Culture and Environment

Your organisation should have a mission statement which explains why you exist. Many sport organisations are now referencing inclusion in their overall mission statement. For example, Cricket Australia’s vision is to be ‘Australia’s favourite sport – a sport for all Australians’. Netball Victoria’s mission statement is ‘we exist to enrich Victorian communities through the sport of netball.’

Many sport organisations that are working with people with disability are also working to open up their sport to previously under-represented population groups, which includes people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, women and girls, LGBTIQ communities, older adults and Aboriginal Victorians.

Therefore, Vicsport recommends that your vision or mission statement reflects a commitment to include everyone in your sport. This commitment should be reflected across:

• Your strategic plan.
• Business and marketing plans.
• Your website and social media communications.

If your organisation would like to reference your commitment to people with disability you could consider adding it as a strategic pillar or objective to a strategic plan or create a statement to display on your website or in the club rooms.

• Example 1: (sport organisation) is committed to creating healthy sporting environments that are safe, accessible, inclusive and equitable. This commitment involves a focused approach to actively encourage and support the participation of people with disability in all aspects of our sport.
• Example 2: (sport organisation) aims to provide an opportunity for everyone to participate in (sport) regardless of their ability. The (sport organisation) will strive to provide a healthy, safe, inclusive and accessible environment to ensure all people can fully participate in any aspect of the (sport). This participation includes playing, coaching, officiating, administering and supporting (sport) in a paid or voluntary capacity.

You might include measurable objectives in your strategic plan, so that you have a target to work towards. For example:

• (sport organisation) will increase participation by people with disability by 5% in (insert program or competition and year).
• (sport organisation) will increase the number of coaches with disability by 2% in (insert year).

Clear boundaries need to be set around acceptable attitudes and behaviours. A successful sport rejects discrimination, harassment and bullying towards everyone.

Codes of conduct and other policies addressing inappropriate behaviour and unfair decision making must be in place, communicated and enforced by leaders throughout the organisation. In Victoria, it is against the law to discriminate against someone based on disability.

Your organisation should be aware that it is unlawful to discriminate against people with disability and their associates in various areas of life, including employment and sport. If you would like to learn more, the Australian Human Rights Commission provides an overview of the Disability Discrimination Act here. If you would like to read the act you can find it here.

A very important area of consideration when developing policy is the Victorian Government’s Child Safe Standards. Victorian legislation mandates that organisations which provide services and facilities for children under the age of 18 must comply with 7 standards to create child safe environments. The act says that organisations should consider specific actions to support the safety of children with disability, as the ‘Betrayal of Trust’ inquiry found they are at higher risk than children without disability. Vicsport has a range of resources to support your organisation to meet the Child Safe Standards. Click here for more information.

There are many practical steps your organisation can take to ensure you create a positive culture and environment for people with disability:

• Talk to people with disability. It is important to speak to people so that you understand how you can best support any needs they may have. It also means you are making decisions with them which impact how they participate in your sport. It also allows you to understand their strengths and unique abilities, thereby allowing your organisation to strengthen your capacity to offer products, services and facilities that meet their needs.
• Communication and language. Ensure your organisation promotes both acceptable forms of language and accessible forms of communication. This helps to create an inclusive environment for people with disability. Click here for a resource from the State Government of Victoria which provides more information about communicating with people with disability (insert PDF document ‘Communicating with People with disability’).
• Provide and share information. Provide tailored information to participants, coaches and clubs so that each group is aware of the opportunities your organisation is providing. As an example, see the Inclusive Gymnastics program by Gymnastics Victoria.
• Review policies and procedures. Review your constitution, membership rules and policies to remove discriminatory clauses or unfair language and protect the rights and representations of your members, regardless of their ability.
• Facilities. Ensure your facilities, including your office building, are accessible for people with disability. Sport and Recreation Victoria has some useful resources, including their Design For Everyone Guide.
• Role sharing. Consider role sharing opportunities if that helps to eliminate the barriers for some people to volunteer or work for your organisation.
• Be understanding. Inappropriate language or other forms of discrimination may be accidental. Remember that people need to be educated about inclusion practices and behaviours, and this may take time for your organisation’s leaders to embed in your culture.