Grounds for concern: ACT female athletes forced to change on sideline

Canberra's female athletes are being forced to get changed in full view of spectators before games and have to use public toilets because of inadequate facilities at the capital's sporting venues.

Players from Australian rules, rugby union, rugby league and soccer teams regularly miss out on the chance to use change rooms as ageing venues struggle to cope with the women's sport boom.

Rugby union is one of the sports in Canberra enjoying a female athlete boom.Credit: Elesa Kurtz

Details of the lack of support for female athletes has emerged as part of a Fairfax Media investigation series into the state of Canberra's sporting facilities and the desperate need for upgrades.

The ACT government committed $500,000 to make community sportsgrounds more female friendly, but amateur athletes say they are being left out in the cold in the winter months.

That means having no access to change rooms, showers or toilets before or after games and having to change into playing uniform on the sidelines.

The availability of change room is largely dependant on sharing with men's grades or if the venue has enough rooms to cater for different teams at different times.

Canberra rugby union veteran and four-time Wallaroos World Cup representative Louise Burrows said she had become "accustomed" with the lack of facilities.

"Just having women's change rooms would be a step in the right direction," Burrows said.

"A lot of the time we are sharing change rooms with men, maybe they're uncomfortable with that as well. Sometimes we are getting changed into our jerseys on the side of the field before we play.

"We've got young girls playing in our team and they may not be comfortable doing that. We have to get strapped on the sideline ... and at some grounds going to the toilet, we have to go into the women's public toilets with our boots and everything going on.

"I guess you get used to it ... accustomed to it. I have showered at games before, but sometimes you need the girls to keep watch because you're sharing the rooms. I rarely shower because of the facilities. But when you're muddy in winter, that would be ideal."

Canberra has been a leader in women's semi-professional sport, paving the way for basketball and soccer to thrive in the WNBL and W-League competitions.

The ACT Brumbies introduced a women's team this year to play in the inaugural Super W competition and the government has a vision for Canberra become the women's sport capital of Australia.

Women's cricket will play a large role in that, with the government deciding to invest in hosting women's Twenty20 World Cup in 2020 rather than trying to secure men's fixtures between minnow nations.

ACT sport minister Yvette Berry introduced measures in 2016 to ensure Canberra sporting organisations have at least a 40 per cent female representation on their board of directors. Those who fail to meet the requirements risk having their funding slashed in 2020.

Canberra has the highest female participation rates in sport in Australia, according to the latest AusPlay data, with an estimated 79.5 per cent of females aged over 15 involved in sport two times per week.

It is higher than the national average of 76.8 per cent. But there is a major gap for community-level sports, grounds and players as female participation numbers increase.

That's why the government has invested in various sporting venues already, with more expected to follow. There will be a $23,000 upgrade at the Tuggeranong netball toilet facilities, an $8500 female change room at Hawker and $40,000 for upgrades at Deakin.

The government is also investing $370,000 at the Phillip and Dickson playing fields and new pavilions at Gowrie and Melrose.

The Federal Government has committed $29 million to community sporting infrastructure as part of the 2018-19 budget. The Australian Sports Commission is set to implement the program, with inclusive sporting environments, including change rooms for female athletes, high on the priority list.

But there is still a fight in Canberra to have sanitary bins, appropriate toilet and shower facilities and access to change rooms.

"There's most certainly improvements to be made to facilities across Canberra," said Canberra FC star and former Canberra United player Grace Gill.

"There are a few clubs and venues that are kitted out really, really well. McKellar and Deakin are some great ones and there are a lot of change rooms everywhere, but some are really poor.

"Some need redevelopment and there have been instances in the past where we haven't had a change room. We've been forced to get changed in the open, which hasn't been ideal. So there are definitely improvements.

"If football in Canberra wants to improve as a game, the ideas for the competition have to be matched by the facilities. Very rarely are their showers, functioning toilets ... pretty basic things you'd hope to see at the premier league level.

"It shouldn't be a surprise when we come across [showers and functioning toilets]. It should just be the standard."