The AWS has developed the following Three Pillars for action: Education | Inspiration | Interaction. The Three Pillars will underpin AWS strategy and the following examples are:
ADVANCING WOMEN
IN SNOWSPORTS
Education | Inspiration | Interaction
The snowsport industry is undoubtedly male-dominated. Throughout Australian snowsport resorts, there is a considerable lack of female presence and inspiration, not only for up-and-coming instructors but also across all snowsports disciplines. During the 2020 Trainers Coordination, Richard Hocking posed questions and shared data on the gender disparity within the various levels of the APSI. This discussion motivated the formation of a group determined to investigate this disparity and propose initiatives to increase the participation rate and presence of female members throughout the snowsports industry.
Following the Trainers Coordination event, every female trainer, only 16 in total, across all disciplines worked together through a series of online video conferences discussing gender issues, industry, and brainstorming ways to create change. The result was the idea of creating a committee to address gender equity within the APSI specifically.
Throughout this process, the 'Advancing Women in Snowsports' (AWS) Committee was born. The five women voted in from the eight women who were nominated are:
The inaugural members have agreed to sit upon the AWS committee for a 2-year term before the first renomination period. Working closely and collaboratively with the APSI Board over the 2020 season, we developed a set of Terms of Reference and a framework that the future AWS committees could use to foster gender equity. Therefore, from 2022, the composition will change to include a minimum of two (female) APSI Members: non-trainers or members not employed in a training capacity by the APSI. This inclusion will allow for greater diversity and having all voices heard. More details on how you can get involved as a committee member will be forthcoming over the following year.
Our Vision is an APSI that actively promotes the role of women and creates opportunities to empower females to participate and pursue a career in Snowsports Instruction. Our mission is to implement and sustain long-standing initiatives within the APSI that promote equitable opportunities for women across all areas. The AWS, along with the female trainers, have formed an approach to allow for change to occur within the APSI.
If you would like to know more, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
THE THREE PILLARS
The AWS has developed the following Three Pillars for action: Education | Inspiration | Interaction. The Three Pillars will underpin AWS strategy and the following examples are:
"We need valuable role models of diversity - not only women but older instructors, Indigenous & Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and people of colour within the APSI. The APSI AWS committee is just the start of what should be a cultural shift towards representation, diversity, and inclusivity in our organisation.
Over the Summer, the AWS committee, in collaboration with the APSI Board will further analyse the data and will be developing an action plan to put in place. These will be announced at the next Trainers Coordination in Winter 2021 and published soon after here on the website. Look out for social media posts over the summer as we delve into the survey results to listen and hear members thoughts and opinions and their contributions to our industry. We welcome all participation and involvement from all APSI members and can be reached at aws@apsi.net.au "
- Angela Pope | Chairwoman | on behalf of the Advancing Women in Snowsports Committee
DOCUMENTS
COMMITTEE REPORT
The first Advancing Women in Snowsports (AWS) committee report is now available! The report covers 2020 as well as the 2021 season and includes analysis from the diversity and inclusivity survey conducted at the end of last season.
The Advancing Women in Snowsports partnered with the APSI Board to deliver this first survey to examine our members' experiences within our industry and the wider Snowsports community. The AWS report also covers the initiatives undertaken over the last two seasons and looks towards 2022. We are excited about the future for women in snowsports!!
To read the report, please click below:
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The AWS Committee are meeting monthly and minutes from the meetings are below:
2023
2022
Read more2021
AWS Committee Meeting - 25th October 2021
AWS Committee Meeting - 7th September 2021
AWS Committee Meeting - 28th August 2021
AWS Committee Meeting - 2nd August 2021
AWS Committee Meeting - 21st June 2021
AWS Committee Meeting - 31st May 2021
AWS Committee Meeting - 3rd May 2021
AWS Committee Meeting - 5th April 2021
AWS Committee Meeting - 1st March 2021
TRAINER NETWORKING SESSIONS
AWS Female Trainer Networking Session - 10th June 2021
AWS COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE
The following documents are available to current members only. Please log in to your MyAPSI account and navigate back to this page to continue.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
INTRODUCING THE ADVANCING WOMEN IN SNOWSPORTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Hi, I’m Angela Pope. I started in the snow industry well over a decade ago but only decided to become an instructor with the APSI in 2013. I am a Level 3 APSI trainer for Alpine but have race coach, telemark, park & adaptive certifications too. I fell in love with this industry and believe everybody, regardless of gender, age, race, or background, should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, whether it be achieving their level 2 or 4 or enjoying the sport without discrimination. Women in sports are the minority, which is symptomatic across a wide range of industries, not just ours. We can do more! We can do better! I believe that the equal partnership between women and men is foundational to strong communities and societies. I speak with my fellow AWS Committee members when I say I am so excited and inspired for the future in which men and women can build one another up and allow everyone to aspire to reach new heights. I want to ensure the pathways for future females in the snow sports industry remain at the forefront of the APSI’s objective and feel privileged to be given the opportunity to advocate for this.
Hi, I'm Jane Scheer. I live in Jindabyne and am a passionate Nordic skier of some 25 years. I actively compete in citizen cross-country marathons and the annual Masters' World Cup competitions conducted in various locations in Europe, the USA, or Canada during the Northern Winters. I became a Nordic Instructor and APSI member seven years ago. Since then, my instructing role has increased dramatically, and I have successfully created and been running Masters’ Nordic skiing skills improvement programmes for the last four years. These have seen extensive participation by women. Since late 2019, I became the Managing Director of the K7 Ski School. Other highlights of my instructing career so far are selection onto the APSI Demo Team (Nordic), attending Interski Bulgaria in 2019, and of course, being voted to represent female APSI members on the AWS Committee. I put my hat into the ring of the AWS because I am passionate about increasing the participation and opportunities for women in the APSI and the snow-sports industry in general and believe that this will help grow the sport of Nordic skiing here in Australia too.
Hi, I'm Kylie Dwyer. I have been involved in the Snowsports Industry since 1998 and am the current Snowboard Technical Director for the APSI. Growing up in Sydney, I started my journey in Snowsports at a later stage than most. I credit my early career to Selwyn Snowfields, NSW, where I was given my first opportunity at instructing. During those early years, I had many trainers that inspired me for different reasons and many trainers who showed they believed in me. Those trainers who believed in me, helped me instil a belief in myself, and it is my wish, as part of the AWS, that I can instil this belief in our next generation of Snowsports Instructors and Trainers.
Hi, I'm Sam Hamilton. I've been with the APSI since 2015 as a candidate and staff since 2020 when I became an examiner. Over the years I have been an athlete, instructor, coach and examiner. Through all these roles I have worked with all types of people of all ages with all types of goals in the industry. As an athlete and while training for my certifications I was often one of few girls in a male-dominated sport. Because of this, I strive to increase female representation within the industry with the help of other women and our non-female colleagues.