Queensland Touch Football (QTF) has been selected as a recipient of the Active Women and Girls grant, aimed at fostering gender equity and increasing female participation in sports. With this grant, QTF plans to deliver initiatives that will empower women and girls within the sport and create a more inclusive environment for all participants.
One of the primary objectives of the grant-funded project is to deliver our successful Women Leaders in Touch Football program. This program aims to attract, develop, and retain women in leadership positions within the sport, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and supported to thrive and equipping women with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in leadership roles within their communities.
The initiative builds upon QTF’s commitment to gender equity, as evidenced by the approval of a Gender Equity Plan by the QTF Board in 2022. The plan aims to encourage and enable females to take up leadership roles across touch football, including positions on the QTF Board. Currently, women make up 59% of touch football committee positions in Queensland, primarily occupying roles such as Secretary, Treasurer, and General Committee members. However, only 28% of committee Presidents are female, highlighting the need for greater gender diversity in leadership positions.
Additionally, QTF will focus on delivering targeted programs to boost female participation in touch football, driving growth in local affiliates and engaging both inactive women and those who have previously played the sport.
Despite women and girls constituting 48% of the 73,000 touch football participants in Queensland, there is a noticeable drop-off in adult female participation compared to junior levels. To address this issue, QTF aims to re-engage inactive women through our Women in Touch program, designed to provide a fun and low-pressure environment for participation.
“This grant allows Queensland Touch Football to be more inclusive for women and girls. We are excited for the future of touch football and look forward to seeing increased female representation in leadership, playing, referee and coaching positions”, said Greg Denny, QTF CEO.
With thanks to the Queensland State Government, the Active Women and Girls grant positions Queensland Touch Football to make significant strides towards gender equity and increased female participation, ensuring that touch football remains a sport for everyone to enjoy and benefit from.
