Equitable Changerooms for a more inclusive playing field
There has never been greater focus on creating and upgrading Sports facilities to be more inclusive. The recent announcement by WA Government to contribute a million dollars in funding to retrofit and upgrade community football changeroom facilities at 52 venues across Perth, will promote safety and belonging within Women’s sport at a grass roots level. While more work is needed that extends beyond facilities, this is a welcome and positive step toward removing environmental barriers to participation.
Girls and women’s football is the fastest growing segment of the AFL, and there is ongoing demand for facilities that meet the environmental, cultural and safety needs of players, umpires, volunteers and administrators.
"With female participation in sport growing at a rapid rate, the Government is responding to the need for safe and appropriate changing facilities for all genders, ages and abilities."
- Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman.
At Carabiner, safe and equitable changerooms (for both athletes and umpires) is something we know well. We incorporate inclusive changerooms at all Sport and Recreation facilities we design, from High Performance Sport to Community Aquatic and Recreation centres. Sport is for everyone - for all genders, current and future users, and no one should be left out.
So what considerations are factored into a safe and equitable changeroom for sport facilities?
Design based on capacity and user experience
Accessibility requirements
Privacy screening at entry
Individual toilet cubicles
Lockable shower cubicles, including a change bench
Safe, comfortable environments to encourage umpires and referees
Family friendly attributes, such as change tables
Flexibility for different user groups
Mirror/vanity shelving for personal items
Crime prevention factors, such as adequate lighting, passive observation and safe egress
Flexible changerooms can be designed to adapt to different modes and for teams of different sizes.
Teams use these spaces to bond, reflect and strategise. For family users, these spaces form part of a comfortable aquatic or sporting experience. In either case, safety and privacy is a critical and understandable concern, and investing in equitable amenities can only increase growth within sport for all users.
Relevant Projects: