Melbourne Storm have embarked on a new initiative to raise awareness of and help prevent violence against women in the community.
The Storm ‘Stand Up, Speak Out and Take Action’ initiative has been supported by the Victorian Government’s Preventing Violence Through Sport Grants Program.
Storm has partnered with Our Watch, a national leader in the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia, and the NRL to support the delivery of prevention workshops and develop the Club’s first Gender Equity Action Plan.
Speaking at the Our Watch and Department of Sport and Recreation Community of Practice today, Storm CEO Justin Rodski outlined plans the club is putting in place to help address the issues of gender equity and violence against women.
“There is never a time or place for violence against women. Sadly, the statistics of gender-based violence in the community still remain unacceptably high,” Rodski said.
We know as a high-profile sporting club we have a role to play to raise awareness of these issues. Through this new initiative, we believe we can influence the opinions and behaviours of men and women and to make a real difference in the community.
Justin Rodski CEO, Melbourne Storm
“Storm is not the expert in addressing the issue of gender-based violence, which is why we have partnered with Our Watch and the NRL in delivering this program from the grassroots to the elite participants in our game.”
Over the next 12 to 18 months, Our Watch will deliver their ‘Equality and Respect in Sport’ training to Storm and NRL Victoria staff, players and coaches while also helping to develop a Gender Equity Action Plan for the club.
The NRL will deliver the high-successful ‘Voice Against Violence’ program to all community rugby league clubs over this period as well.
The ‘Stand up, Speak Out and Take Action’ initiative adds to the foundations set by the club earlier in the year with the formation of the Women of Storm program and joining forces with equidi, a world-first platform helping organisations to close the gender pay gap.
All three initiatives will help the club to celebrate the contribution of women at Storm and the Sunshine Coast Lightning, while giving voice to the women and men fighting for positive change, inclusiveness and equality.
NRL Community Innovations Program Manager and former NRL player, Alan Tongue, said the Voice Against Violence program is opening the conversation on what is a difficult discussion to have in the community.
“The skills, values and commitment that it takes to be successful in rugby league, or any sport, are the same life skills that you need to be successful in life,” Tongue said.
I hope that at the end of this program, our young men understand the impact they can have on so many people and that we have an opportunity to shape and change actions in the community.
Alan Tongue NRL Community Innovation Program Manager
“Storm have always shown great leadership on and off the field with a strong culture and a set of values that has clearly had an impact on the lives of so many. To be able to partner with them on this project will give us the best chance to send the message to everyone that there is no place for violence against women, any time or in any place.”
