Jennifer Pittorino
Former Western Bulldogs premiership player Tom Boyd is joining forces with community and gender equality organisations in the west to improve inclusivity, respect and safety at local community footy clubs.
Mr Boyd will be speaking at the workshops as part of the Champions of the West, a program funded by Sport and Recreation Victoria’s preventing violence through sports grants program.
Champions of the West engages local community football club leaders and players to increase understanding of the links between gender inequality and gender-based violence.
The program includes gender equality advocates GenWest, Women’s Health Grampians, the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation and the Western Region Football League.
GenWest chief executive Dale Wakefield said GenWest’s family violence team supports tens of thousands of victim survivors every year. The Footscray-based organisation is a family violence support service.
“More than one woman a week has been killed as a result of family and gender-based violence in Australia so far this year,” Ms Wakefield said.
“Gender inequality is the key driver of gender-based violence. It’s a serious public health issue.
“Programs like Champions of the West are crucial for preventing gender-based violence before it occurs.”
Mr Boyd said community sporting clubs are in many ways a cornerstone of communities. He said they are uniquely placed to bring forth topics to focus on that will improve society.
“At the end of the day, we want our clubs to be places that can unlock the potential of as many people as possible, and help them thrive,” he said.
“These sessions are a great opportunity to bring people together to talk on things that are of grave importance, and bring it to the forefront of people’s minds leading into a
great year of football.”
The sessions will be delivered in early 2024.
If you’re experiencing family violence and need support or want to know more about gender equality programs in the west, visit genwest.org.au.
