VAFA Clubs are Breaking Barriers in 2024

On Wednesday evening 20 representatives from VAFA clubs attended the first Breaking Barriers workshop as part of the Breaking Barriers Program for 2024.

The Breaking Barriers program is a co-designed and co-facilitated program with the Centre for Multicultural Sport and Proud 2 Play, designed to support VAFA stakeholders understand and take action to make their clubs more welcoming, safe and inclusive places to play football. The Program is designed specifically for VAFA stakeholders and comes after feedback from multiple VAFA stakeholders through consultation periods in previous years.

The Breaking Barriers Program discusses key topics including Inclusion definitions, Cultural and Physical Environments within VAFA clubs, Benefits and Barriers to creating Inclusive environments, Active and Passive Inclusion, Implicit Bias and reflecting on the local communities that VAFA clubs operate in.

The VAFA has a strong set of values which include the values of Inclusion and Community. The Breaking Barriers program reflects these values and the VAFA’s desire to provide support to clubs and other stakeholder groups to ensure that all people from all diverse communities feel welcome and safe to play football within the association.

The VAFA would like to thank the West Brunswick AFC, Brunswick FC, North Brunswick FC, Therry Penola and Marcellin for their attendance and contribution to Wednesday’s workshop.

If your club is looking to improve its understanding of Inclusive practices or is looking to further the work it currently does to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment, the VAFA recommends attending the upcoming Breaking Barriers workshop on Wednesday 20th March at Elsternwick Park Tennis Club (EPTC) from 6:30pm. 

Clubs can register for this workshop here.

For any further information on the Breaking Barriers Program please reach out to VAFA General Manager – Community & Club Support, Sean Walker.