Sydney Olympic FC receives NSW funding to promote respect and safety through sport

Sydney Olympic Football Club has been awarded funding under the NSW Government’s Game on for Change program to help prevent domestic, family and sexual violence through sport. The funding was announced by NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper and will support the club in building safer, more respectful and inclusive environments for women. The initiative focuses on specialised training for coaches, managers and staff to recognise and challenge harmful attitudes, language and behaviour, while promoting positive team cultures.

Sydney Olympic FC Director Rodolf Salem said the club was proud to take part in a program that recognises the influence sporting organisations can have on community attitudes. “Football clubs are about much more than what happens on the pitch. They are communities where people learn about leadership, teamwork, respect and how we treat one another,” Salem said.

“This funding will help us give our coaches and leaders the knowledge and practical skills they need to challenge harmful behaviour, promote equality and ensure everyone connected to Sydney Olympic feels respected, valued and safe. “We want positive leadership and respectful behaviour to be embedded across every level of the club, from our youngest players through to our senior teams.” The Game on for Change program aims to equip sporting organisations to address the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to violence before it occurs. It supports clubs to promote gender equality and inclusion, strengthen leadership and active-bystander skills, and build partnerships with violence-prevention specialists.

As part of the initiative, Sydney Olympic FC will work with Zahia Community Innovators to deliver training and resources for coaches and club leaders, with the program beginning this month. Zizi Charida from Zahia said the focus would be on creating lasting cultural change rather than a one-off session. “This is about building a shared standard of leadership and behaviour that becomes part of the everyday culture of Sydney Olympic FC,” Charida said.

“Our coaches are important role models. By supporting them to lead respectful and inclusive teams, we can positively influence players, families and the wider community.” Advertising1 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The post Sydney Olympic FC receives NSW funding to promote respect and safety through sport appeared fi…