Culture of Respect is a community-led initiative delivered by Ballarat CASA, the Central Highlands Football Netball League, Respect Victoria, the Ballarat Foundation, and other local partners as part of the Respect Ballarat Saturation Model. Respect Ballarat is a national first saturation model focused on stopping gender-based violence, is run by Respect Victoria and funded by The Ballarat Foundation.

This Australian-first, evidence-based primary prevention and early intervention model aimed to help prevent gender-based violence by promoting respectful relationships, challenging harmful gender stereotypes, and addressing power imbalances by targeting community leaders, sporting arenas, young fathers and education settings.

Our project focussed on holding 3 events, which included 2 panel events followed by the Respect Round.  The first panel, a junior panel, targeted the importance of respect, boundaries and calling out sexist language.  The second, a senior panel, focussed on discussions about modelling non-violent behaviours, harmful stereotypes, and creating safe spaces for conversations around gendered violence.

The Respect Round included every team across the Central Highlands Football and Netball Leagues (CHFNL) wearing orange armbands, and the senior football and netball sides wearing custom designed orange gear. Prior to the senior games, a minute silence was held to honour those lives affected by gendered violence in our community. What we wanted, was to ensure that the campaign was particularly visible across the community, and there was a large-scale social media push prior to the round. What we achieved, was the beginning of many positive conversations, and the communities support to keep this initiative going into the future.

Events from 2026

CHFNL Junior League Panel Event

17 June

Click to see the pictures

CHFNL Senior League Panel Event

22 July

Click to see the pictures

Respect Round

8 August

Click to see the pictures

Junior League Panellists

Courtney Ugle

AFLW

Shae Bolton-Brown

Melbourne Mavericks

Helen Bolton

CEO, Respect Victoria

Mitch Brown

AFL

Katrina Bevelander

Ballarat CASA

Ash Milne

Ballarat WRISC

Senior League Panellists

Adam Toohey

RV and CHFL

Mitch Brown

AFL

Patty Kinnersly

Our Watch CEO and Carlton Vice-President

Gabby Hutchins

Western Bulldogs Community Foundation

Ben Brown

AFL, AFLW

Katrina Bevelander

Ballarat CASA

Support services
Sexual Assault Crisis Line – State-wide, after-hours, confidential, telephone crisis counselling service for people who have experienced both past and recent sexual assault. 1800 806 292
Ballarat Centre Against Sexual Assault – Provides free specialist counselling, advocacy, and support for people impacted by sexual assault across The Central Highlands (03) 5320 3933
The Orange Door, BALLARAT – Help for people who are experiencing or using family violence or who need support with the care and wellbeing of children and young people. 1800 219 819
WRISC Family Violence Support – Free support for all women and children affected by family violence. (03) 5333 3666
1800RESPECT –  National domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service 1800 737 732