Netball Australia, alongside seven other national sporting organisations, has today introduced a policy around the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse athletes in elite competitions*.
Following extensive consultation and review with experts and relevant stakeholders, Netball Australia has unveiled the policy which provides transgender and gender diverse athletes with clear understanding and direction to playing elite netball, assisting them on their journey.
Netball Australia CEO Marne Fechner says the policy speaks to the sport’s commitment to providing welcoming and inclusive places for all people to play netball.
“It’s our role as leaders to provide an environment where transgender and gender diverse people feel welcome to participate in our great game, while also taking into account athlete safety and protecting the integrity of the sport. We continue to work hard to ensure netball is a sport for all,” she said.
“We feel proud to release our policy as a part of the Pride In Sport announcement today, alongside a number of other national sporting organisations. Policies and guidelines such as these continue to improve inclusion and diversity standards across Australian sport.”
Pride in Sport National Program Manager Beau Newell said the joint commitment made by nine national sporting organisations today marks a major moment in Australian sport.
“This launch demonstrates a fundamental shift within Australian sport towards the greater inclusion of trans and gender diverse athletes. By formalising their stand to be inclusive of trans and gender diverse people, these Australian sports have shown a true and tangible commitment to providing environments where everyone involved is treated with respect and dignity,” Newell said.
Transgender community netballer Emma Bastable welcomes the policy introduction.
“I have had an overwhelmingly positive experience with netball since becoming involved in the sport three years ago, however it is pleasing to know that I would be protected by this policy if I were to pursue my netball career further,” she said.
“Policies such as this are necessary, not just because everyone should be able to play and inclusion is the right thing to do, but because all sports benefit from trans players, spectators and communities. It’s fantastic that so many Australian sports have announced their policies today.”
Australian Netball Players’ Association President Nat Medhurst says the collective playing group welcomes Netball Australia's policy.
“It’s important that we are always taking action to make netball more inclusive and a sport for all. Netball should be proud to be introducing this policy, and we congratulate the many other sports that have announced their policies today,” she said.
“Netball Australia consulted with the Australian Netball Players’ Association throughout the development of this policy and we believe it successfully addresses the many complex factors involved."
Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins welcomed the release of the policy.
“Participation in sport is a human right, and everyone has the right to feel welcome to play. The release of policies such as this are an important step in promoting inclusivity and diversity in sport, and ensuring the rights of all players are respected, and I commend all the national sporting organisations who have announced these policies today,” she said.
Through the policy, transgender and gender diverse people who test as having less than five nanomoles of testosterone per litre of blood for at least a 24-month period would be eligible for selection within netball’s elite competitions. See below for background information on this**.
Netball Australia, along with all state and territory netball member organisations, is currently in the process of developing community netball guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people and, in the meantime, community netball will continue to use the guidelines developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission, in partnership with Sport Australia and the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports.
This announcement was today made in partnership with Pride in Sport and alongside eight other leading national sporting organisations:
- AFL
- Hockey Australia
- Rugby Australia
- Tennis Australia
- Touch Football Australia
- UniSport Australia
- Water Polo Australia
*Netball Australia elite competitions include Origin Australian Diamonds, Suncorp Super Netball, Deakin University Australian Netball League, state-league competitions and 21/U, 19/U and 17/U state and national teams, including state and territory member organisation’s highest female elite competition where a member organisation has not adopted their own policy.
**“Normal” healthy range in males is anywhere from 9.2 to 31.8 nanomoles per litre. It is about 10 times lower in females, with “normal” levels considered to be between 0.3 amd 2.4 nmol/l. Females with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) have levels considers to be between 3.1 and 4.8 nmol/l.
