The Cricket Victoria Foundation, in partnership with the Phillips Foundation, hosted its inaugural Cricket and Culture Leadership Camp for 22 young female leaders of South-Asian heritage over the weekend of May 9 & 10. The two-day overnight camp, filled with smiles and laughter, emphasised the development of leadership skills, cultural identity, awareness, confidence, and teamwork […]
The Cricket Victoria Foundation, in partnership with the Phillips Foundation, hosted its inaugural Cricket and Culture Leadership Camp for 22 young female leaders of South-Asian heritage over the weekend of May 9 & 10.
The two-day overnight camp, filled with smiles and laughter, emphasised the development of leadership skills, cultural identity, awareness, confidence, and teamwork for the next generation of emerging young female leaders.
Led by Lead Facilitator Khayshie Tilak Ramesh, the camp blended hands-on activities, including an Amazing Race, a Low Ropes Course, and competitive debate sessions, alongside leadership workshops focused on public speaking, confidence, and cultural identity.
In collaboration with Cricket Victoria's Community Cricket team, all 22 participants were identified as emerging leaders within their local communities, cricket clubs and associations. Over the two days, public speaking and confidence emerged as the standout leadership skills developed, while cultural identity remained a powerful thread woven throughout the experience.
Participants reflected upon the value of connecting with others who shared similar backgrounds and experiences, with many expressing the camp helped them feel seen, heard and less alone in their cricketing journeys. The sense of belonging created over the weekend was reflected in attendee feedback, rating the camp 4.5 out of 5 for fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment, with 89% of all attendees eager to return.
"It helped me appreciate my culture more," one participant shared.
"Learning that South Asian girls also have a voice and have to stand up for themselves in the community is my biggest takeaway," said another participant.
Cricket Victoria Head of Foundation Ben Brennan said the impact of the weekend extended far beyond cricket itself.
"These young women arrived as individuals and left as a community," Brennan said.
"Watching them find their voice on the cricket field and off it reminded us exactly why we do this work. Cricket was the vehicle, but confidence, identity and belonging were the destination."
"The overwhelmingly positive feedback also highlighted the appetite for future programs, with participants already eager to return. That tells you everything about what Khayshie and the team created. We're building something that South Asian girls in Victoria can genuinely call their own, and that's something we're really proud of."
The Cricket Victoria Foundation would like to thank the Phillips Foundation for its incredible support in hosting the Cricket and Culture Community Camp.
