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

Access 2019 guidelines promoting equal opportunity and inclusion for women and girls in golf, addressing fair play and participation barriers.

Sex and gender Guideline March, 2019

Summary

Participation in sport is a human right. Sport provides physical, social and mental health benefits, and plays a positive role in building communities. For this reason, it is essential that both women and men feel welcome to participate in sport, including golf.

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

Sex and gender
Guideline

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.

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