SportWest was proud to present the latest edition of CITS Regional Coffee and Chat series, in partnership with the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport and Starick. This series offers regional Local Governments and State Sporting Associations bite-sized information sessions on sport and recreational topics relevant to local communities.
Held online on Thursday, 25 September 2025, the session brought together sport leaders, volunteers, and community members in regional towns all across Western Australia, for an engaging conversation about how sporting clubs and organisations can foster environments that are safe, respectful, and inclusive for all.
The session, facilitated by our True Sport Project Officer, Rebekah Yeow, built awareness in regional Western Australia of the newly launched True Sport initiative. The True Sport Respectful Relationships Initiative is designed to support clubs in building positive cultures through education, awareness, and practical tools. During the session, the True Sport team provided an overview of the resources available, including:
These resources are tailored to help clubs address issues such as family and domestic violence and unsafe behaviours, while promoting values of respect, inclusion, and wellbeing.
Caroline Tuthill, Starick’s Respectful Relationships Program Manager, also presented on the organisation’s innovative Respectful Relationships Sport and Recreation Program. This initiative harnesses the influence of sport and recreation to drive meaningful cultural change. In partnership with SportWest, Starick is actively engaging the Western Australian sporting communities and regional Local Governments to help prevent gender-based violence and family and domestic violence.
This initiative is proudly supported by the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport and the Department of Communities and aligns with the broader True Sport mission to empower grassroots sport with the tools to thrive. The partnership with Starick brings valuable expertise in domestic and family violence prevention, ensuring the initiative is grounded in evidence-based practice.
“Creating respectful relationships in sport isn’t just about policies - it’s about people, culture, and community. When we work together, we build stronger, safer spaces for everyone.” Rebekah Yeow, True Sport Project Officer.
To learn more about the Respectful Relationships Initiative and access the resources, visit the True Sport Respectful Relationships Initiative. If you have any questions or interest in the Respectful Relationships Sport and Recreation Program, please contact the Starick team at rrsrp@starick.org.au or call (08) 9478 5300.
