The scholarship program is designed to create opportunities for women to pursue their leadership and development goals in the sporting industry.

Individual scholarships range in value from $2,000 to $10,000, and applications can be submitted by state sporting associations, state sport and recreation bodies, regional sports assemblies and local government authorities.

Personal development opportunities in team environments throughout the sector don’t come around all that often and that’s why over 130 aspiring female administrators applied during round 1 of the program.

 “What makes this program so unique is the flexibility it provides the sector. Women and girls working and volunteering are best placed to inform us on where the gaps are in their professional development.”

Head of the Office for Women in Sport, Dr Bridie O’Donnell spoke of both the design of the program and the results the sector is expecting from the program.

“The professional development opportunity commences well before the participant attends any course or seminar. The application process empowers women to not only identify the skill set they want to improve but also find an opportunity that would help address it. This in many cases is not an easy task and it requires all applicants to articulate how the opportunity would both benefit them individually but also their organisations as a whole.”

Shelley Nowlan, Commercial Coordinator at Rugby Victoria was a round 1 scholarship recipient and through the support provided by the state government, has since attended the Women in Sport Leadership Summit.

“The course has taught me to be confident in my abilities and to remove the self-doubting thoughts from my decision-making processes and to back myself. It has shown me that regardless of your level of employment, everyone has the ability to be a leader in the workplace.”

The Change Our Game Scholarship Program highlights the Victorian Government’s commitment to increase the number of women and girls participating in all levels of sport and active recreation.

Since establishing the first Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, the government is taking action to assist more women and girls to earn sport leadership roles across all levels of the Victorian sport and active recreation sector.

Applications will be open until 24 August 2018.

More information is available on the Change Our Game Scholarship Program page via the grants link.