs to be done to level the playing field for women’s sport.

“The InnovateHER Forum is an important step in that journey, featuring the latest insights, research and solutions on sports experiences for women and girls.

“From industry leaders’ challenging and inspiring ‘out of the box’ thinking on ways to increase participation by adolescent girls, to the innovative programs being delivered by sports, the InnovateHER Forum has inspired us all to refocus our efforts to increase female participation and level the playing field for women in sport.”

McCrindle Director of Advisory, Generational Expert and Social Researcher Ashley Fell spoke at the Forum, saying “having grown up with devices at the ready, Generation Z is a very digitally integrated generation, who we have seen exhibit increased feelings of loneliness and social isolation.

“Within this context, sport serves as a vital avenue for Gen Z girls to engage in community and connection.

“Additionally, sport also offers opportunities for connection and community as well as to develop essential 21st-Century skills such as leadership, resilience, teamwork, and collaboration.”

ModiBodi Brand Manager Caitlin Lilley also spoke at the Forum and shared “At Modibodi we have a real mission to help keep girls in sport.  

“In 2022 we actually commissioned a study so that we could better understand the barriers girls faced in sport and we learnt that three in five girls skip sport on their period.

“A big factor in this stat was the uncomfortable and sometimes unsuitable traditional period products available to use when exercising.  

“So, we took this learning to heart and worked with sports brand PUMA to design a range of active period underwear to provide better protection and comfort for athletes of all kinds with the ultimate goal of keeping girls in sport.  

“Customers rave about the range, telling us that wearing Modibodi is liberating because it lets them focus on the game at hand without worrying about leaking.”

As part of the Forum the NSW Government published a series of videos featuring the innovative programs being delivered by sports, including cricket, AFL and tennis.
Visit the Office of Sport Innovation Hub to view the InnovateHER videos series.

Image top: NSW Swifts Coach Briony Akle providing insight into the world of high performance coaching at the InnovateHER forum; InnovateHER forum held at Bondi Pavilion.
Credit: NSW Office of Sport Instagram