Front Row: Kelly Rourke, Karla Della Pietra, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, Leah Cassidy. Back Row: Thomas Etherton, Nicole Rodden, Chelsea Packer, Julie Anderson, James Harris, Pat Mickan

Sport SA Officially Launches The Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport

On the 28th of April, Sport SA officially launched the Centre for Women’s Sport, the first national organisation of its kind dedicated to increasing participation and opportunities for all women in sports.

Conceptualised by Sport SA and funded by the state government, The Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Centre for Women’s Sport will offer education, training and leadership opportunities to all women in addition to gender equity programs for men and women alike.

Despite efforts to reduce the gender gap in sports, women are still faced with discrimination which prevents them from fully accessing the benefits that sports can offer. This exciting initiative will remove barriers and foster a supportive environment where women can realise their full potential in sports.

The services that the Centre will offer to support women in the industry include:

• Mentoring and leadership training
• Career guidance and transitioning support
• Media, social media, public speaking, and communication training
• Education and training in identified ‘gaps’
• Networking and share learning opportunities, across sports and disciplines
• Coach and technical official development
• Board and Management development
• Gender equity programs for male leaders

Sport SA CEO, Leah Cassidy says she recognises how important it is for women to have this kind of support in the industry, which will enable more women to pursue a career in sports.

“This excites me because as a woman in sport, I have had first-hand experience of how programs like this can transform the experience for people trying to carve out a career in this sector,” says Cassidy.

“There will not be equality without equity – so we are starting by educating communities on how we can ensure women and girls are provided with the same levels of support and opportunities as their male counterparts.”

The Centre is named after Olympic Gold Medalist and former Governor of South Australia, The Hon. Marjorie Jackson-Nelson AC, CVO, MBE.

Ms Jackson-Nelson says she is honoured to be part of an initiative that will create positive outcomes for players, coaches, administrators, board members and across the entire sporting industry.

“I am especially proud that this Academy will be established so that South Australian girls of the future can aspire to be involved in sporting programs in some way,” she says. “It will no doubt provide them with the inspiration, encouragement, support and guidance to be able to fulfil their ambitions.”

The Centre is now open for expressions of interest.

Click here for more information.