Vicsport is committed to providing a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all people, including those of diverse sexualities, genders and sex characteristics. Being inclusive not only reflects our core values but reflects the diversity of Victorian communities.
Vicsport is passionate about helping people lead happy, healthy and active lives while celebrating diversity of sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, intersex status, ability, skill, cultural background, ethnicity, location, religious or political beliefs and life stage. There is a place in sport for everyone, exactly as you are.
WHY IS LGBTIQ+ INCLUSION IMPORTANT
The LGBTIQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer/Questioning) community make up an estimated 11% of Australia's population but research shows LGBTIQ+ people have some of the lowest rates of participation in sport, recreation and physical activity out of any community in society. Avoidance of participation is often linked to poor experiences in sport due to discrimination or harassment. The 2024 Free to Exist report showed that:
- 70% of LGBTIQ+ people do not feel sport is safe and welcoming
- 50% of trans people avoid playing sports they would like to play
- 77% of gay men have witnessed homophobia
As a result of poor inclusion efforts, many LGBTIQ+ people miss out on the physical, mental and social benefits that participating in sport and physical activity can bring. Sport has an amazing opportunity to not only increase membership opportunities, but also improve these people's lives.
INCLUSIVE AND GENDER EQUITY ACTION PLANS
As part of Sport and Recreation Victoria's (SRV) TMA funding requirements in the lead-up to June 2027, all funded organisations are required to have implemeneted an Inclusive Action Plan (IAP) and Gender Equity Action Plan (GEAP).
To support these processes, Vicsport engaged Dr Ryan Storr from The Diversity Storr to deliver a series of three educational sessions between December 2025 - June 2026.
Recordings of those sessions can be found below as well as additional resources to help you and your organisation put those plans in place.
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Session 1 (December 2025) |
Session 2 (March 2026) |
Session 3 (June 2026) |
ASSISTANCE
Contact Vicsport via admin@vicsport.com.au if you have any questions and those queries can be passed on to Sport & Recreation Victoria if required. Additionally, the services below can be engaged and utilised by your organisation.
- Inclusive Action Plan Template
- Inclusive Audit and Planning Tool
- Gender Equity Action Plan Template
- Australian Sports Commission's Intersectionality Framework: This includes information about intersectionality and the governance framework as well as separate sections on different diversity groups including considerations and action items which can be used in action plans.
- VicHealth's Anti-Racism Toolkit: Research that sheds light on the prevalence of racism in community sport and the steps we can take to create a sporting environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all.
- VicHealth's Set the Standard campaign: Launched in 2026, Set The Standard supports coaches and club leaders across Victoria to build culturally safer, more welcoming sporting spaces. It provides simple tools, tips and resources to create more inclusive clubs, where everyone can enjoy the physical, social and mental health benefits of sport.
- Tennis NSW's Diversity Action Plan: An example of what a Diversity Action Plan can look like.
- Lacrosse Victoria's LGBTIQA+ Action Plan: An example of a Plan from a smaller sport.
- Creating an LGBTIQA+ Inclusive Club: A collaboration between Proud 2 Play and Play by the Rules, this is a free, interactive online training course.
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT YOUR JOURNEY
RAINBOW ROADMAP
Alongside Proud 2 Play, Vicsport's vision is that all Victorian sport associations provide safe, inclusive and affirming opportunities for LGBTIQ+ people to enjoy the benefits of sport and active recreation. Our goal is that all Victorian sport organisations will achieve rainbow ready status, meaning LGBTIQ+ practices, processes and policies are embedded into core business.
Following the launch of the Rainbow Roadmap, over 60 sport organisations have signed up to begin their journey to rainbow ready status. If your organisation would like to join the journey and get all the latest information through the Rainbow Roadmap please email Proud 2 Plays CEO Christine Granger christine@proud2play.org.au
More information on the Rainbow Roadmap can be found here.
RAINBOW SPORTS ALLIANCE
An Australian first, the Rainbow Sports Alliance is a Proud 2 Play facilitated working group consisting of a number of State Sporting Associations (SSAs) and organisations that work collaboratively to enhance LGBTIQ+ inclusion across the Victorian sports landscape.
The Rainbow Sports Alliance convenes regularly to discuss individual successes and challenges in LGBTIQ+ inclusion, creating a forum where ideas can be shared and transferred between SSAs while helping to advance LGBTIQ+ inclusion within Victoria as a whole.
If you are interested in joining the Rainbow Sports Alliance, contact Proud 2 Play here.
WHO CAN HELP YOU INCREASE LGBTIQ+ INCLUSION
There are many different ways to promote and celebrate diversity within your sport and improve LGBTIQ+ inclusion. Below is a list of organisations that are devoted to assisting sports take action in LGBTIQ+ engagement and inclusion.
PROUD 2 PLAY
Proud 2 Play is the peak organisation to support Vicsport members in this area and is the only LGBTIQ+ organisation with State Sport and Recreation Body recognition. Focusing on increasing LGBTIQ+ engagement in sport, exercise and active recreation, Proud 2 Play works with all levels of the sporting community, from individual participants and grassroots communities, to state and national sporting organisations. They seek to encourage LGBTIQ+ people (as well as their allies, friends and families) to participate and engage in sport and exercise by providing structured opportunities and pathways for them to do so while also promoting the physical, mental and social benefits of sport. Find out more.
PROUD 2 PLAY ONLINE RESOURCE HUB
Proud 2 Play, with assistance from VicHealth, have developed a series of resources on LGBTIQ+ inclusion for Australian sports clubs. Gain access to an Australian-first e-learning course on the Play By The Rules website which provides foundation knowledge on LGBTIQ+ inclusion for Australian sports clubs.
The resource hub also features a range of additional resources including rainbow and transgender posters to indicate your club is a safe space, tip sheets on how to engage the community and how to talk to your club's committee about LGBTIQ+ inclusion as well as a checklist to help find areas where you can become more inclusive of LGBTIQ+ people.
PRIDE CUP
Pride Cup began as a powerful gesture of mateship in a country footy club when the Yarra Glen Football Netball Club supported teammate Jason Ball in coming out as gay in 2012. Since then, Pride Cup has grown into a national organisation dedicated to promoting LGBTIQ+ inclusion in sport.
They work to break down the barriers to participation faced by the LGBTIQ+ community through education and hosting welcoming Pride Cup events in community sports clubs across metropolitan, regional and rural areas. Pride Cup is focused on improving the health and well-being of all Australians and believe that everyone should feel safe participating in sport and physical activity as their true selves.
