In a quiet corner of regional Victoria, 22 young women gathered not just to play cricket, but to explore who they are, where they come from, and what kind of leaders they might become.

The inaugural Cricket and Culture Leadership Camp, delivered by the Cricket Victoria Foundation in partnership with the Phillips Foundation, brought together South Asian female leaders aged across Victoria for a weekend that blended sport, storytelling and self-discovery.

Over two days, cricket was the entry point — but not the end goal.

Instead, participants moved through a program of leadership workshops, team challenges and cultural reflection, designed to build confidence and connection. Activities ranged from public speaking sessions and structured debates to outdoor challenges including an Amazing Race-style activity and a low ropes course.

For many, it was the first time they had been in a space where both their cultural identity and their sporting ambitions were equally centred.

Led by facilitator Khayshie Tilak Ramesh, the camp encouraged participants to speak openly about identity, belonging and the pressures of navigating multiple expectations — within sport, family and community.

Cricket Victoria said all 22 participants were identified through its community pathways as emerging leaders within their local clubs and associations.

Cricket Victoria Foundation Head Ben Brennan said the intention was to create something beyond a traditional development program.

“These young women arrived as individuals and left as a community,” he said.

“Cricket was the vehicle, but confidence, identity and belonging were the destination.”

He said early feedback showed strong demand for more programs of this kind, with many participants already keen to return.

“That tells you everything about what was created here,” he said.

“We’re building something that South Asian girls in Victoria can genuinely call their own.”

Throughout the weekend, a recurring theme emerged: voice.

For some participants, that meant learning to speak with more confidence in front of others. For others, it meant realising they already had something worth saying.

“It helped me appreciate my culture more,” one participant reflected.

Another said the experience shifted how she saw herself within her community:

“Learning that South Asian girls also have a voice and have to stand up for themselves in the community is my biggest takeaway.”

For Cricket Victoria, the camp represents an early step in a broader effort to make the game more inclusive — not just in who plays it, but in who feels they belong within it.

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