ABC Survey Reveals Financial and Health Strain on Elite Australian Sportswomen

A study released by ABC Sport in partnership with Deakin University has exposed a systemic challenge facing elite female athletes in Australia.

The Elite Athletes in Australian Women’s Sport Survey, which gathered data from 152 current and recently retired athletes across 47 sports, highlights a stark disparity in earnings, medical support, and workplace safety compared to their male counterparts.

According to the data, 39% of athletes earn no money at all from their sport, while 36% earn less than AUD20,000 annually. This financial instability has led 73% of respondents to state that they are not paid enough relative to sportsmen, with many athletes forced to balance high-performance training with multiple external jobs to cover basic living expenses.

Health and Wellbeing Concerns

The survey also identified critical gaps in medical education and support. Notable statistics include:

• 75% of athletes report that menstrual cycles are not taken into consideration during training.

• 44% of respondents have experienced an eating disorder or disordered eating.

• 65% have suffered serious injuries or concussions, yet only 53% of those were offered adequate financial or medical support during recovery.

• 85% of athletes believe there is insufficient education regarding women’s health for coaches and support staff.

Discrimination and Safety

While progress in visibility has been made, 34% of athletes reported personally experiencing sexual harassment or violence, and 59% have witnessed it. Online safety is another growing concern, with 87% of respondents witnessing the trolling of female athletes on social media.

Associate Professor Kim Toffoletti of Deakin University noted that the results highlight a persistent “gender inequality across the sector.”

The survey further revealed a divide in perspectives on inclusion: 41% of athletes believe transgender women should not compete in women’s sport, while 52% support the inclusion of non-binary participants.

The organisation’s findings serve as a strategic call to action for governing bodies to professionalise women’s sport through better pay, improved health education, and more robust maternity and safety policies.

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