Cook Government Launches $6 Million ‘Game On, Girls’ Initiative to Combat Teenage Dropout Rates

The Cook Government has officially launched Game On, Girls, a $6 million investment aimed at reversing the sharp decline in sports participation among teenage girls across Western Australia.

Over the next four years, the initiative will provide direct financial support to community sporting clubs to foster more inclusive and retention-focused environments for athletes aged 13 to 17.

As part of the rollout, local clubs can now apply for grants of up to $5,000. These funds are appropriated for the design and delivery of “girl-friendly” programs that address the specific psychological and physical barriers identified in recent state research.

The program addresses a critical commercial and social challenge within the WA sporting ecosystem.

While participation remains high at 83 per cent for nine-year-olds, it plummets to just 23 per cent by the age of 15. This “participation cliff” represents a loss of future talent, volunteer bases, and membership revenue for local organisations.

Commenting on the program, Sport and Recreation Minister, Rita Saffioti, said: “Game On, Girls is about helping local clubs create environments where young women feel supported, safe and confident to participate.”

She noted that a lack of confidence and self-belief remains a primary barrier to keeping young female players engaged as they transition through adolescence.

The initiative delivers on a key Cook Labor Government election commitment and operates under the broader Power Her Play campaign, a state-wide strategic push to celebrate and professionalise women’s roles in sport.

Minister for Women, Simone McGurk, emphasised that the grants will equip clubs with “practical, on-the-ground support” to transform club cultures from the grassroots up.

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