Our Watch is an organisation driving nation-wide change in the culture, behaviours and attitudes that underpin violence against women and their children. Australian Rugby, AFL, NRL and Netball Australia are working together with Our Watch to eliminate violence against women and their children by promoting women’s participation and opportunities, challenging gender stereotypes and roles, challenging violence supportive attitudes and behaviours and encouraging respectful, healthy and equal relationships on and off the field.

Australian Rugby has made commitments across four pillars – public advocacy, organisation development, leadership, and education and training – to drive this cultural change.

ARU CEO Bill Pulver said: “We all have a role to play in ending violence against women and their children in this country, and as a national sporting community we are in a unique position to impact change.”

“It’s important that Rugby uses its influence to advocate for equality, respect and non-violence on and off the field.

“Australian Rugby, the NRL, AFL and Netball Australia have a huge collective reach, and all of us here today are advocating for greater female participation in sport, from the grassroots level to the boardroom. We are also committed to ensuring our policies and practices internally and externally are based on equality.

“This year, our women’s Sevens Rugby team won a World Championship, becoming the first Australian team – in men’s or women’s sevens rugby – to do so. In doing so, they blazed a trail for thousands of other girls and women across Australia. Our Wallaroos have also recently secured their first-ever sponsorship agreement and double-header Test before a Wallabies game.

“These women, as role models for thousands of females across the country, represent the future of equality and diversity in Rugby, and in Australian sport.

“We will continue to wholeheartedly support all females in the rugby community, to ensure our sport promotes gender equality. And at the same time, while supporting our females in rugby we will also support and educate our boys and men in the rugby community to ensure their behaviours and decisions are underpinned by respect.”

“Whether on the field, in the office or at the pub, simple things like telling your friends and colleagues that sexist jokes are not funny can make a difference to the culture that currently trivialises violence against women,” said Mr Pulver.

The Our Watch leadership statement aligns with Australian Rugby’s Strategic Plan which aims to break down perceptions that rugby is male-dominated by bringing more women in rugby, whether they are players, officials, administrators, staff or executives.

Key ARU initiatives include using the men’s and women’s national teams to champion gender equality, using rugby’s digital channels to run social awareness campaigns, and using accessible, high quality training programs across all levels rugby that reach players, coaches, officials, administrators and executives.

Our Watch Chief Executive Officer Mary Barry said sport is one of the many contexts prevention of violence against women initiatives have proven effective.

“The sporting community has a huge opportunity to play an important role in preventing violence against women and their children,” said Ms Barry.

“Sporting codes, clubs and organisations bring together large numbers of people and are a ready-made environment to promote women’s participation and opportunities to eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence-supportive attitudes.

“I commend Australian Rugby, AFL, NRL and Netball Australia for using their collective influence to assist in preventing the high rates of violence against women in Australia,” Ms Barry said.

Click here to read the Australian Rugby Union’s Leadership Statement.