Guidelines: Equal opportunity for women and girls in golf (2019)

Executive summary

These Guidelines have been developed to provide guidance to golf clubs on the promotion of equal opportunity for women and girls in golf.

The Guidelines provide:

• information about the operation of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (the Act) in relation to unlawful and permissible discrimination on the basis of sex
• practical guidance for promoting equal opportunity for women and girls in golf clubs.

As set out in the Act, it is unlawful to discriminate on the basis of sex in golf unless:

• the different treatment amounts to a ‘special measure’ (in other words, positive discrimination), or
• an exemption applies.

Golf clubs can minimise the likelihood of a successful discrimination claim and promote equal opportunity by:

• ensuring membership categories are gender neutral
• providing open access to the course for women/girls and men/boys
• maximising the participation of women and girls in competitions
• facilitating the inclusion of women and girls in governance arrangements.

Clubs should ensure they are familiar with the content provided in sections 5 and 6 of these Guidelines, which outline ways in which equal opportunity can be promoted.