Tonight, St Kilda AFL player Xavier Clarke is speaking at a leadership forum as part of AFL Victoria’s pilot delivery of the AFL’s Respect and Responsibility (R&R) program.
The program called Fair Game, is funded by VicHealth and is being piloted at a local level through the Northern Football League.
This is the first time that any state sporting code in Australia is implementing a program to make club environments more inclusive of women, people with disabilities and people from diverse cultures. It is also about preventing demeaning and violent behaviour towards women.
“AFL Victoria recognises all forms of violence against women as a serious health risk,” says AFL Victoria’s Female Football Manager Chyloe Kurdas.
“This is part of our commitment to contribute to the health and wellbeing of our community, by providing supportive and inclusive environments for everyone.”
It’s not just about getting more women coming along as fans to increase attendance numbers – although Kurdas admits that will be another positive outcome.
“It’s about making the environment safer for women who are involved in other ways – improved female change-rooms, better lighting, more responsible serving of alcohol at club venues,” she says.
Dr Melanie Heenan, VicHealth’s Manager Preventing Violence Against Women, agrees that AFL Victoria’s work is building on the ground-breaking initiative by the AFL on a national level.
“There is no place for attitudes which tolerate violence or any form of abusive behaviour towards women in footy or anywhere else.”
“Leaders in sports and other areas from politics to business and across the community can positively promote the benefits of developing relationships based on mutual respect.”
“Evidence shows that violence against women is the leading contributor to health problems in women aged 15-44. This is very serious and changing attitudes and behaviours is part of the solution,” Dr Heenan says.
Attending the leadership forum will be club drivers - key club executives and identities - who are piloting the program in their respective clubs, as well as club coaches and captains.
The 'club drivers' are half-way through their training and have followed the same R & R training that all AFL players go through.
The Respect and Responsibility program finishes with a special event in October at the MCG.