As of 1 July 2019 all sport and active recreation organisations funded by Sport and Recreation Victoria and the Victorian Government are to comply with the mandatory 40% women on boards quota.

In December 2015, the Inquiry into Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation – A Five Year Game Plan for Victoria – was released. The Victorian Government committed to implement all nine of the Inquiry’s recommendations to enhance participation by women and girls and to increase their engagement in leadership and governance roles.

Recommendation 3 was to ‘Mandate gender balance and good governance principles’. The Inquiry found a minimum quota of 40% should be set for female representation on governing bodies, and that a phase-in period of up to three years was reasonable for change.

Research shows that increased gender diversity on boards leads to improved organisational performance. The introduction of mandatory quotas aims to bring about long term cultural change for Victorian sport in order to grow and strengthen sport and recreation organisations through good governance practices.

Organisations that do not comply with the mandatory quota risk losing funding through the Supporting Victorian Sport and Recreation program.

Vicsport have developed a range of resources and information to help with the transition, and the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation will update organisations monthly in the lead up to the deadline to provide as much support as possible.

The Office for Women in Sport and Recreation and the Victorian Local Governance Association recently held a forum talking about board quotas and the importance of diversity. The following video is a highlight reel from the day.