By Benjamin Millar
Women’s football pioneer Susan Alberti has delivered a massive kickstart to women’s sport in the west with a $1 million endowment to Victoria University.
A businesswoman and philanthropist with a long association with the university and the Western Bulldogs, Dr Alberti has made the donation to establish The Susan Alberti Women in Sport Chair, a position that will be taken up by Victoria University’s Professor Clare Hanlon.
Dr Alberti – the 2018 Victorian of the Year – was a driving force behind the push to establish the AFLW women’s competition, leading to her appointment as the competition’s inaugural ambassador in 2017.
She told Star Weekly that getting more women involved in sport comes with a range of benefits to health and wellbeing.
“That really is what triggered my interest, getting women out there and being active,” she said.
“I would really encourage women to get involved in sport, in my time women just didn’t do that and we didn’t have the role-models they have today.”
Dr Alberti said the runaway success of WAFL shows there is an appetite for more pathways into sport for women.
“The thing I like is you have so many families coming to the game, and these little girls wearing the numbers of their favourite women players.”
Dr Alberti said her $1 million donation will also help fund a Women in Sport research program, building on Victoria University’s existing sports science involvement.
She said VU’s location in the west, existing community ties and strong sporting focus made it the most attractive recipient for her donation.
“I believe in what VU are doing and having sat down with them and worked this through I’m very excited by what it will mean.”
Professor Hanlon said she was humbled and excited by the opportunity to take up the role as the inaugural Chair.
The announcement comes as VU launches its long-term sports strategy, which aims to champion women in sport and build a series of partnerships with international sport universities.
