Editorial: Volunteers, Vilification & Umpires

Brett Connell – VAFA CEO

This week we celebrate National Volunteer Week (NVW – May 17-23). It is Australia’s largest celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of our nation’s volunteers, including those who perform key roles in community football clubs. To acknowledge NVW the AFL is calling on nominations for the 2021 Toyota National Volunteer Awards and we encourage you to nominate a hardworking volunteer at your VAFA club.

All Auskick Centres, Schools, Community Clubs and Leagues are invited to nominate an outstanding volunteer as part of the AFL National Volunteer Awards.

The AFL Community Football National Volunteer of the Year award recognises the outstanding work of a volunteer within the grassroots environment of local football in their local community.

The volunteer may have contributed to the completion of a major or significant project throughout the year, gone above and beyond throughout the COVID affected 2020 season or they may be someone who has contributed to a number of roles over a long period.

Click below to view the selection criteria for each AFL National Volunteer Award.

https://www.afl.com.au/clubhelp/club-management/volunteer-management/national-volunteer-awards?utm_source=Media+Reports+Contacts&utm_campaign=cd09a7b4f6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_04_29_03_52_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3bd2306995-cd09a7b4f6-373248470

• Nominations will be open from Friday 14^th May 2021 until Sunday 8^th August 2021.

We pride ourselves on our wonderful VAFA community and regularly talk about the terrific role volunteers play, so how about this week i) pat a volunteer on the back and say thank you and ii) seriously consider nominating someone at your club who you think fits the criteria.

On a more concerning note, the last few weeks in the VAFA, and across community football in general, the incidence of vilification matters being reported has been prominent.

The Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) reinforces that it is committed to fostering an enjoyable environment by prohibiting certain conduct and providing a means of redress for victims of vilification and discrimination.

The VAFA fosters and maintains a sporting environment which promotes understanding, accepts the unique differences of all persons affiliated with or interested in Australian Football, and recognises the need to prohibit discriminatory or vilifying conduct.

The VAFA relies upon the overarching AFL Vilification and Discrimination Policy, as well as other applicable AFL Victoria Policies including the AFL Victoria Member Protection Policy.

The VAFA’s Vilification & Discrimination Policy establishes the means of redress for players, umpires, officials and volunteers aggrieved by what they reasonably consider to be vilification or discrimination based on their individuality.

In short, the VAFA policy is clear in that no Association Participant or Club Official shall engage in conduct which may reasonably be considered to incite hatred towards, contempt for, ridicule of or discrimination against a person or group of persons on the ground of their: race; religion; gender; colour; sexual preference, orientation or identity or special ability or disability.

The VAFA has processes in place to address matters which are brought to our attention – processes we take very seriously. We implore the whole VAFA community to stand up and call out behaviour that should not be tolerated either on or off the field.

We are all responsible in making our club and playing environments safe places for all and we ask our whole community to band together to stamp out any form of vilification or discrimination across the VAFA.

On a brighter note, while our umpire numbers are improving slightly, it was great to hear of an instance last week where a former AFL player, now at a VAFA Club, provided direct encouragement to a female boundary umpire who was struggling to throw the ball in in blustery conditions. This “working together” approach is far more productive, rather than some who have taken it upon themselves to turn to social media to snipe at the VAFA’s umpire shortage and other Association matters – please remember, we are all in this together.

See you at the footy.