This week I'm delighted to participate in the Raise Our Voice program. Young Australians have written speeches to have their voices heard. I'm pleased to present two speeches on behalf of young constituents in Werriwa. Joanna writes:

"The more we can empower women in sports, the more we can change the world." This quote by Billie Jean King shows the power of supporting female athletes. Yet, in our community, many young women and girls encounter significant barriers to participating in sports.

My name is Joanna, I am 15 years old from the electorate of Werriwa.

Over the past few years, there has been a decrease in female participation in sports within our community. Many young women and girls face challenges related to gender inequality and safety concerns.

Females have limited opportunities in our community to play sports in male-dominated spaces, where they often feel unsupported. We must create an environment where a young woman has the opportunity to succeed in sports.

So, what can Parliament do to lead to this change?

We need to ensure all sports environments are safe and protect all athletes, particularly women, from harassment and discrimination.

Furthermore, we need to change the idea of gender stereotypes in sports that discourage female participation. This includes promoting gender-neutral language, so that sports are simply referred to as "sports" without gendered labels like "men sports" or "women sports".

Australia has always been a land of opportunity and equality. By acting now, we can create the next generation where young women are supported and given equal opportunities in sports.

Link to Hansard: Full Speech