Female Youth Leadership Program

Coordinated by Game Changers Australia and Sport and Recreation Victoria, the Female Youth Leadership Program is tailored to young women, aged 16-19, who are leaders within their sporting clubs or associations.

Seventy girls across eight sports attended the three-day-program that incorporated both leadership and personal development sessions that encourage them to stay involved in the game.

“We want to keep girls active in the sport,” Cricket Victoria Female Youth Program Officer Di Day said.

“A lot of girls at that age fall out of the sport for whatever reason.

“So the program aims to show our players that there are other aspects to sport including administration, governance and development.”

Following the program, participants will have to complete 40 hours of voluntary work at their club or association to help grow female cricket.

Participant Carley Walford noted that the program provided a good opportunity to develop her networking skills as well as improving her personal skills such as public speaking.

“I really enjoyed learning about how to build my confidence and my personal brand,” Walford said.

“Now I will take the skills that I have learnt from the program and transfer them into my work at the Dandenong Women’s Cricket Club.”