Vicsport, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, and Sport and Recreation Victoria have collaborated on two new guides and a video to help sporting clubs and players to stand up against racism and create safer, more inclusive sporting clubs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from multicultural and multifaith backgrounds.
Recent high-profile instances of racism in sport have highlighted this issue, and sporting clubs at all levels are increasingly coming to understand the impact of racism on individual players and the culture within the club.
Under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, it's against the law to treat someone unfavourably in sport because of a personal characteristic, like a person's race or ethnic background.
The new guides Racism is against the rules and the video Taking a stand against racism in sport are designed to help players, coaches, managers, administrators and supporters to better understand the harm caused by racism, their rights and obligations under Victorian law, and what they can do to stop racism from occurring.
Download the quick guides
Racism in Sport Quick Guide for Players (PDF, 190KB)
Racism in Sport Quick Guide for Clubs (PDF, 225KB)
You can contact the Commission to find out more information. Email enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au or call our Enquiry Line on 1300 292 153.
Have you experienced discrimination?
If players do experience discrimination or vilification through their sports and recreation activities, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission's complaints service offers free, fair and timely dispute resolution.
People can also call up for information on how to respond to racism in sport or to make an anonymous report. The complaints service can be contacted on 1300 292 153, enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au or with an online complaint form.
Fair go, sport! - Phase 2
About Phase 2
Four additional sports and their respective state sporting associations were involved in Fair go, sport! Phase 2. Here, they undertookthe following broad strategies:
Maintain momentum and respond to community interest
provide information and collateral to Victorian state sporting associations (SSAs), sporting clubs and others with an interest or commitment to promoting diversity
share learning and promote the project
Build sustainability within hockey to generate lasting cultural change
support the practice of Hockey Victoria and the initial project advocates
develop a peer mentoring approach that enables initial project advocates to mentor project advocates in another four to six pilot clubs
link all project advocates to capacity building resources and support
trial and refine the flexible model of engagement developed through Phase 1
Extend reach into another sporting code
support Cycling Victoria to adopt the flexible model and implement a sustainable project
Strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, SRV and VicHealth
Evaluate and report
evaluate effectiveness of Phase 2 and produce evaluation and project reports.
The project was funded by the Department of Community Development and Planning (Sport and Recreation Victoria), VicHealth and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University will evaluate the project.
For more information about this project please contact us at education@veohrc.vic.gov.au.
Commencing in March 2010, Phase 1 of the project is now complete.
This project aimed to increase awareness of sexual and gender diversity and to promote safe and inclusive environments in hockey; and develop a flexible model of engagement that can be adapted for other sporting codes and their governing bodies. Using an asset-based action learning approach, the project:
engaged key stakeholders in identifying existing policies, codes and procedures, and map experiences, practices, attitudes and perceptions in order to develop pilot interventions at all levels of hockey
implemented, with key stakeholders, pilot interventions to promote safe and inclusive environments and reduce homophobia
developed a flexible model for creating safe and inclusive environments in hockey that can be transferable to other sports.
Fair go, sport! Literature review (PDF) | (RTF)
Fair go, sport! Evaluation report (PDF) | (RTF)
Fair go, sport! Model of engagement (PDF)
The project was funded by the Australian Sports Commission and managed by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission through our project manager, Peter Gourlay.
The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University evaluated the project.
education@veohrc.vic.gov.au
Fair go, sport!
Research shows sport is a significant site of homophobic harassment, discrimination and exclusion.
The Australian Government report, The future of sport in Australia, identified the need to understand these issues and create new opportunities for inclusion and participation.
With this in mind, the Australian Sports Commission funded Fair go, sport! in 2010.
This project aimed to:
increase awareness of sexual and gender diversity
promote safe and inclusive environments
develop a flexible model of engagement that can be adapted for other sporting codes and their governing bodies.
The project now has four components:
Fair go, sport! Phase 1: Our original work with Hockey Victoria and Hockey Australia, completed in December 2011, developed a peer mentoring approach to support project advocates.
Fair go, sport! Phase 2: Commenced in June 2012, this Phase worked with four additional state sporting associations (Basketball, Cycling, Football and Skate Victoria / Roller Derby) and consolidated the achievements in Hockey
Fair go, sport! Reservoir High School: In 2012 we applied the FGS model and approaches within the school's sport, health and physical education programs.
Fair go, sport! Schools: Commencing in 2013/14, Whittlesea Secondary College, Castlemaine Secondary College and Keilor Downs College have been implementing the project and developing strategies for inclusion in school sport.