Netball Victoria has made significant strides in its commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community by extending its partnership with Australia’s largest inclusive sporting club, Queer Sporting Alliance (QSA), for an additional two years.
This extension builds upon the successful collaboration between the two organisations, including the Q League competition, training and education, and the National Sports tournament. It will provide opportunity to deepen their efforts in creating a more inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community in sport.
As part of the extended agreement, Netball Victoria will continue to provide financial support to QSA’s netball initiatives, as well as access to key netball-specific resources aimed at developing competition and participation opportunities.
In return, QSA will continue to offer education, consultation, and guidance to Netball Victoria, ensuring the sport remains as inclusive, accessible, and safe as possible for participants across the state.
QSA's primary mission is to foster an environment where marginalised communities and folk disengaged from netball feel welcomed in sports, especially offering access to community sport for individuals who may have previously disengaged from physical activity.
Netball Victoria Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Tanya Gamble said:
“We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Queer Sporting Alliance for two more years.
“This partnership is an important part of our ongoing commitment to providing a safe and welcoming space for members of the LGBTQ+ community within netball across the state.”
Queer Sporting Alliance Executive Director Bindy Cohen said:
"Netball Victoria models how meaningful allyship from a peak sporting body should be done.
“From our first conversation with the Netball Victoria crew in 2023, we immediately knew we were building a special relationship, not only for the rainbow community wanting to get involved in netball, but more broadly to the clubs and players our advice would positively impact.
“The netball catch cry of "here if you need" really sums up our close relationship with Netball Victoria, a two-way street of care.
“Ongoing support will mean more people having the opportunity to grab a netball for the very first time on courts that strive for safer and more welcoming environments.
“Myself and the QSA family are so excited for what we can build upon over the next two years."
Over the past five years, Netball Victoria has aligned with the national Pride in Sport Index and recently achieved Gold status for the third consecutive year.
The index is an independently administered national benchmarking system used to assess LGBTQ+ inclusion within Australian sport, offering national and state sporting organisations the opportunity to have their LGBTQ+ initiatives, programs, and policies reviewed and measured.
