Clubs kick off Respect Starts Here Program for 2024

AFL Barwon in partnership with The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre have commenced the third iteration of the Respect Starts Here Program, a program that supports Football and Netball clubs across the Barwon region to progress gender equality and promote respect within Clubs and Communities. All clubs who participate in the program are working towards a shared goal of creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive club that supports all its members to thrive in their sport and their communities.

Respect Starts Here originally commenced as a pilot program with Geelong West Giants Football Netball Club in 2022, reaching 233 players and coaches. Program participant and Giants Chair, Sarah Naylor, is a strong advocate for Respect Starts Here and has said that that any club in the Barwon region would “benefit immensely from taking part in the program”. Naylor has found the program to be beneficial for her club, positively impacting the behaviour and attitudes players and members.

The program has evolved since the initial pilot, with AFL Barwon clubs are now offered a choice between two streams. The introductory stream, Getting Started, supports clubs who are in the foundational stages of exploring what gender equality means for them. The second stream, All In, is suited for clubs that are ready and have capacity to go all-in. Both streams help clubs to identify goals and actions to support gender equality and build on the capacity of members to stand up for equality and respect within the club.

Ocean Grove Football Netball Club (OGFNC) undertook All In over the 2023 season resulting in several positive actions, such as the appointment of a Club Culture & Wellbeing team. The program had a powerful impact on the Club Action Group, whose members expressed feeling more “switched on” at the club when it came to recognising how things could be improved and done more inclusively.

Highlighting the importance of gender equality and education for sports, an OGFNC club participant who attended the Active Bystander Workshop emphasised that “it matters in every setting, and by making a stance and educating people, we can work towards building a society that respects everyone.” 

The Respect Starts Here Program has reached over 420 club participants over the first two years which is set to expand in 2024, thanks to the support of the Geelong Community Foundation. The 2024 version of the program launched last night at Geelong West Football Netball Club where it was announced that six AFL Barwon clubs will begin participating in one of the two streams of the program this year. Geelong West Giants, Drysdale and Newcomb will undertake the All In program, with Portarlington, Bell Park, and St Albans taking part in the Getting Started stream. AFL Barwon staff will also be taking part in the Respect Starts Here Program this season.

Michelle Gerdtz, the first Female Chair of AFL Barwon, congratulated the clubs involved in the program and expressed that “The Respect Starts Here program is of vital importance, now more than ever before. We simply cannot accept the rates of violence against women.” Gerdtz also highlighted that sporting clubs are seen as a safe space and are “an ideal setting to foster wellbeing, connectedness, and openness”. Gerdtz encourages everyone to “remember that preventing violence against women is everyone's responsibility”. 

AFL Barwon Region General Manager, Edward Wilson pointed out the importance of AFL Barwon’s partnership with The SAFV Centre. Wilson expressed that “AFL Barwon is proud to share a long-term community partnership with The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre (The SAFV Centre), who are an important community leader in driving needed change. The Respect Starts Here program is a significant community engagement every year, to ensure members of our affiliated Football Netball Clubs, are respectful members of the community, who can also drive this needed change”.

The SAFV Centre and AFL Barwon encourage any additional clubs who are looking to participate in the Respect Starts Here Program to register their interest here.