From Player to Pioneer: Mel Kawa’s Journey Driving Change in Rugby

A story by Kamana Giri, a 2022 G2G Connect Delegate from Nepal - in conversation with Australian G2G Champion, Mel Kawa.

From resilient athlete to advocate

In 2022, as the Women’s Rugby World Cup captured global attention, Melanie 'Mel' Kawa - an Australian rugby player, coach, and advocate - was helping to shape the future of the game in Victoria. With 18 years of experience and a deep passion for sport, her work with ChildFund Rugby’s Grassroots to Global (G2G) campaign sparked a ripple effect.

Mel’s rugby journey began in Brisbane in 2006 and evolved from player to coach, referee, and leader. Representing both Australia and her birthplace Papua New Guinea, her career has been defined by resilience, overcoming two ACL reconstructions and other injuries.

“Even when I couldn’t play, I found joy in contributing to team spirit,” Mel said. That mindset became the foundation for her shift into mentoring and advocacy, proving that rugby is more than a game, it is a community.

Mel (right) at the Grassroots to Global Forum in Victoria, Australia in 2022

Leading the Grassroots to Global forum

Alongside playing duties at the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup, Mel facilitated a Grassroots to Global Forum in Victoria designed to empower young women in rugby. The forum brought together 20 young participants - players, referees, and managers - to explore leadership, inclusivity, and belonging.

A standout activity was the leadership mapping, which helped attendees see their influence within their teams, families, and communities for the first time.

“It was a collective moment of growth,” reflected one participant. “We saw each other not just as players or referees, but as leaders with the power to inspire change.”

For Mel, watching that shift was deeply moving: “Seeing them embrace their potential was emotional.”

Catalysing change in Victoria

The forum’s impact extended well beyond the event. It became a feature of Rugby Victoria’s annual report and spotlighted the need for stronger pathways for women in rugby. Soon after, Mel was appointed to the Rugby Victoria board, where she continues to champion inclusion and opportunity.

One participant, Sarah Porter, embodies this transformation. Having attended the forum, she has since become a respected referee and leader within the rugby community — a clear example of how opportunity and support can change trajectories.

Rugby’s ripple effect

The Grassroots to Global campaign didn’t just empower individuals; it sparked a movement for leadership and inclusion across Victoria and beyond. By bringing together diverse voices, the forums provide safe spaces to recognise potential, exchange ideas, and build connections that transcended borders.

As the next G2G Forum approaches, Mel remains committed to fostering a new generation of leaders. “Grassroots to Global is proof that when we come together to share, learn, and support, we can achieve extraordinary things,” she says.

Continuing the movement

Both Kamana Giri and Mel Kawa have played instrumental roles in the 2025 G2G Series. Mel has extended her impact as a trainer supporting other forums across the 2025 Series, and by leading Rugby Victoria to host the final forum of the series in Melbourne last month.

Delegates from both Nepal and Rugby Victoria will now join this week’s G2G Connect in Sunderland, where the movement will continue to grow under the leadership of Kamana, Mel, and the many others they are opening doors for.

Kamana (second from the left) at the Grassroots to Global Forum in Nepal in March 2025