The new Change Our Game Ambassador Program was recently launched at the 2023 Change Our Game International Women’s Day Lunch, attended by more than 800 people.

Ambassadors will use their voice, platforms and networks to champion equality for all women and girls in sport. They will play an important role in advancing the Change Our Game movement for all Victorians and highlight issues that matter most to them.

The inaugural State of Play research, commissioned by the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, found that four in five people involved in sport, including nine in 10 women, agree that gender inequality remains an issue in sport that needs to be fixed.

The research surveyed the broad sporting community – people who watch, play, volunteer, work or have an interest in sport and active recreation – on their beliefs on key issues when it comes to women and sport, ranging from opportunities for women as leaders, to fair access and feeling safe and respected in community sport.

When it comes to sports media, overwhelmingly spectators are interested in more women getting behind the microphone, with 91 per cent wanting to see more women sport commentators. This is a direction the Victorian Government is supporting through the Change Our Game Women in Sports Broadcasting Program, which is open for applications until 20 March.

Other key findings from the research include:

• Two in five women and men have considered leaving community sport because of the culture of their club
• More than half of community sport participants have experienced or witnessed gender imbalance and sexist language and jokes
• Three in five respondents believe men currently have more opportunities to hold senior leadership roles in sporting organisations, including one in two men feeling that way.

Expressions of interest for the Ambassadors Program are open at Change Our Game until 29 March.