Perth sport clubs fail to cater for women

A report in the West Australian newspaper has highlighted that sport club facilities that fail to cater for women are being targeted by Perth councils concerned that women may be dissuaded from playing organised sport.

The weekend report suggested that clubs and councils are applying for Western Australian Government grants to install facilities such as women's change rooms at ageing venues.

City of Stirling councillor Elizabeth Re told the West Australian that many facilities for women were "not anywhere near the facilities for men".

The issue is also in the spotlight at the City of the Armadale, which recently completed a strategic review that highlighted the need for improvement.

Western Australian Department of Sport and Recreation Director-General Ron Alexander said the Department had seen an increase in grant applications citing the need for facilities catering to women.

Alexander told the West Australian "some of the older clubrooms may have change rooms not suitable for women, built at a time when women didn't have the opportunity to play particular sports in organised competition.

"These days, more women are playing sports traditionally associated with men.

"Over time, community expectations evolve. We'd expect the owners of these facilities and sporting clubs to meet these ever-changing expectations where possible.

"We are seeing more applications to the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund that acknowledge the growth in women's participation and the differing requirements, whether this be in new facilities or upgrades to older facilities."

Click here to read the full West Australian report.

For more information on the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund go to www.dsr.wa.gov.au/facilitiesfunding

Image used for illustrative purposes.

24th February 2014 - $17.7 MILLION FOR SPORTS FACILITIES ACROSS WESTERN AUSTRALIA