What you need to know
We are committed to addressing gender equality across our community and specifically in local sports clubs.
Sport should be a space of inclusion and safety for all in Moonee Valley.
Everyone deserves to feel they are safe and welcome in any space they enter. This extends to our community sports facilities.
Our vision includes:
- Increasing the participation and genuine inclusion of girls, women and gender diverse people in Moonee Valley sports spaces
- Empowering women to engage in decision-making and limits to women’s independence in public life and relationships.
- Highlighting the constraints of rigid gender roles and stereotyped constructions of masculinity and femininity.
Council has driven a number of projects over recent years to promote and commit to gender equity in sport, including:
Women in sport profiles
These 10 local female sport star profiles have been developed as part of the ‘Ready, Set, Equity!’ project.
These profiles, which were released at our Women and Girls in Sport Forum in July 2019 to showcase 10 female sportspeople (of all ages) in our community and the value they add to sports clubs and the local community. The Ready, Set, Equity! project which was developed as part of the Free from Violence Local Government Grant has a broader objective to address gender equity in the local sport setting and address drivers of violence against women.
Sport club videos
These videos showcase seven of our local clubs that are doing great work to progress gender equality in their setting and improve the opportunities for women and girls in sport. These videos have been produced as part of our Ready, Set, Equity! project.
Aberfeldie Football Club
Officially formed in 1948, the Aberfeldie Sports Club now fields 28 football teams across EDFL competitions, giving over 800 men, women, boys and girls the chance to play the game they love. In a landmark move, in 2018 the Aberfeldie Sports Club fielded its inaugural senior women’s football side in the EDFL, after previously fielding junior teams in U12, U15 & U18 competitions. In 2019, the club built on this, fielding two senior women’s teams and five junior girls’ teams, whilst also bringing netball into the Aberfeldie Sports Club umbrella and fielding two teams in the inaugural EDFL Netball competition. With a female president and senior coach at the helm, and women on the committee the club is well placed to continue to promote and value the place of gender equity and women and girls in sport. Aberfeldie Sports Club states; ‘Heart sets us apart’.
Aberfeldie Jets Basketball Club
Established in 1979, Aberfeldie Jets Basketball Club is now 40 years old. Although it originally only fielded one mixed team, the club now has more than 960 players and more than 110 teams in the Keilor Basketball Association's junior domestic competition. The Aberfeldie Jets Basketball Club is focused on getting more girls involved in basketball and prioritises the participation of girls in its setting. This is reflected in multiple girls and women’s teams from U10 to U19 level.
Essendon Royals Soccer Club
Essendon Royals began life in 1959 as Unione Sportiva Triestina. Since those early days the club has experienced its fair share of promotions and relegations, playing in virtually every division, including the Victorian Premier League. Four mergers have seen the club’s name change quite frequently, with the last merger with East Brunswick-Ivanhoe SC in 1994 adding Royals to the club's name. Committed to encouraging female participation the Essendon Royals Soccer Club now has nine women’s teams. Increasing women’s access to coaching, playing and leadership roles is an important priority for the club, as it continues its commitment to gender equality and the growth of women and girls in sport.
Moonee Valley Knights Football (Soccer) Club
Moonee Valley Knights was established in 1986 – known then as The Pharos, fielding a men’s team. Today the club has women’s teams, more than 150 juniors and over 200 players. Supporting multiple junior girls’ teams, as well as a women’s state league side, this club provides a welcoming place for women and girls to play soccer. The Moonee Valley Knights has a female Vice President, and women occupy positions as coaches and on committee. The club has an ongoing commitment to increasing governance opportunities for girls and women and is driven by the mission statement; ‘Strong as individuals. Invincible together’.
Maribyrnong Lions Football Club
Maribyrnong Park Football Club (MPFC) was formed in 1980 following the amalgamation of the Riverside Stars and Moonee Imperials Football Clubs. In 2017 the club introduced under 12 and under 15 girls’ teams, and since this time the number of women and girls playing football with the club has only increased. The club’s commitment to an inclusive and open environment has led to females now making up more than 30 per cent of the player list. The ‘Marby’ Lions have a stated commitment to “the development and improvement of our players, volunteers and extended family, offering a number of development opportunities”.
Keilor St Bernard’s Athletics Club
Keilor St Bernard’s Athletic Club was initially the St-Bernard's Old Collegians Athletic Club, based at St Bernard’s College in West Essendon, Melbourne. With the merger of the men’s Athletics Association and the women’s Athletic Association, St-Bernard's merged with the Keilor Heights Women's Athletic Club to form Keilor St-Bernard's. With women in leadership roles – coaching and committee – this club provides many opportunities for the meaningful involvement of women. The club is committed to striving for excellence for athletes of all genders and sets a great example for sports clubs looking to promote gender equality in their setting.
Strathmore Cricket Club
The Strathmore Cricket Club was founded in 1971 by a group of mates keen to enjoy a game of social cricket. Since that time Strathmore has grown into a club that now boasts 300 families, a junior girl’s cricket team, women in coaching and coordinating positions, and a female president. This club has prioritised and elevated the place of women and has worked hard to highlight the massive benefits that come from women’s involvement. With the stated vision, ‘A proud community club. The Club of Choice’, Strathmore Cricket Club is an inclusive club that fosters a sense of belonging for women and girls.
Resource hub
- This Girl Can – Helping women and girls get active – Guide
- Gender Equity Self-Assessment Tool
- This Girl Can – Campaign
We are opposed to all forms of violence and are committed to addressing family violence and violence against women through appropriate identification, response and referral. If you are in immediate danger, call the Police on 000 (triple zero).