Delivering bystander training is not novel to primary prevention of violence against women initiatives. It is well understood that direct participation programs that engage and involve men, women, and children at the individual, relationship or group level, that build the knowledge and skills for equal, respectful, non-violent relationships does address the known drivers of violence against women. What is unique, is using movement as a delivery style for active bystander training. Active bystander training is central to WHG’s flagship program for mobilising community action to prevent violence against women, the Communities of Respect & Equality (CoRE) Alliance. Sporting clubs make up 20% of CoRE, and in 2023, WHG started to explore how they could meaningfully engage male athletes specifically.

Through networking, WHG began to collaborate with the NRL’s/Melbourne Storm’s outreach gender equality programs - Voice Against Violence and Stand Up, Speak Out, Take Action respectively and the delivery of movement-based bystander training (MBBT) to male players participating in rugby league. Movement-based bystander training is a dynamic 90-minute session, that includes a 45-minute on-field high performance session which starts to socialise violence prevention concepts, followed by a 45-minute interactive educational session with players in the locker room, that continues the dialogue on gender-based violence in a safe and non-threating environment.

Key Learnings:

1. Men and boys learn through motion - evidence-based literature demonstrates this, the training validated this.

2. The intersection between movement-based education, delivery by a male, who is a former athlete, and in a male-only space, are integral to creating an atmosphere of genuine engagement and support for culture change.

3. Ending violence against women cannot be achieved without male involvement and male led prevention action - training of this kind serves as a good entry point for deeper dive.

Delivering bystander training is not novel to primary prevention of violence against women initiatives. It is well understood that direct participation programs that engage and involve men, women, and children at the individual, relationship or group level, that build the knowledge and skills for equal, respectful, non-violent relationships does address the known drivers of violence against women. What is unique, is using movement as a delivery style for active bystander training. Active bystander training is central to WHG’s flagship program for mobilising community action to prevent violence against women, the Communities of Respect & Equality (CoRE) Alliance. Sporting clubs make up 20% of CoRE, and in 2023, WHG started to explore how they could meaningfully engage male athletes specifically.

Through networking, WHG began to collaborate with the NRL’s/Melbourne Storm’s outreach gender equality programs - Voice Against Violence and Stand Up, Speak Out, Take Action respectively and the delivery of movement-based bystander training (MBBT) to male players participating in rugby league. Movement-based bystander training is a dynamic 90-minute session, that includes a 45-minute on-field high performance session which starts to socialise violence prevention concepts, followed by a 45-minute interactive educational session with players in the locker room, that continues the dialogue on gender-based violence in a safe and non-threating environment.

Key Learnings:

1. Men and boys learn through motion - evidence-based literature demonstrates this, the training validated this.

2. The intersection between movement-based education, delivery by a male, who is a former athlete, and in a male-only space, are integral to creating an atmosphere of genuine engagement and support for culture change.

3. Ending violence against women cannot be achieved without male involvement and male led prevention action - training of this kind serves as a good entry point for deeper dive.