Officiating in sailing presents unique challenges and traditionally, women have been significantly underrepresented in these roles. To help change that, the Queensland Women & Girls Upskill as Officials Project was launched, offering a series of tailored information sessions designed to introduce women and girls to the officiating pathway in a supportive, female-only environment. 

These sessions aimed to simplify the world of officiating by providing a clear, structured introduction to key roles. Participants received guidance through online entry-level qualifications accredited by Australian Sailing, with a strong emphasis on building confidence and community. 

Initial outreach was targeted to female club members, encouraging them to attend mid-week evening sessions to explore the idea of officiating. Research shows that women and girls often thrive in inclusive, social learning environments and this was reflected in the format of our sessions. 

The project focused on two officiating disciplines: Judge and Race Officer. Three sessions delved into the Judge role, specifically exploring how to become a Protest Committee Member — a key position responsible for managing racing protests and appeals. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Many participants noted that the female-only setting was a significant drawcard and appreciated the approachable, supportive atmosphere. The sessions were further enriched by the presence of accredited Judge Grace Murphy, who brought the Racing Rules of Sailing and protest procedures to life and made the complex content accessible. Attendees remarked that her guidance made all the difference in grasping technical concepts that might have otherwise felt daunting. 

There were another three sessions that explored the Race Management Team roles and sparked even greater enthusiasm. Participants were eager to learn about the hands-on aspects of officiating, from flag signals and timekeeping to racecourse setup. They also expressed that being out on the water would deepen their understanding of the eLearning content. All who attended any of the sessions reported a strong sense of achievement, enjoyed the camaraderie, became more comfortable navigating online learning platforms, and gained practical knowledge essential to officiating as either Race Management Team members or Protest Committee Members.

The structured learning approach, engaging discussions, and shared food helped create a relaxed and enjoyable evening. Although there was not enough time at the sessions to allow anyone to complete the full eLearning content, most stated that now they had been shown how to access and return to the online modules, they would complete their learning journey in their own time. 

A breakdown of the numbers: 

As a final measure of the success of the Queensland Women & Girls Upskill as Officials Project, after a year we will review the number of participants who finally complete the eLearning modules they started and will support and follow the progress of the two women who have already moved on the pathway to becoming accredited. 

We would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Grace Murphy for her continued support and for generously sharing her expertise, knowledge and great character at every session. We also appreciate and acknowledge the Queensland Government for funding this important and empowering initiative for women and girls.