6 March, 2026
Kym Cheeseman
Victoria, Melbourne - This International Women’s Day, Basketball Victoria proudly supports the 2026 theme, Balance the Scales, a promise that every woman and girl, regardless of background or identity, should feel safe, be heard, and free to shape her own future.
For us and our community, this isn’t just a theme. It’s a commitment lived out on courts across Victoria every day.
Basketball has long been a great way for people to connect, build confidence, and feel part of a community. But we know that true equity in sport doesn’t happen by chance, but by conscious effort. It happens when we intentionally create pathways, remove barriers and foster environments where women and girls feel they belong across all areas of our sport.
Basketball Victoria Women and Girls Participation Manager, Leah Swain is excited to continue to advocate for the growth of female participation in our community, “Balancing the scales is a shared journey. By leading with empathy, listening to lived experience, and backing practical change, we create a game where girls and women are welcomed, respected, and able to thrive. And when we lift one group, we don’t take anything away from others. Inclusion isn’t about losing space, it’s about widening the court, so everyone belongs. Every step we choose to take moves our whole community forward.”
For us, this promise extends far beyond words. It’s reflected in real investment, real programs and real pathways that are reshaping the future of basketball in Victoria.
As part of our commitment to increasing women and girls participation in our sport and to create an environment where they feel safe and included, we were selected to receive funding under the Australian Government’s Play Our Way Program. This program is an initiative designed to remove barriers, address discrimination and promote equality for women and girls to participate in sport and physical activity.
Running until June 2027, this funding will power a range of initiatives designed to ensure women and girls remain involved in sport and physical activity for life. These include:
- Free basketball clinics for primary school-aged girls across Victoria.
- Funding for basketball associations to increase recruitment and retention of women and girls in both playing and non-playing roles.
- A regional roadshow supporting the growth of women’s wheelchair basketball.
- A dedicated leadership program to identify and support the next generation of women leaders in Victorian basketball.
- Plus, a range of workshops for women and girls to gain experience across all areas of basketball to develop confidence and professional growth.
These initiatives represent more than participation opportunities; they are practical steps toward balancing the scales across every level of our sport and our commitment is evident with programs already translating into meaningful impact across Victoria. One program that has seen significant growth is our Aussie Hoops program, where the focus has been to encourage girls to try basketball in a safe and supportive environment.
- 79% growth in girls’ total participation numbers in 2025.
- Girls’ participation grew faster than boys’ for the third consecutive year.
- Ford Aussie Hoops All Girls sessions have been embraced by Victorian centres, becoming the most popular initiative across Basketball Australia and Basketball Victoria grant programs.
- The 2025 Basketball Australia National Coach of the Year was Victorian Stephanie Fitzgerald from Wyndham Basketball Association.
These outcomes demonstrate that when we invest intentionally in women and girls, growth follows, not just in numbers, but in confidence, leadership and community connection.
Through these targeted programs, leadership initiatives, and grassroots development opportunities, we are expanding access for girls at every stage of their basketball journey. It starts with first-time participants to high-performance athletes. We are investing in coach and official development programs designed to increase female representation and ensure women are visible in leadership roles across the sport.
We are also working closely with associations and clubs to strengthen policies, education and safeguarding practices so that every court is a safe and inclusive space. We believe that balancing the scales begins with safety, creating environments where women and girls feel respected, protected and empowered to use their voice. Another guiding value, of Basketball Victoria is, Lead the Play, which challenges us to go beyond participation numbers and lead the way. It calls on us to drive cultural change. For us, this value means actively addressing barriers that women and girls face in sport. It means championing diverse voices. It means recognising that equity is not a one-off initiative, but an ongoing responsibility.
By embedding inclusive practices across all areas of basketball in Victoria from competitions and pathways to leadership and administration, we are shaping a future where girls see themselves reflected at every level of the game. A future where they can feel that their aspirations are valid.
Basketball Victoria CEO Nick Honey said, “On International Women’s Day, BV reaffirms our commitment to ensuring every woman and girl in our game feels safe. Balancing the scales isn’t just about increasing participation, it’s about creating genuine equity across all areas of our sport.”
He continues, “At Basketball Victoria, we are determined to lead the way by building environments where women and girls can step onto the court with confidence.”
On International Women’s Day, Basketball Victoria are committed: To listen. To act. To lead.
Balancing the scales means ensuring that every whistle blown, every ball bounced, and every game played contributes to a sport where opportunity is equal, and leadership is shared.
Because when women and girls are safe, heard and empowered, our entire game is stronger.
And together, we will continue to take the court together and lead the way.
If you would like to know more about our female participation programs, click below.
