About Us

About Us

#GippyGirlsCan celebrates all Gippsland women, without judgement, and challenges out-dated gender stereotypes to create a society where seeing active, empowered women is the norm and is celebrated.

WHAT IS THIS GIRL CAN – VICTORIA?

This Girl Can – Victoria is a celebration of women being physically active – no matter how they look, how good they are, or how sweaty they get.

The first step is to help women identify the fear of judgement that often stops them from being physically active. The second step is welcoming and supporting them to give exercise a shot.

This Girl Can was originally launched in England in 2015 by Sport England. The campaign resulted in a massive 3.9 million women trying (or getting back into) fitness and sport – so VicHealth was inspired to bring it to Victoria. We’ve partnered with Sport England to be the first organisation in the world to licence the campaign.

The research done by Sport England identified the fear of judgement as one of the biggest barriers preventing women from being as physically active as they would like to be. Our local research says the same, so it was a natural choice to use the This Girl Can campaign for Victorian women.

This Girl Can – Victoria features empowering, positive images of active women – regardless of their background, ability, age or body shape. The campaign celebrates all women, without judgement, and challenges out-dated gender stereotypes to create a society where seeing active, empowered women is the norm and is celebrated.

In July 2017, VicHealth put the call out for Victorian women to be a part of the campaign. With an overwhelming response, their stories formed an empowering, enlightening and inspiring picture of women, getting out there and being active regardless of ability or appearance. We’ve worked with these women to develop this campaign – sharing their stories to inspire others to be more physically active too.

But This Girl Can – Victoria is more than just a physical activity campaign. It’s about empowering women to be comfortable in their bodies and in public spaces. Women should be able to be active whenever, wherever and however they choose, without being judged for how they look.

When we break down these barriers, it not only addresses gender inequality – it has a wider positive impact on the whole community too.

WHAT IS #GIPPYGIRLSCAN?

Gippy Girls Can is first and foremost a social media movement encouraging Gippsland women and girls over the age of 18 to get active and celebrate women participating in physical activity together. Programs scheduled as Gippy Girls Can support the campaign by providing the opportunity for women and girls in Gippsland to get involved in physical activity.

GippSport is funded through VicHealth Regional Sport Program to partner with local sporting clubs and associations, and community organisations to roll opportunities under the Gippy Girls Can campaign. GippSport is the link between the activity, the sporting clubs and associations, the community groups, the participants, and the campaign to bring it all together to create the Gippy Girls Can community.  

GippSport will be seeking to work with the community to increase opportunities for women and girls to participate in a range of sports and active recreation options throughout the campaign. GippSport supports local sporting clubs and associations, and community groups to host Gippy Girls Can programs and events.

WHY GET INVOLVED?

We’re expecting lots of women from right across Gippsland to want to be more active and try something new. That’s where you come in.

By being on the same team and aligning with This Girl Can – Victoria & Gippy Girls Can, you can get a lot out of the campaign. We will be reaching a huge number of women – and by getting involved your club or activity can get a huge boost from this campaign.

As well as bringing you up to date with the This Girl Can – Victoria campaign, VicHealth have created a toolkit to help you develop supportive and effective conversations and communications with the women in your community. It also provides you with a range of resources and tips that will help you share the This Girl Can – Victoria message within your community, and shape and promote your sport and physical activity opportunities for women.

As a supporter, you can also help us protect the brand and our unique way of speaking to women. Please visit thisgirlcan.com.au/our-supporters/ to find guidance on how to make the most of the resources, and refer to the Promotional Toolkit Terms and Conditions.

HOW TO SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE AND INSPIRE VICTORIAN WOMEN

This Girl Can isn’t about telling women that how they feel about exercise is wrong, or that the way they’re doing it is incorrect. And we’re not trying to guilt-trip them into taking up a sport.

We know that the fear of judgement is stopping many women from exercising, and the way we talk about exercise, physical activity and sport should lessen that fear.

We’re here to support, encourage, and inspire women, rather than educate or preach to them – and we’re all about doing it in a fun, accessible and sassy way.

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HOW TO GET INVOLVED WITH #GIPPYGIRLSCAN?


Social Media

Our online community is made up of women who support, encourage and inspire each other and are passionate about helping others become more physically active.

We want This Girl Can – Victoria & Gippy Girls Can to reach as many Gippsland women as possible and we’re hoping you can help us spread the word.

You can get involved by sharing This Girl Can – Victoria TV ad with your networks on your social media channels, and by sharing your own posts with the hashtag #ThisGirlCanVIC and #GippyGirlsCan.

Social media handles and hashtags

  • Be sure to tag @GippyGirlsCan and @ThisGirlCanVIC for all campaign-related activity.
  • If you want to talk about a specific activity best to keep the hashtags separate (i.e. #ThisGirlCanVIC #Golf instead of #ThisGirlCanVICGolf).
  • Make sure you’re connected to and making the most of the GippyGirlsCan community by include #GippyGirlsCan and #ThisGirlCanVIC on your social media

Activity

GippSport is seeking to work with the community to increase opportunities for women and girls to participate in a range of sports and active recreation options throughout the campaign.

If you are a:

  • Sporting Clubs,
  • Sporting Associations,
  • Community groups,
  • Government Organisation or
  • a partner of a Local Government Organisation

and would like to host Gippy Girls Can programs or events, please get in contact with a GippSport Program Coordinator in your area. To find your local GippSport Program Coordinator please visit gippsport.com.au/our-people/

or email gippygirlscan@gippsport.com.au

Using This Girl Can – Victoria campaign resources

It’s important that all This Girl Can – Victoria supporters help to protect the brand and our unique tone and messaging so be sure to refer to This Girl Can – Victorian Promotional Toolkit Terms and Conditions.

Note that the This Girl Can and VicHealth logos may not be used in any way other than within the resources provided (this means you can’t copy the logo and use it on your own poster, image or other materials).