Football NSW releases gender diversity policy
Football NSW has today released its Gender Diversity Policy, furthering the organisation’s commitment to providing a welcoming, inclusive and supportive place for all.
The purpose of the Gender Diversity Policy is to provide direction and support around the inclusion of transgender, non-binary and gender diverse players in relevant Football NSW Competitions (as listed below).
The Gender Diversity Policy was developed with reference to the Australian Sports Commission’s ‘Transgender & Gender-Diverse Inclusion Guidelines for HP Sport’ (published May 2023), and consultation undertaken by Football Australia as part of the development of the National Policy, which has included consultation with the Football NSW community, Pride in Sport and leading sports endocrinologists.
In circumstances where a National Policy will not be in place in time for the 2024 Competitions pre-season, Football NSW has taken the necessary steps to develop and implement a policy in the interests of all participants and stakeholders involved.
Football NSW has determined an eligibility requirement for gender diverse players participating in Football NSW’s high performance female competitions, which sets the level beneath which a player’s sustained concentration of testosterone must continuously be for a period of no less than 24 months prior to the player lodging of a Notice of Intention to Play with Football NSW.
The Gender Diversity Policy will apply to the following Football NSW Competitions for the 2024 season or, if Football Australia introduces a National Policy prior to the end of the 2024 season, until such time as Football Australia introduces a National Policy:
- National Premier Leagues NSW Women’s Competition (First Grade and Reserve Grade);
- Football NSW League One Women’s Competition (First Grade and U20s); and
- Football NSW Girls’ Youth League One Competition (U18 only).
The Gender Diversity Policy will not apply to other Football NSW Competitions or to community football competitions administered by Member Associations, Clubs or Centres. In the absence of a National Policy for community football, Football NSW will continue to align with Football Australia’s adoption of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s ‘Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport’, under which, community (grassroots) players are permitted to participate in football on the basis of the gender with which they identify.
Football NSW has created a dedicated webpage at which the Gender Diversity Policy, an Explanatory Note about the Gender Diversity Policy and a number of resources in relation to Gender Diverse inclusion can be accessed.
Football NSW adopts a zero-tolerance policy to any form of harassment, discrimination or bullying, whether in person or online. Such behaviour will be dealt with in accordance with Football Australia’s and Football NSW’s polices and regulations.
