Grant to boost participation of women, girls in sport
Date published: 19 October 2015
Townsville City Council has received a grant which will help boost the number of women and girls participating in sport in Townsville.
Through the State Government’s Get Out, Get Active program council has received $11,591 towards the total project cost of $17,800 to hold a Get Active Expo at Townsville RSL Stadium on January 31.
The expo will give sport, recreation and health providers in Townsville an opportunity to promote their services directly to a female audience.
Sport, Recreation and Parks Committee chair Cr Pat Ernst said according to Bureau of Statistics figures the rate of participation in sport and active recreation was 4.8% lower for Queensland women (aged 15 years and over) compared with Queensland men; 59.5% and 64.3%, respectively.
"The difference in participation rates is more pronounced between girls and boys 14 years and younger: 49.4% for girls and 63.2% for boys," he said.
"It’s fantastic that we have successful and powerful female role models such as the JCU Townsville Fire women’s basketball team, who have shown young girls what can be achieved.
"By holding this expo in the new year, we can hopefully encourage more girls and women to become active and healthy while having fun in sport."
For enquiries contact Council’s Sport & Recreation Unit at sport@townsville.qld.gov.au or phone 1300 878 001.
