International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated each year on 11 October. It recognises the rights of girls and is an important reminder to create safe, fair and inclusive environments in sport where girls feel confident, respected and supported to take part.
This year’s theme, ‘End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights, is a timely reminder that investing in girls means investing in the environments around them – including the places where they play, train, compete and connect in sport.
Sport Integrity Australia’s (SIA) Empowering Women and Girls in Sport Integrity Program Manager, Delfina Shakespear, highlighted that safe sport is a foundation for girls' participation and leadership.
“Sport can play a powerful role in a girl’s life – it can build confidence, friendships, leadership skills and a sense of belonging – but for girls to experience these benefits, sport must be safe, fair and inclusive,” Ms Shakespear said.
“At Sport Integrity Australia, we know that integrity in sport is about more than what happens on the field of play. It is also about protecting people from abuse, harassment, discrimination, bullying, unsafe online behaviours and other integrity threats that can affect their safety and wellbeing.”
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Encouraging safe sport for girls
SIA supports sporting organisations, clubs, coaches, parents, officials and administrators to understand what safe and respectful sporting environments look like, and how to help create them.
Creating safe sport for girls is not the responsibility of one person or one organisation. It takes everyone across the sporting community. For girls, safe sport also means environments that actively address gender-based discrimination, harassment, exclusion and other barriers that can affect confidence, participation and leadership opportunities.
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Coaches can help by modelling respectful behaviour and listening to young athletes while challenging gender stereotypes and creating environments where girls feel valued, included and heard.
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Parents and carers can encourage open conversations and should ensure they know where to seek support.
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Clubs and administrators should put strong safeguarding policies into practice and make sure young people know their rights while promoting equitable opportunities for girls to participate, process and lead.
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Teammates can help by calling out harmful behaviour, including gender-based biases, and supporting one another.
“When girls feel safe, listened to and respected, they are more likely to stay connected to sport and to see themselves as leaders; now and into the future,” Ms Shakespear said.
“This International Day of the Girl Child, SIA is proud to continue working with the sporting community to protect young people and support environments where every girl can participate with confidence.
Because investing in girls’ rights means investing in safe sport.
Key integrity facts
Early feedback from young people engaging with our education resources shows that safe sport education can make a difference.
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Participants have reported increased confidence in recognising safe and respectful sporting environments, understanding positive coach-athlete relationships, staying safe online and knowing how and where to report concerns.
Young athletes have also identified the importance of speaking up, supporting others and understanding what behaviour is and is not acceptable in sport.
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A key theme emerging from the Hear me play report is the need to strengthen young people’s understanding of inappropriate behaviours and when to speak up.
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These are important foundations for participation, leadership and long-term enjoyment.
Hear me play research also highlighted that enjoyment matters.
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When young people do not feel safe, included or respected, they are less likely to stay involved in sport, with 1 in 3 young people saying reduced enjoyment was the main reason for dropping out.
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This is particularly important for girls, who can face additional barriers linked to body image, confidence, discrimination, harassment and social expectations.
Explore Sport Integrity Australia’s child safeguarding and education resources to help create safe, fair and inclusive sporting environments for girls and young people.