Westpac Empowers Women's Cricket with Community Grants

In an inspiring move to promote women and girls in cricket, Westpac has granted $2,000 to each of 14 community clubs participating in Cricket Australia’s Project Inspire programme. This funding aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for female cricketers.

Launch of Leadership Workshop

The announcement was made during a three-day leadership workshop in Melbourne, part of the recently celebrated Women and Girls Week organized by Cricket Australia. Participants from the second intake of Project Inspire gathered for this enriching event, which featured a special session held at Westpac’s offices, where they received the exciting news.

Adding a touch of surprise, Australian cricketer Phoebe Litchfield visited the workshop to reveal the funding support to the attendees, encouraging them to enhance the cricketing experiences for women and girls in their respective clubs.

Empowering Community Leaders

Project Inspire is a transformative leadership development initiative led by former Australian cricket captain Belinda Clark alongside skilled facilitator and coach Chris Rubick. The programme's goal is to empower women engaged in community cricket to hone their leadership skills, boost their confidence, and foster connections within the cricketing community.

Through structured development sessions combined with hands-on practical work at club level, participants can identify opportunities and actively implement their ideas, making a tangible impact in their local cricketing environments.

Broader Contributions to Women’s Cricket

James Allsopp, Cricket Australia’s Chief of Cricket, highlighted the significance of Project Inspire in linking the organization with dedicated women leading grassroots initiatives throughout Australia.

“We’ve connected with remarkable leaders across every State and Territory, witnessing their dedication to enhancing women's and girls' cricket at the grassroots,” he said.

Allsopp also emphasized the importance of Westpac’s contributions in facilitating the practical applications of the lessons learned during the programme, ultimately helping clubs support and uplift women and girls in cricket.

Westpac’s Chief Growth, Brand and Marketing Officer, Michelle Klein, expressed pride in supporting community initiatives aimed at unlocking opportunities for women in cricket. She stated, “Project Inspire provides practical skills, useful networks, and valuable support to build upon the amazing work already in progress.”

Klein noted that the funds will assist clubs in creating more avenues for women and girls to engage in cricket, whether as players, volunteers, or leaders in their communities.

Project Inspire's Reach

The second intake of Project Inspire includes representatives from 14 diverse clubs and cricket associations spanning across several Australian states: Western Australia, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, the Northern Territory, and Queensland.

The participants include:

• Elle Weston - Dunsborough Cricket Club
• Libby O’Brien - Merewether District Cricket Club
• Michelle Lussick - Weston Creek Molonglo Cricket Club
• Kalea Leary - Wynyard and Districts Cricket Club
• Stacey Taylor - Sheidow Park Cricket Club
• Emily Oliphant - North Perth Cricket Club
• Jacqui Brown - Kingston Heath Cricket Club
• Ava Danholt - Wembley Districts Junior Cricket Club
• Dawn Kilkelly - Lindfield District Cricket Club
• Cathy Allen - Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association
• Hannah Ward - Waratah Cricket Club
• Mehnaaz Ahmed - North Sydney District Junior Cricket Club
• Gillian Gerry - Ginninderra Cricket Club
• Carrie-Ann White - Surfers Paradise Cricket Club

This funding initiative by Westpac, as part of Project Inspire, represents a further commitment to nurturing leadership and growing participation in community cricket, ensuring a brighter future for women cricketers across Australia.