The government of Australia has endorsed a series of groundbreaking recommendations aimed at protecting the labor and competitive rights of female athletes who choose to have children. The guidelines, developed by the Australian Institute of Sport, Central Queensland University, and the Queensland Academy of Sport, outline measures from preconception through to parenthood, with the goal of ensuring that athletes don’t have to choose between their careers and motherhood.

The recommendations aim to guarantee salary, ranking, and sporting status for athletes during their reproductive process, even if they temporarily step away from sport for fertility treatment. The Minister for Sport, Anika Wells, emphasized that becoming a mother should not be an obstacle to achieving sporting success, citing athletes like Jess Stenson and Vanessa Low as examples of greatness reached through motherhood.

New standards for motherhood in sport without sacrifices

Key measures include contractual security, protected funding, and alternative work arrangements for at least 12 months. These provisions aim to support not only athletes who are already mothers but also those undergoing planning or fertility treatments. The director of the AIS women’s health project, Rachel Harris, noted that many athletes face the dilemma of starting a family or continuing to compete—leading to premature retirements that could be avoided with proper support policies.

Some federations have already taken the lead. The WTA introduced ranking protections for athletes undergoing fertility treatment, and Football Australia, together with the Professional Footballers Australia, has implemented paid parental leave and childcare support at Matildas training camps. Former player Kate Gill praised the recommendations, stating that they strengthen a policy already seen as world-class. These actions position Australia as a leader in promoting motherhood compatible with elite performance.