Australian women face significant risk when disclosing gender-based violence in sport and often receive inadequate or harmful responses according to new research from La Trobe Univeristy.
The research project, supported by the IOC Olympic Studies Centre under its Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme, found current integrity structures built for doping or match fixing are not suitable for addressing gender-based violence.
The findings have driven the development of a new, evidence-based toolkit designed to assist sport organisations in creating safer, more supportive environments for women and gender-diverse people.
The research team consisted of experts from La Trobe, the University of Sydney and Victoria University. They interviewed 27 women and gender-diverse people to understand their experiences of disclosing violence in sport.
“I did say what happened and then nobody believed me. They were like, ‘I just don’t think he would have done that’,” one woman disclosing gender-based violence said.
“It was like this really traumatic thing. I think I only played one or two more games last year … because I felt really uncomfortable,” another participant said.
The participants called for independent, trauma-informed complaint pathways and meaningful accountability, not just symbolic actions.
The research team also interviewed 18 policy developers, integrity managers and staff to explore how systems operate in practice and the challenges faced by those who implement them. Those working in policy development and administration at sporting organisations also recognised significant challenges in current systems and structures.
“The systems are still written by those who don’t understand,” one policy administrator said.
Associate Professor Kirsty Forsdike, the project’s lead researcher and Associate Dean Research and Industry Engagement at the La Trobe Rural Health School, said the findings provided a roadmap for policy and practice improvements, both in Australia and internationally.
“Women advocated for pathways that were independent, transparent, supportive and victim-survivor-centred, backed by a sporting culture that no longer tolerates silence, disbelief or impunity,” Dr Forsdike said.
“The Safe to Speak, Bound to Act toolkit provides clear frameworks for readiness, policy design, education and support for responders, aiming to move beyond compliance and create victim-survivor centred pathways.
“With this toolkit, Australian sport can take a vital step towards a future where every woman feels safe, heard and empowered – on and off the field.”
Access the toolkit: http://www.safersport.org/safetospeak
