Ep 21 | Retaining Women & Girls in Sport: Periods, Participation & Disability

At a time when sporting organisations across Australia are working hard to attract and retain more women and girls, could one part of the solution be surprisingly simple — better education, more supportive environments and free access to period products? In this episode of There She Is, Philippa Bowman is joined by Professor Clare Hanlon from Victoria University, Rochelle Courtenay from Share the Dignity, and Tasmanian wheelchair basketball athlete Katherine Reed to talk about menstruation, period products, disability and participation in sport.The conversation explores the ground breaking Powering Participation research into the menstruation support needed by people with disability in sport — and some of the findings are difficult for sporting organisations to ignore.But this conversation goes well beyond simply putting pads and tampons in bathrooms.Katherine shares the realities of managing menstruation as a wheelchair athlete, including inaccessible and unsuitable bathroom facilities and challenges many coaches, administrators and facility managers may never have considered.Together, Clare, Rochelle and Katherine explore period poverty and menstrual equity, accessible sporting facilities, education for coaches, the importance of normalising conversations about menstruation, and the practical changes sporting organisations can make now.And there's a powerful message for every club trying to attract and retain more women and girls:If we're investing in getting girls into sport, are we also creating environments that make it possible for them to stay?In this episode:- Why periods are causing girls and women to miss sport- Period products and athlete participation and retention- Menstrual equity and period poverty in Australian sport- The additional barriers experienced by athletes with disability- Accessible and appropriate sporting facilities- What male and female coaches need to understand about menstruation- Why period products should be available in sporting bathrooms and training kits- Practical steps clubs and sporting organisations can take now- Share the Dignity's Bloody Good Sport campaign- Why listening to lived experience mattersFeaturing: Professor Clare Hanlon, Victoria University; Rochelle Courtenay, Share the Dignity; and Catherine Reed from ParaQuad Tasmania, Wheelchair Basketball Athlete.Resources & ResearchVictoria University – Powering Participation: Insights on Menstruation Support Needed for People with Disability in Sporthttps://content.vu.edu.au/sites/default/files/documents/2026-05/disability-insight-guide-women-in-sport.pdfVictoria University – Bloody Good Idea: Free Period Products at Sports and Leisure Facilities – Insights to Help Governments and Sports Drive Changehttps://content.vu.edu.au/sites/default/files/documents/2025-04/period-products-report.pdfShare the Dignity – Bloody Good Sport Pledge & Resourceshttps://sharethedignity.org.au/advocacy-media/bloody-good-sportAustralian Institute of Sport – Female Performance & Health Initiative: Educationhttps://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/fphi/educationSwimming Australia – Ignite Athlete Programhttps://www.swimming.org.au/performance/athlete-resources/ignite-athlete-programSwimming Australia – Managing Your Menstrual Cyclehttps://www.swimming.org.au/performance/athlete-resources/ignite-athlete-program/managing-your-menstrual-cycleEngland Golf – Menstrual Cyclehttps://www.englandgolf.org/menstrual-cycleOrganisations & GuestsShare the Dignityhttps://sharethedignity.org.au/Victoria Universityhttps://www.vu.edu.au/ParaQuad Tasmaniahttps://www.paraquadtas.org.au/If you believe in creating stronger pathways, healthier sporting environments and better opportunities for women and girls in sport, we'd love your support.Become a WSRT member: https://wsrt.org.au/membership/New episodes every week.. be sure to subscribe and follow