The City of Casey has launched We Are We Can We Will – a new program aimed at inspiring, encouraging and breaking down barriers to get more women and girls involved in sport and physical activity.
Council kicked off the program with a fitting launch event at Casey Stadium recently, featuring an inspirational presentation from Olympic freestyle swim champion Elka Whalan Graham and a group fitness activity delivered by former Melbourne Vixens netballer, Ashlee Howard.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said Council is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our community.
"Through this campaign, Council aims to empower and support more women and girls to get active and get involved in sport and recreation opportunities in the local community," he said.
"While it’s widely known that being active is important for our physical and mental health, research shows that females of all ages generally have lower physical activity participation rates than males, female participation through sporting or recreational clubs is lower and women and girls generally experience more barriers preventing them from being as physically active.
"As we roll-out this program initially over the next 12 months, Council hopes to inspire, boost confidence, reduce stigma and stereotypes and address barriers to participation to support more women and girls to get active."
Through We Are We Can We Will, Council will be:
- Sharing the stories of local campaign ambassadors who are involved in sport and active recreation in a range of ways.
- Promoting a variety of local sport and recreation opportunities that exist across Casey.
- Providing learning and development opportunities that increase the skills of women and girls enabling greater involvement across all aspects of the sector.
- Hosting a summit that will bring together women and girls from across Casey to take part in workshops, roundtables, practical sessions and panel sessions.
The first education workshops, ‘Introduction to Sports Coaching Principles and Practice’, is on Wednesday 25 July at 6.30 pm at Olive Road Sports Complex, 2-81 Frawley Road, Eumemmerring.
This FREE workshop is targeted at women and girls aged 16 and over who are involved in coaching junior players, who would like to know more about the fundamentals of good coaching practice. Topics covered will include how to plan motivating and fun sessions, coaching styles, giving feedback, how to structure practice and approaches to organising sessions.
For further details on how to register, as well as a range of sport and active recreation opportunities in Casey, visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/womeninsport.
Also follow the ‘City of Casey’ on Facebook for more ideas and inspiration on getting active in Casey.
We Are We Can We Will ambassadors
The City of Casey has enlisted the help of some local women and girls as campaign ambassadors to share their stories of why they love being involved in sport and recreation including Mobaraka and Kirsty profiled below:
Mobaraka
Age: 18
Main sport/activity: Football and swimming
Mobaraka is a full-time secondary student and studies part-time at Federation University.
Outside of her studies she is a youth leader for South East Community Links, where she develops and shares her passion for community and getting girls active.
She is a keen footballer and swimmer herself, manages a Narre Warren girls football team and works with young women and their families to show them the benefits of women and girls being active.
Her advice, "Get involved in the activities the community provides, to make new friends and it helps with your health and mind, breaks the gender inequality and empower other women around you."
Kirsty
Age: 38
Main sport/activity: Mountain biking and Pilates
After arriving in Australia from South Africa in 1992, Kirsty was introduced to mountain bike riding by friends. This began a lifelong passion which helped see her through some great personal challenges.
After suffering serious illness and losing her ability to ride, Kirsty was determined to overcome her health challenges and get back on the bike. It was this drive and the want to connect with other like-minded women when she moved to Melbourne that led her to start up free, introduction to mountain biking sessions for women at Lysterfield Lake.
She is passionate about offering women the opportunity to get out there and give it a go, to experience something they may not otherwise do and to make friends along the way.
Kirsty runs her own Pilates studio and believes being active isn’t just about the physical aspect or being the best.
"It offers so many benefits to a woman’s health and wellbeing, mental and emotional, friendship, joy, happiness and who knows … maybe even the discovery of new passions and places."
Her advice, "Don’t let fear stop you from stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new and maybe a little scary. You might be pleasantly surprised at just how great it is, how strong you are and how much you actually love it!"
Olympic freestyle swim champion Elka Whalan Graham with campaign ambassadors Lianne, Mobaraka and Kirsty at the launch.
Local women and girls get active with a group fitness activity delivered by former Melbourne Vixens netballer, Ashlee Howard.