Geelong Community Foundation show incredible support for Respect Starts Here program

The Geelong Community Foundation will fund an incredible $1.34million in community grants this year with one of the most significant grants awarded to The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre (The SAFV Centre), a community based, not-for-profit service, offering free, confidential trauma-informed sexual assault and family violence services across the Barwon region.

The $76,000 grant funded over two years will support the ‘Respect Starts Here’ program, a primary prevention initiative targeted at community leaders and change-makers, aged 14-years and older.

Geelong Community Foundation CEO Gail Rodgers, said that reported family violence incidents in the Geelong region have increased over the last 12 months along with breaches of family violence orders.

“The impact of family violence is far reaching and affects mental health, exacerbates problem alcohol and drug use along with a number of other social consequences. Attitudes need to change and the ‘Respect Starts Here’ program is an initiative that we have funded in order to support this change,” she said.

“The plan to work with local sporting clubs to build awareness and understanding of the drivers and impact of sexual and family violence is an important initiative. We all have a role to play in creating safe and supportive environments and the Geelong Community Foundation’s funding of this program will support members of football and netball clubs across the region to build their skills and confidence to speak up and challenge disrespectful behaviour.”

According to The SAFV Centre, sexual and family violence is a serious problem that affects individuals of all genders, ages and backgrounds. In Australia, statistics show that 1-in-5 women and 1-in-20 men experience sexual assault in their lifetime and on average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner. These statistics demonstrate the need for primary prevention measures in the community. The vision of this project is for Barwon communities to be respectful, safe, and underpinned by gender equality.

The SAFV Centre CEO Helen Bolton, said that the aim of the initiative was to strengthen participants’ awareness and understanding of sexual and family violence, and the drivers of violence against women.

“This includes the link between gender inequality and the attitudes and behaviours that form the foundation for sexual and family violence within our community,” she said.

“The program is offered in two streams, allowing clubs to participate at different levels: introductory or advanced. The program is focused on promoting gender equality in sport, supporting clubs through the delivery of active bystander workshops that equip members and players with strategies and tools to challenge casual sexism, gendered expectations, and the condoning of sexual and family violence. “

Through funding from the Geelong Community Foundation, The SAFV Centre, in partnership with AFL Barwon, is able to offer ‘Respect Starts Here’ free of charge to local football and netball clubs. Registration for the 2024 season is open until the 8 August, and registration forms are available through The SAFV Centre and AFL Barwon websites. 

“Sporting clubs and institutions are priority areas for addressing violence against women given that sport is an influential and integral part of Australian culture and identity.”

“Sporting teams, clubs and associations have an important role to play in the prevention of violence against women at both an individual level and more broadly as influential organisations and workplaces. Sporting clubs can hold a lot of influence over their local community and therefore is able to challenge the attitudes and behaviours that allow violence to occur.”

AFL Barwon, Region General Manager Edward Wilson stated, “AFL Barwon is proud to align our values with a community organisation that embodies similar beliefs in tackling significant societal issues.”

Operating for over 45 years in the Barwon area, The SAFV Centre is a trusted specialist organisation supporting its communities in need, offering a range of specialist support services for people impacted by sexual and family violence as well as support services for victims of crime.

As one of the largest standalone specialist sexual assault and family violence organisations, with more than 140 employees, The SAFV Centre provides free and confidential case management support to women and children experiencing family violence. It provides free and confidential trauma-informed counselling and a range of therapeutic group programs to address the impacts of trauma from sexual and family violence. They also provide practical assistance, advocacy and case management support for all victims of crime.

The SAFV Centre also offers professional training and its Primary Prevention team designs and delivers innovative projects which are informed by and contribute to the evidence base about what works to prevent violence from occurring in the first place.

To date, Respect Starts Here workshops have built the capacity of over 350 players, coaches and volunteers in local sporting clubs to speak up against disrespectful attitudes and behaviours. The pilot project with Geelong West Giants Football and Netball Team, funded by Give Where You Live, provided the following feedback:

“Workshop was amazing, I loved it and think this program is not only beneficial but necessary in order to create change in our society…”

“Please go around to every single school/sporting club/workplace etc in Geelong and present this presentation this was so educational and I think a lot of the younger and older generation can benefit greatly from this. Keep up this amazing work!!”

Family violence causes significant physical, emotional, psychological and financial harm to those who experience it. Gender inequality creates the social conditions for family violence to occur. Attitudes need to change and the ‘Respect Starts Here’ program is an initiative that we have funded in order to support this change,” she said.