As we celebrate International Women’s Day this year, we embrace the theme “March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls,” which calls for bold actions to unlock equal rights and opportunities for every woman and girl, with a special focus on empowering the next generation as catalysts for change.
Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, we take a moment to recognise the strides made in the pursuit of gender equality. However, despite significant progress, the promises for gender equality remain unfulfilled—particularly in sports.
In 2025, women are still underrepresented and undervalued in the sporting world. Recent reports have shown that not a single woman is named in the top 100 highest-paid athletes globally, highlighting the stark disparity that remains.
On a more local level, research from Change Our Game reveals some hard truths:
- Only 15% of sports coverage focuses on women’s sports, while a staggering 81% is dedicated to men’s.
- Just 3 in 10 coaches that children encounter are women, meaning young athletes are far more likely to identify men as coaches or officials.
- Although there is strong support for more women to volunteer in sports, negative attitudes persist, particularly from older men. Women are still rarely seen in leadership roles, such as club president or coach of men’s teams.
At St Mary’s, we are proud of the steps we’ve taken to create more opportunities for women and girls in sport. In late 2024, we launched our very first junior 15&U netball team. This marks a significant milestone for us, as we open new pathways for young girls to get involved in sport, advance to higher levels in netball, play in representative teams, and even consider a future career in sport.
By building this junior program, we are ensuring that St Mary’s has a sustainable women’s netball program that will continue to support and uplift women and girls in sport for years to come.
Today, we celebrate the achievements of women in sport, but we also recognise that there is much more work to be done. It’s time for all of us at St Mary’s to continue to step up—whether as athletes, coaches, or volunteers. Together, we can continue to move forward, unlocking the full potential of women and girls in every field of play.
SMFNC 