Respect & Responsibility Policy

The AFL's Respect and Responsibility (R&R)  Policy was launched in 2005 and represents the Australian Football League’s (AFL) commitment to addressing violence against women and to work towards creating safe, supportive and inclusive environments for women and girls across the football industry as well as the broader community.

The R&R Policy is about shifting attitudes – ensuring that people throughout the AFL are aware and have structures in place that recognise that violence against women and behaviour that harms or degrades women, is never acceptable.

The AFL maintains its commitment to continuing to design initiatives and program approaches that gain support from within the football community itself, where Clubs recognise the unique role they play in promoting equal and respectful relationships with women, and see the principles of ‘respect’, ‘responsibility’ and ‘participation’ as key to any foundation on which club culture should be built.

Player and Industry Education
AFL Players

A key component of the R&R Policy has been the development of a player education program that seeks to:

• Increase players understanding of how sexual assault, violence, harassment and abuse can affect the lives of women and girls
• Provide practical information that assists players to understand the meaning of consent, and identify situations that have the potential to go wrong
• Provide players with information that may assist them to build and maintain social relationships with women that are healthy and respectful
  

State Leagues and Community Club players

In 2011 and 2012 a pilot Community Education Program is ensuring that the reach of the AFL’s Respect and Responsibility Education program is extended to all state league clubs and a limited number of community clubs throughout Australia.
 

Contact education@afl.com.au

Working with Others

The AFL continues to work in close collaboration with stakeholders from across Government and non-government sectors, to develop community based programs and initiatives which promote the development of respectful relationships and the rejection of violence.

Documents for download

Respect and Responsibility Policy (.pdf)
Building Cultures of Respect & Non-Violence (.pdf)
Practical Education Respect and Responsibility Booklet (.pdf)
Referral Information (.pdf)