Netball Victoria is proud to have received a silver ranking in the 2022 Pride in Sport Index, a national benchmarking instrument created by the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Sports Commission.
The Index is the first and only initiative designed specifically to assess the level of inclusion of people of diverse sexualities and genders within Australian sporting organisations and sporting codes.
Following a participation ranking in 2021, this year’s outcome is a significant step up and reflects Netball Victoria’s efforts as a leading state sporting body to ensure netball is a safe and inclusive environment for all participants, from grassroots to the elite level.
New initiatives since the previous Index ranking include the addition of resources and access to support services through the Netball Victoria website, the development of a draft Policy for the Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, a more inclusive member registration process, more inclusive recruitment practices, adding pronouns to staff email signatures, and the first Pride Tee available season-long as part of the Melbourne Vixens’ merchandise offering.
Netball Victoria also provides LGBT+ awareness training to staff and affiliates, is a member of Pride in Sport, Proud2Play and the Rainbow Sport Alliance and hosts an annual Pride Round in the Victorian Netball League.
As the state’s governing body for one of the highest participation sports in the country, Netball Victoria welcomes the responsibility to drive an agenda of inclusion and support in our game. We encourage and offer our support to our affiliates, from leagues and associations to clubs, to do the same.
Netball Victoria Community and Junior Development Manager, Tanya Gamble was pleased with the organisation’s progress and celebration of the LGBT+ community.
“I’m proud of what we have achieved as an organisation in building inclusive environments throughout the Victorian netball community, and our Pride in Sport Index ranking is a reflection of that work,” she said.
“We also recognise that there is plenty more to do in this space, and we’re continually striving for improvement to ensure netball is a safe and welcoming space for all participants.”
Supported by RACV, this year’s VNL Pride Round will take place on Wednesday 18 May.
Read more about this initiative, and tune in to Melbourne University Lightning taking on Casey Demons via our livestream on the Netball Victoria Facebook page and Kayo Sports tomorrow night.
