Levelling the playing field: women in sport #SetTheStandard on Twitter

Twitter Australia launched #SetTheStandard, a new initiative focused on female leadership and promoting role models on Twitter.

In partnership with The Women’s Game (@TheWomensGame), #SettheStandard featured a Twitter training and a panel of inspirational business and sporting women who are making waves in the field.

Through engaging and empowering women while educating them how to use Twitter, women learned about Twitter’s newest safety policies and products.

Twitter Australia’s Managing Director Suzy Nicoletti (@SuzyNicoletti) and Head of Public Policy and Government Kara Hinesley (@karahinesley) kicked off the event with a Twitter Best Practices and Safety Workshop, which showed how to customise their experience and get the most out of Twitter while staying safe.

For the panel, The Women’s Game (@TheWomensGame) brought together supporters of women's sport to discuss changes that could be made in the sports industry to support women.

Hosted by Contributing Editor for The Women’s Game, Sarah Groubes (@groubes), the #SetTheStandard panel featured CEO of Rugby Australia, Raelene Castle (@raelenecastle), President of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and non-executive director, Sam Moystn (@SamMostyn), Paralympian and Para Games medalist, Ellie Cole (@EllieVCole), and Campaign Coordinator for ‎Football Federation Australia, Ann Odong (@AnnOdong).

Paralympian Ellie Cole spoke about her passion for sport coming from being treated differently to the others kids in her swimming squad. After being told that she was too slow to progress to the next milestone, Ellie trained day in and day out to prove herself.

“I ended up being the fastest kicker in my squad of about 30 kids,” she said.

Having come to Australia as a child from Uganda, sport helped Ann Odong build a common language with the kids and adults around her.

“Sport for me was an entry into conversation in Australia,” she shared.

The women also reflected on the way that they came to Twitter and how they use the platform.

“I [figured out] I was on Twitter because I thought it was the most incredible way to learn and listen and share the things that I find interesting,” said Sam Mostyn.

Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle received thundering applause when answering a question around women in leadership roles.

“I’m all for diversity...but you can’t be appointed to a job you don’t apply for. That is my biggest thing, you’ve got to have a crack.

“You’ve got to be good at what you do, but you’ve got to be brave enough to hold your hand up, and trust that you’ve got the skills and capabilities,” she said.

If you weren’t able to catch the event, check out our #SetTheStandard Women in Sport panel on @Periscope through The Women’s Game.

Also check out the The Women’s Game wrap of the event and follow them on Twitter at @TheWomensGame!