Respect starts here – Promoting respect on and off the field
After receiving a $39,774 Survive & Thrive grant, over the past year, The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre has delivered the ‘Respect Starts Here’ sexual assault and family violence prevention project.
The project was delivered to Geelong West Giants Football & Netball club and focused on increasing players and members awareness of sexual assault and family violence including understanding what the key drivers of gendered violence are and how to promote gender equality and healthy respectful relationships. A series of workshops and presentations were delivered to over 230 participants introducing the 5 D’s of bystander action which equipped participants with strategies to call out disrespectful behaviour.
An evaluation report found 88% of workshop and presentation participants have increased confidence to intervene if witnessing disrespectful behaviours.
In reflecting on the benefit of the program, Sarah Naylor, Chair and General Football Manager, Geelong West Giants said,
“The funding from Give Where You Live was amazing. The program wouldn’t have happened without the funding and the impact that it’s had on our club, I can only hope that there’s more funding for these programs because I want every other club to be able to experience what we have and see that shift in the culture of the club.
We’ve seen a real shift just in the attitude of players and members. It’s a lot more respectful. Rather than the normal change room banter… you usually get in a male dominated sport. I don’t hear that anymore. People are a lot more respectful towards women as well.”
Katie Wright, Executive Manager Strategy & Impact, Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre said the program was made possible thanks to funding from the Foundation.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the funding from Give Where You Live. It has provided us with a fantastic opportunity to expand our prevention work around sexual assault and family violence into the sporting space.”
