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Government House Celebrates Diversity Through Tennis

21 March 2025 | Tennis Victoria

Tennis Victoria, in partnership with Government House, proudly hosted a unique and inclusive experience in 2025, offering a rare opportunity to explore the historic Government House while celebrating diversity and inclusion through tennis. As part of this initiative, visitors enjoyed a guided tour of the State Apartments, a scenic walk through the beautiful gardens, and a special chance to play on the prestigious Grass Tennis Courts within the grounds of Government House. Each week, the program highlighted a different focus group from Tennis Victoria’s Diversity and Inclusion pillars, reinforcing a shared commitment to embracing and celebrating diversity in the sport.

Commenting on the partnership, Tennis Victoria Inclusion Coordinator Kayla Ryan said “the 2025 Government House Visits have provided a great opportunity for us to connect with each of the groups but also for those who participated to connect with each other. The Para Standing Player group in particular left energised with a plan to catch up and in discussion about how we can work together to provide more opportunities for players with disability.”

Weekly Focus Groups

LGBTQIA+ Community: The first week welcomed the VicTennis Club, providing an opportunity for members of the rainbow community to connect, play, and celebrate inclusion in tennis.

Women & Girls: The second week featured the Women Leaders in Tennis Network, recognising and empowering women and girls in leadership roles within the sport.

People with Disability: A highlight of the third week was a focus on the Para Standing pathway, showcasing opportunities and pathways for people with disabilities to participate and excel in tennis.

Culturally and Racially Marginalised/Linguistically Diverse (CARM/CALD) Communities: The final week celebrated cultural diversity with the Australian Melbourne Chinese Tennis Association (AMCTA) and Australian Vietnamese Tennis Association (AVTA), strengthening connections and representation for Cultural Diversity Week. Due to some heavy rain on the grass courts unfortunately participants were unable to get on court for a hit. However the AMCTA and AVTA groups still enjoyed the tour of the state rooms, gardens and an opportunity to take some photos on the stunning grass courts.

Adam Watson, Inclusion Lead at Tennis Victoria, shared his thoughts on the initiative saying “this partnership with Government House has been an incredible opportunity to showcase the power of sport in bringing people together. Tennis is for everyone, and initiatives like this help ensure that all communities feel welcomed, valued, and included.”

To learn more about inclusion and diversity pathways at Tennis Victoria, please click here.