Regional Sport Victoria (RSV) is thrilled to announce that four Regional Sport Assemblies (RSA’s) have been awarded part of the recently announced $1.8 million from the Victorian Government to support community sport clubs to engage with young people and deliver initiatives to prevent violence against women.

On top of this, RSV will work in partnership with Football Victoria (FV) to implement the Change Makers project to empower and support 60 football clubs state-wide to design and implement gender equity plans.

South West Sport and GippSport have both received the grant for their respective projects. With Sports Focus and Leisure Networks partnering with La Trobe University for their project. As well as Leisure Networks partnering with La Trobe University and The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre (SAFV) for their projects.

South West Sport, in partnership with Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West and Brophy Family and Youth Services, will introduce their campaign: Community Sport: An equal playing field.

Executive Officer of South West Sport Marc Tims said how delighted he was for South West Sport to receive grants for addressing this important subject.

“I’m grateful that we have acquired the opportunity to provide a safe and equal environment for all participants in community sport in our region,” Tims said.

“This project is critical in shifting the attitudes within community sport and continuing to work towards achieving gender balance.

We work extremely hard with all of our regional clubs, and to assist them with an equal playing field is something we’re looking forward to achieving.”

GippSport, in partnership with Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault and Gippsland Women’s Health, will introduce the Preventing Violence through Sport across Gippsland utilising the established Orange Round Campaign.

Executive Officer of GippSport Daniel Poynton was thrilled to expand on the successful Orange Round Campaign across Gippsland.

“Our partnership with such trusted organisations within our Gippsland community will continue to raise awareness in taking a stand against family violence and men’s violence against women and children,” Poynton said.

“Orange Round last year was such a massive success in showcasing gender equity in sport, so now that we can push further, raising awareness across a broader range of sports and more widely across Gippsland.

We’re really looking forward to working with the Victorian Government and our partners to bring this project into reality.”

Two more organisations are partnering with RSAs to help spread their projects into regional Victoria. Sports Focus and Leisure Networks are partnering with La Trobe University to introduce their project: Supporting the Readiness of Regional Sports to prevent and respond to Family Violence and Violence Against Women.

Leisure Networks are also partnering with The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre to introduce Leaders on and off the field – Respect starts here.

These programs are part of the Government’s strategy to prevent family violence, and the grants will support new and existing sport partnerships to develop and deliver gender equality action plans, gender equity and prevention of violence against women workshops, and bystander action training.

In Football Victoria’s Strategic Plan 2019-22, women and girls are a key focus. With a bold strategic objective to reach 50:50 gender equity by 2027. Intending to roll out this plan state-wide, Football Victoria has joined forces with RSV to extend the project further into regional Victoria.

Speaking about the grant, General Manager of RSV Meghan Mayman said that the funding will go a long way to helping these regional sporting clubs become successful in addressing this vital subject.

“We look forward to working with Football Victoria and Victoria University to deliver this project in our regional communities.” Mayman said.

“It’s important to challenge these attitudes and remove them from the sports we love.”

Minister for Community Sport and Prevention of Family Violence Ros Spence noted how important these grants are for community sporting clubs.

“Our community sporting clubs can play a vital role in shifting attitudes and clubs like these are leading the way, creating opportunities to address inequality and promote safe environments for all to get active,” Spence said.

CLICK HERE  for the full press release by the Victorian Government.