Bowls Australia joins Pride in Sport program

by Aidan Davis on September 1, 2021

Bowls Australia (BA) has further signalled its commitment to equality in sport and the workplace by joining the Pride in Sport program.

The Pride in Sport program, run by NSW-based community organisation ACON Health, assists sporting organisations with the inclusion of employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials and spectators with diverse genders and sexualities, with a focus on enhancing the inclusion of LGBTQ people.

Membership to Pride in Sport follows the recent appointment of the organisation’s new full-time Diversity and Inclusion Manager Fiona Coppin to help drive strategic inclusion practices and outcomes for the sport.

BA’s Chief Executive Officer Neil Dalrymple said the membership will help the organisation achieve its vision of engaging and being a welcoming environment for all Australians.

“Bowls Australia are committed to enhancing inclusive practices and promoting positive messages for the sport as whole; we’re actively working towards a more inclusive, safe and healthy sporting environment for people with diverse sexualities and genders, so that it can truly be enjoyed by all Australians,” Dalrymple said.

National Program Manager of Pride in Sport Australia Beau Newell said creating a much healthier and safer sporting culture for LGBTQ people has never been more important.

“By joining Pride in Sport, Bowls Australia is showing the community that they care about the health and wellbeing of their athletes, and members; they are leading the way in changing Australia’s sporting culture, to be more inclusive,” Newell said.

Learn more about Pride in Sport.