Prevention Through Sport Funding Announcement – Media Release

Thanks to funding support from the Victorian State Governments, Preventing Violence Through Sport grants program, South West Sport will set out to take a whole of sport approach to preventing violence against women and embedding gender equality in community sport.

The organisation has partnered with Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West and Brophy Family and Youth Services and will support clubs, leagues, and associations across the southwest region to progress gender equality in their own sporting settings.

The organisation has long had a focus on gender equality; however, they have welcomed the dedicated funding,which will allow them to implement Our Watch’s, Equality and Respect in Sport Standards within their own organisation, as well as support the community sport sector in the south west to undertake this important work as well.

Executive Officer Marc Tims said, “This is an exciting progression for our organisation to be recognised for our renewed focus on diversity and inclusion, gender equity, and holistic wellbeing in influencing community sport and recreation for future focus and sustainability.”

The dedicated funding will mean that the organisation can contribute to the prevention of violence against women within the region in a meaningful and sustainable way.

Team Leader Ashleigh Glennon said, “she was excited about community sport's potential to drive social and cultural change within the south west and that the organisation would be looking for individuals, clubs, leagues, and associations that want to be a part of that change.”  

The organisation hopes to build upon this investmentby attracting additional funds to support the development of a local ‘champions of change’ model, allowing them to deliver training and support to empower individuals to champion gender equality within their own sporting setting. 

The team encourages anyone who wants to know more to register to attend the Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West, Respect 2040, Turning Evidence into Action Webinar on July 13th. South West Sport will be presenting on their new project, Community Sport: an equal playing field, and providing an update on how you can be a part of the change of embedding gender equality in sport.