Preventing Violence Through Sport Grants Program

Program description  

Since its inception in 2022, the Preventing Violence Through Sport Grants Program has supported sport and prevention organisations across Victoria to design and deliver primary prevention programs for local sporting clubs promoting a culture that prevents gender-based violence.  

This program acknowledged the enormous capacity that community sport has to influence positive behaviours and attitudes and to prevent all forms of violence against women.  

This program provided funding of up to $300,000 over three years for partnership projects that could:  

• build the capacity of community sport and recreation to address the gendered drivers of family violence, sexual violence and all forms of violence against women in their communities  
• implement the Safe and Inclusive Sport: Preventing gender-based violence guide  
• build networks and partnerships between community sport and recreation and primary prevention experts.  

 The program funded projects in the reporting period, including:  

• Champions of the West: Levelling the Playing Field for Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse Footy Players in Melbourne’s West– led by GenWest in partnership with the Western Bulldogs Football Club, the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation, the Western Football Netball League and Women’s Health Grampians – has worked with local communities to develop gender equity action plans and provide club education.  
• ‘Supporting the readiness of regional sports to prevent and respond to family violence and violence against women’ – led by La Trobe University in partnership with Sports Focus, Leisure Networks, No to Violence, Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria and Safe and Equal – has created practical and relevant videos and posters to upskill clubs in how to undertake primary prevention of and respond to gender-based violence.  

Insights  

As of December 2024, the program had reached 167 clubs (including 2 professional clubs) and 13,543 people including 5,709 young people. It had created 54 gender equity action plans, and 120 gender equity and active bystander trainings had been completed.  

The program has been evaluated by Monash University. Key findings include that:  

• it is essential to embed partnership within the funding model, as neither the prevention nor sport sector have the expertise alone  
• sport is a key setting to engage men and boys, but it is essential that women and gender diverse people’s experiences inform the work.  

Post-workshop surveys were also completed. After one workshop, participants noted increased confidence and understanding of gender equality with:  

• 91% of respondents feeling more aware of sexist comments or language with gender bias, and trying to change this  
• 86% feeling their knowledge had increased about gender equality.   

Footnotes