Tackling Violence

Tackling Violence is a NSW Government community education, early intervention and prevention program funded by Women NSW and delivered by NSW Health's Education Centre Against Violence (ECAV). The program uses men’s involvement in rugby league as a platform to change attitudes and behaviours towards family and domestic violence. It is underpinned by a Code-of-Conduct which commits rugby league clubs and their individual representatives to refrain from perpetrating family and domestic violence. Clubs also participate in family and domestic violence education workshops, and support broader community awareness campaigns through social media and other communication channels.

Tackling Violence has four components:

1. Club Sponsorship: In return for $3000 in sponsorship clubs sign a code of conduct that commits them to penalising players for domestic violence offences and display the Tackling Violence logo on their playing kit and at their home ground.
2. Education and Community Engagement: Clubs attend Tackling Violence educational sessions which focus on identifying domestic and family violence (DFV), examining ways to challenge DFV, and developing supporting attitudes and behaviours towards women.
3. Community Awareness: is promoted through a targeted media campaign which aims to inform and link the public to support services. It includes a  community service announcement featuring clubs delivering anti domestic violence messages is broadcast on regional commercial television during NRL broadcasts and posted on social media.
4. Referrals and support arrangements: The program provides clubs with details of DFV support services in their community; and establishes links between sponsored clubs and local DFV services.

Tackling Violence was a former finalist in the NSW Premiers Awards for Strengthening the Communities category, which recognises projects that improve people’s lives by building strong communities. Tackling Violence was also a finalist in the NSW Institute of Public Administration Australia Awards for public value.

The Tackling Violence education resource Change Your Ways, Australian Men Speak About Domestic Violence is used by ECAV in its Strong Aboriginal Men’s Program and was shown at the United Nations 57th Status of Women’s Forum in New York City.

Community Awareness is promoted through a targeted media campaign which aims to inform and link the public to support services. It includes 10 short educational videos that assist the Tackling Violence Program to promote change in community attitudes and behaviours towards domestic and family violence. The clips are used by clubs to promote their anti-violence messages when welcoming new members or players and are also available on the NSW Rugby League social media platforms for wider distribution across all NSW Clubs.

Film 1 – Introduction to Tackling Violence Video Resource

Film 2 – What Does Domestic and Family Violence Look Like?

Film 3 – How Domestic and Family Violence Impacts Women and Children

Film 4 – Domestic and Family Violence and Acquired Brain Injury

Film 5 – Supporting Positive Attitudes about Women

Film 6 – Taking a Stand Against Domestic and Family Violence

Film 7 – Supporting Victims of Domestic and Family Violence

Film 8 – Change is Possible

Film 9 – Women in Rugby League

Film 10 - Tackling Violence Awareness Sessions

2019 sponsored clubs

• Awabakal Rugby League Football Club
• Bateman’s Bay Tigers
• Bathurst Panthers
• Bellingen/Dorrigo Magpies Rugby League Football Club
• Berkley Eagles
• Bourke Warriors
• Brewarrina Golden Googars
• Bundjalung Connections
• Coonamble Bears
• Cowra Magpies
• Dubbo WestSide
• East Campbelltown Eagles
• Griffith Black and Whites
• Kurri Kurri Bulldogs
• Lightning Ridge Redbacks
• Macleay Valley Mustangs (Kempsey)
• Menindee Yabbies
• Moree Boomerangs
• Mungindi Grasshoppers
• Narromine Jets
• Narwan Eels ( Armidale)
• Newcastle Hunter Connections Ladies Rugby League Team
• Newtown Wanderers (Walgett)
• Northern United
• Nowra Jets
• Nyngan Tigers
• Old Bar Beach Pirates
• South Grafton Rebels
• Tingha Tigers
• Toukley Hawkes
• Wagga Brothers
• Walgett Dragons
• Wellington Cowboys
• Wilcannia Wimpaatja

If you are interested in enrolling in courses to further your education, The Men's Behaviour Change courses are located on the ECAV website.

Women NSW engaged ARTD Consultants to perform an evaluation of the Tackling Violence Program. View the ARTD Consultants Evaluation Report October 2019 (PDF , 1.6 MB).