More than 50 players, coaches, volunteers, officials and club leaders came together at Box Hill City Oval Pavilion this week for Beyond the Boundary: She Belongs, a regional forum focused on strengthening opportunities for women and girls in cricket. 

Delivered in partnership by Whitehorse City Council, Cricket Victoria, Manningham City Council and the City of Boroondara, the event provided a platform for participants to connect, share experiences and explore practical ways to create more inclusive and welcoming cricket environments. 

The evening featured a keynote address from Cricket Australia Board Director and former Australian representative player, Clea Smith, who shared insights into leadership, inclusion and the importance of creating pathways that support women and girls to thrive in sport. 

Attendees also heard from an inspiring panel of female cricket leaders, who spoke candidly about their journeys in the game, the barriers they have faced and the opportunities that exist to increase participation and leadership across all levels of cricket. 

Participants then took part in facilitated workshop discussions, identifying practical actions clubs can take to improve the experience of women and girls, strengthen club culture and build more inclusive pathways into coaching, officiating, volunteering and committee leadership. 

A key theme throughout the evening was the importance of creating a genuine sense of belonging. 

The forum also highlighted the value of regional collaboration, with participants welcoming the opportunity to connect and learn from people across different clubs, associations, and municipalities. For many attendees, the event provided a rare opportunity to share ideas and experiences with others working towards the same goal of growing women's participation in cricket. 

Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with one attendee describing the forum as "a fantastic opportunity to support and grow girls' and women's participation in cricket" and expressing their enthusiasm to remain involved in future initiatives. 

The event supports Whitehorse City Council's ongoing commitment to gender equity in sport and recreation and aligns with the objectives of Council's Fair Access Policy Action Plan, helping clubs build their capacity to provide equitable, welcoming and inclusive sporting environments. 

Whitehorse City Council thanks Cricket Victoria, Manningham City Council, the City of Boroondara, Box Hill Cricket Club, keynote speaker Clea Smith, the panel members and all participants who contributed to making the evening such a success. 

As clubs prepare for the season ahead, the conversations and ideas generated through Beyond the Boundary: She Belongs will help drive ongoing efforts to ensure more women and girls feel welcome, valued and supported both on and off the field.