Over the last 12 months Cricket Victoria has partnered with Proud 2 Play to introduce Proud Cricket, a program designed to improve equity, diversity and inclusiveness by cricket clubs. The idea of the program is to improve education and embed a better participation pathway for LGBTI people with an overall aim to increase the participation of the Victorian LGBTI community within cricket.

Informing its approach, Cricket Victoria commissioned a research report funded through the Supporting Victorian Sport and Recreation program titled "Exploring LGBTI+ Inclusion within Australian Cricket".

Released in July, the research report highlighted young people who identify as same sex attracted and gender diverse experience extremely low participation rates in sport. Half of non-LGBTI and almost three-quarters of LGBTI respondents had witnessed homophobia in cricket at some time or another. Clubs were not seen as safe or welcoming and that sport settings were hostile and unappealing.

A recent funding commitment from Sport and Recreation Victoria will see Proud 2 Play working with a number of large reach sport and recreation organisations including Football Federation Victoria and Tennis Victoria.

Physical education teachers and sport educators across Victoria will also be provided access to professional development opportunities through the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation Victoria (ACHPER) to enhance the experience of all students in school sport, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

If you or your club/association are interested in Proud Cricket and would like further information, please contact Bethany Murphy via email

If your organisation would like support in creating a more inclusive environment for the LGBTI community please contact Ryan Storr at Proud 2 Play via email