Women and girls across Australia will soon have more opportunities to get involved in sailing thanks to a $927,000 investment awarded to Australian Sailing through the Australian Government’s Play Our Way program.
Photo by: Wendell Teodoro
The Play Our Way initiative, launched in the wake of the successful FIFA Women’s World Cup, is one of the largest-ever government investments in women’s sport. It aims to remove barriers and create more equitable opportunities for women and girls to participate, lead, and thrive in sport and physical activity at all levels.
Many of the projects receiving funding target women and girls who face additional barriers to participation in sport and physical activity. This includes women and girls who have a Disability, live in regional or remote areas of Australia, are First Nations people or from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities.
Australian Sailing is proud to be one of 290 organisations nationally selected to receive funding under the program. This investment will support the expansion of participation and coaching programs to make sailing more inclusive and accessible.
This funding directly supports the goals of SAILING 2032, Australian Sailing’s strategic plan, which commits to achieving 50% female participation across all aspects of the sport – including membership, coaching, courses, volunteering, and the workforce – by 2032. Since 2023, female participation has already grown from 32% to 35%, but there is still more to do.
Thanks to Play Our Way, the newly launched Sail Our Way initiatives will deliver the following programs to support clubs, classes, and communities:
Sail Our Way Initiatives Include:
- Direct Activity Support for Clubs and Class Associations
Seed funding of up to $1,500 is now available for clubs and class associations to deliver initiatives that increase participation among women and girls. Click HERE to find out more information about the grant and how to apply. - RS Feva Women and Girls Project
In partnership with Sailing Raceboats Australia, the RS Feva program provides clubs discounted double-handed RS Feva boats to purchase, helping support participation particularly for teenage girls. Click HERE to apply to the 2nd round of the program. - Marketing Support for Clubs and Classes
New marketing templates and promotional tools will be launched ahead of summer, alongside webinars and 1:1 support, helping clubs better reach and engage women and girls. - Women’s Charter and Club Resources
A suite of new tools—including an inclusive Women’s Charter, planning checklists, and governance resources—will be released to help clubs foster equitable access and create welcoming environments. Click HERE for more information. - Additional Equipment Support
Grants will be available for modified or inclusive equipment—such as lifejackets and boards for SUP, windsurfing, and wing sports—to help clubs expand water-based offerings for women and girls. - Coaching Capability Uplift
In collaboration with pilot clubs nationwide, this program will develop initiatives to grow coaching capacity, support delivery of aligned programs focussed on women and girls and build stronger club-to-coach connections. Interested in joining this initiative, please complete the Expression of Interest form at the following link. - Youth Sail and Female Leadership Visibility
At Youth Sail events around Australia, women Olympians, Australian Sailing Team members, and coaches will lead, mentor, and inspire the next generation of sailors. - SheSails National Conference and Events
The inspirational SheSails International Conference will be held again on Monday 20th October 2025 as part of the World Sailing Steering the Course global women’s sailing festival. Additional state-based events and webinars will also take place over the next 12 months.
“We’re incredibly proud to be part of the Play Our Way movement and to lead real, lasting change in sailing,” said Sarah Ogilvie Head of Sport Development and Growth for Australian Sailing. “This funding enables us to scale what works, innovate where needed, and ensure women and girls across Australia have more opportunities to enjoy our sport.”
Australian Sailing looks forward to working closely with clubs, classes, and communities as Sail Our Way gathers momentum—creating more inclusive sailing experiences and sharing success stories from every corner of the country.
Find out more
For more information about Play Our Way, visit: health.gov.au/our-work/play-our-way-program
