Safer running environments for women starts here

For many women and girls, running isn’t just about lacing up shoes — it’s navigating a maze of fears, barriers, and unspoken pressures. 

The We Run Foundation is working with the Office of Sport to change that and help create safer and more welcoming environments for female runners. As part of this project, women are encouraged to fill in the Run My Way survey in a bid to drive change.

We spoke to Kerry Turner, Manager Partnerships and Participation at the Office of Sport, about this work and why we all have a role to play in helping to improve running experiences for women.

What challenges and barriers are there for women and girls to participate in physical activity?

The relationship with physical activity and sport for women and girls is very complex and is based upon a web of personal, social and environmental influences which change with life stages. Universally, a fear of judgement is the main barrier for girls and women because of appearance, ability and competing priorities.

Examples include during adolescence, feeling a disconnect after leaving school, a lack of sporty role models and loss of ‘cool factor’. In terms of body image, girls can feel intimidated and/or embarrassed to exercise in public because of fear of judgement around their appearance and abilities. For new mums, guilt can be associated with leaving their baby. Focussing on isolated barriers like time or cost misses the point.

It is critical that all women and girls have full access to participate in sport and physical activity at all levels and in environments where they feel welcome. 

What is the Office of Sport doing to empower more women and girls to participate in physical activity through running?

The Office of Sport is leading a new four year strategy, Play Her Way, to champion girls and women through sport. One of the exciting initiatives under this strategy is a project to help women feel safer when running.

Initial research conducted by the Office of Sport has found 94% of female runners reported perceptions of safety affect their habits and ability to participate. We have several research projects under way including working with major running event providers such as the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS to gain insights and help inform future project ideas that can be implemented at running hot spots.

We’re looking forward to rolling out some innovative initiatives that help improve running experiences for women across NSW over the next the years.

How is the Office of Sport working to improve safety for female runners?  

Our first project is Run My Way market research. We are working with major event running providers to conduct short surveys to find out more about people’s running behaviours and, in particular, how a sense of safety influences their running habits. Running participants can play their part and have a say by completing the short survey. This will help the NSW Government identify further partnership opportunities to drive change, build sector capability and increase participation in running for women and girls.