The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre & AFL Barwon form partnership

AFL Barwon is excited to announce that The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre (The SAFV Centre) will become a community partner of AFL Barwon for the next three seasons.

The partnership will be centred around the execution of the Respect Starts Here program which will work with selected AFL Barwon clubs to promote equality and awareness to address violence against women.

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”.

“For us as an organisation, we believe our role within the community is more than sport administrators but rather, we hold a responsibility to provide growth and development opportunities that enable everyone to be the best version of their self, both on and off the court and field”.

Helen Bolton, CEO, The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre (The SAFV Centre) said:

“We are pleased to partner with AFL Barwon to continue implementing our Respect Starts Here program in local sporting clubs. This partnership reaffirms both organisation’s commitment to health and wellbeing, including creating safe and respectful communities.”

“Preventing violence against women is everyone’s business. Sporting clubs are a key setting of connection and belonging among local communities and as influential leaders are well placed to create gender equal environments which promote respect, inclusion, and safety.”

“Respect Starts Here supports clubs to promote gender equality and address violence against women. The program delivers tailored actions to promote gender equality within the club, its community, players, coaches, and volunteers.”

“The program is targeted towards local sporting clubs in the Barwon area, engaging players and members through interactive workshops where participants increase their understanding of violence against women, the gendered drivers of violence and how we can prevent it. Participants will walk away with strategies and tools on how they can intervene when witness to disrespectful behaviour.”

The SAFV Centre overview

The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre is a community based, not-for-profit service, offering free, confidential trauma-informed sexual assault and family violence services across the Barwon, Wimmera, and Western Melbourne areas of Victoria.

Operating for 45 years in the Barwon area and in the Wimmera district since 2013, we are a trusted, specialist organisation offering trauma-informed, therapeutic support and advice that is evidence-based, and grounded in a feminist intersectional approach.