Netball Victoria has made more progress in its commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community by entering a formal partnership with Australia’s largest inclusive sporting club, Queer Sporting Alliance.
The partnership will solidify recent work between the two organisations that has developed within the last 12 months, including the establishment of QSA’s inaugural netball competition: Q League.
As part of the agreement, Netball Victoria will financially assist QSA’s netball offering, while also providing access to netball-specific resources to help develop competition and participation opportunities.
In turn, QSA will provide education, consultation and support to Netball Victoria, to ensure the sport is as inclusive, accessible and safe as possible for participants across the state.
As an organisation, QSA’s primary purpose is to ensure people from the LGBTIQA+ community feel welcome in sporting environments, providing access and participation opportunities in community sport, particularly for those who have disengaged from activity.
“We’re thrilled to officially welcome Queer Sporting Alliance to the Netball Victoria family and continue our commitment to providing a safe and welcoming space for members of the LGBTQ+ community in netball right across the state,” said Netball Victoria Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Tanya Gamble.
“This partnership is incredibly important to Netball Victoria’s learning and development in the LGBTQ+ space and we will rely on the expertise and lived experience of those involved in QSA to help educate our netball community and advise us as we implement new initiatives.
“We have been working with QSA since late last year and feel we’ve already made such great progress thanks to their guidance and support, and we look forward to seeing how this partnership can grow as we work together to ensure everyone feels welcome in netball environments.”
“QSA couldn’t be prouder to announce our partnership with Netball Victoria during Pride Month,” said Queer Sporting Alliance Executive Director Bindy Cohen.
“We have been amazed at the work Netball Victoria is doing to ensure netball continues to strive towards making a safer space for our community.
“Other peak sporting bodies will be able to look towards Netball Vic for the blue print for how to lean in and do the work.”
Over the last four years, Netball Victoria has aligned with the national Pride in Sport Index and is currently recognised as one of eleven Gold Sporting Organisations across the country, recently achieving Gold status for the second consecutive year.
The index is an independently administered national benchmarking system used to assess LGBTQ+ inclusion within Australian sport, providing the opportunity for national and state sporting organisations to have their LGBTIQ+ initiatives, programs and policies reviewed and measured.
Image: Netball Victoria General Manager of Member Services – Jen Camilleri, Queer Sporting Alliance Executive Director – Bindy Cohen, Netball Victoria Corporate Social Responsibility Manager - Tanya Gamble and Queer Sporting Alliance President and Founder – Stella Lesic.
