Initiatives aim to increase inclusiveness through sport

LOCAL and statewide initiatives aimed at building safe and inclusive sporting communities have been launched in Geelong.

As part of Family Violence Prevention Month, the Respect in Action – Building Safe and Inclusive Sport event welcomed more than 80 representatives from local councils, regional sports assemblies, sport leagues and associations, community clubs, prevention sector and government to showcase three new pieces of work happening across sporting clubs and regional facilities.

This work will help progress gender equality and contribute to the prevention of gender-based violence in the community.

Sport and Recreation Victoria presented its new guide, Safe and Inclusive Sport: Preventing gender-based violence, Kardinia Park Stadium Trust announced their Respect at Our Stadium action plan, and The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre’s (The SAFV Centre) shared its new Respect Starts Here video resources.

The event, which took place at GMHBA Stadium earlier this month, was led by Reuben Williams, sexual assault victim survivor and founder of SportsGrad.

Speakers included Parliamentary Secretary for Men’s Behaviour Change Tim Richardson.

“Sport has the power to shape attitudes and influence change,” Mr Richardson said.

“By fostering safe and inclusive environments, we can challenge harmful behaviours and build a culture of respect – on and off the field.

“These initiatives are a vital step in preventing gender-based violence and promoting equality in every club and community.”

Respect Starts Here is a whole-of-club program that supports gender equality, promotes respect in the community and contributes to the prevention of violence against women.

It works with clubs to identify and break gendered stereotypes and builds participants’ skills to be active bystanders, calling out harmful and disrespectful attitudes and behaviours.

“Gender equality in sport matters,” The SAFV Centre chief executive officer Kerriann Campbell Jones said.

“Our Respect Starts Here program is dedicated to taking action to promote respect and equality, and challenge disrespectful attitudes and behaviours in sporting clubs.”

Safe and Inclusive Sport: Preventing gender-based violence provides 10 guiding principles, case studies and practical tools to support state sporting associations, regional sports assemblies, women’s health and community health services, local councils, and other organisations working together to develop and implement prevention of gender-based violence projects in community sport settings.

Respect at Our Stadium aims to address some of the behaviours and attitudes that drive gender-based violence, some of which can occur in a stadium setting.

“We will collaborate with our Victorian government partners and primary-prevention agencies to evolve the offering but most importantly, we will bring our venue hirers and the fans – our community on the journey with us,” Kardinia Park Stadium Trust CEO Gerard Griffin said.

For more information on Sport and Recreation Victoria’s new guide, head to sport.vic.gov.au/resources/safe-and-inclusive-sport-preventing-gender-based-violence