Written by Amelia Barnes
As one of the biggest netball clubs in Geelong, South Barwon Football & Netball Club (FNC) is focused on the health, safety, and wellbeing of its players both on and off the court.
Following 18 months of venue upgrades and mental health initiatives, the club was recently awarded a $2000 prize for WorkSafe Safety Initiative of the Year at the 2022 Netball Victoria Community Awards.
South Barwon FNC’s recent health and safety developments have focused on four key areas, the first being mental health. The club supports individuals to complete Mental Health First Aid training to provide a layer of assistance to the local netball community.
Members are also encouraged to speak with trained officials and administrators when struggling or in need of additional support.
“Especially since the pandemic, people have been affected in different ways,” said South Barwon FNC netball president Chris Doyle. “I think it’s really important for any young or old people coming through to know that there are people that can listen to them without bias.”
Safety measures at the club have concentrated on improving warmup, injury, and change room facilities at their home ground, McDonald Reserve. The construction of a dedicated player warmup area, in particular, has been instrumental.
“Prior to the development of this space, our players and the opposition teams were required to warm up in a car park area that presented several safety risks,” said Doyle.
The new warmup area is a flat playing surface where players can properly prepare their minds and bodies before each game. A section of the car park has also been zoned off to ensure players aren’t exposed to traffic.
“It’s chalk and cheese,” said Doyle, when comparing the old and new facilities.
This warmup area is an additional asset to McDonald Reserve, which received a $564,000 state government upgrade in 2021. This project modernised the facility with female-friendly changerooms, a combined office and first aid room, and netball storage areas.
“We now provide amenities that are suitable for our netball players and umpires,” said Doyle. “Players and umpires have access to dedicated change areas and amenities that are compliant, accessible, safe and secure.”
A defibrillator was also installed in an accessible area within the netball pavilion.
On the court, South Barwon FNC has worked to provide both home and away teams with better access to sports trainers and first aid.
The size of the team benches was increased to create a dedicated, undercover space for a sports trainer.
“This allows players to receive preventative strapping and taping prior to their game and immediate access for any player injured during the match,” said Doyle. “We offer that to both home and away teams.”
South Barwon FNC is proud to provide players with a first aid officer/strapper who is onsite throughout the entire match day. “We think it's really important to pay for that… We try to give our players not just the best facilities, but the best support,” said Doyle.
An even bigger redevelopment of McDonald Reserve is in the works, with the Victorian government investing up to $2.5 million in new facilities. These upgrades will likely see the netball courts equipped with LED lights in replacement of the current halogen infrastructure.
Doyle is looking forward to another successful season playing in the Geelong Football Netball League, building on South Barwon FNC’s reputation of developing and producing high performance players.
The club had four players competing in the 2022 Victorian Netball League, two that were selected in state teams, and former players include Kelsey and Madi Browne.
“Our tradition is [developing] strong juniors by giving them the best of coaching and the best of facilities… We are famous for that in Geelong,” said Doyle.
“Of the 10 players playing for our senior team, nine of them came through the junior system... We don't generally go out hunting for players to get success – we develop them to get success.”
When competing at McDonald Reserve, both home and away teams can expect some of the best netball amenities in the Geelong region and a supportive playing environment.
The Safety Initiative of the Year Award is supported by WorkSafe Victoria
