Single Gender Bowls Events update
Memorandum to Clubs, Divisions and Regions
Single Gender Bowls Events
Please note that this update is NOT related to Saturday or Midweek Pennant competitions or the conduct of Women Only events.
Bowls Victoria has withdrawn its application to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for a blanket exemption to cover single gender bowls events.
In conveying this news Bowls Victoria Chief Executive Graeme Bridge states, “Whilst this is obviously not the simple outcome Bowls Victoria was endeavouring to obtain for the Clubs and their members, we left no stone unturned in seeking to secure this ruling based on new and untested exceptions inserted by the State Government into the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act.”
The current interim exemption that applied to our application to VCAT will expire on 1 December 2016.
While the conduct of Women Only events will not be impacted by this, if your club chooses to conduct:
· Men’s Club Triples Championships;
· Men’s Club Fours Championships;
· Men’s Minor Singles; and
· Any other men’s event or tournament,
your club should apply for an annual exemption from VCAT under the Equal Opportunity Act to mitigate the risks of a discrimination claim.
There are no restrictions in regards to the conduct of Mixed Events.
Bowls Victoria has put together information to assist Clubs with applying for individual Club Exemptions.
You’ll find it by clicking here, along with more detail regarding the Elite Pathways and Facilitating Participation exceptions relevant to the Equal Opportunity Act.
Graeme Bridge
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Bowls Victoria
