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In a bid to prevent violence against women and girls, the South Australian Government has launched a new educational initiative to foster gender equality and respect among young people. Over the next few months, schools will roll out the ‘Raiise Respect’ program, initially focusing on Year 8 to Year 10 students. The launch comes at a critical time in Australia. In 2024 alone, one woman was murdered every four days by a man. One in five women has experienced sexual and physical violence since the age of 15.
The program provides essential knowledge and practical skills to support positive and inclusive sporting club environments. It intends to highlight the importance of diversity, inclusion and gender equality in sports clubs, fostering a culture of respect and encouraging positive bystander intervention that empowers participants to support others.
“We are excited to launch the ‘Raiise Respect’ Sporting Club and Schools Program, which is more than just an educational tool—it’s a movement to create lasting change in the way we approach gender equality and respectful relationships,” said Ross Wait, Director of Raiise. “This program is designed to empower young people to take active roles in challenging stereotypes, supporting peers and standing up for respect in their school and broader communities.”
The program works with two age groups: adults (including board members, coaches, players, volunteers, and supporters aged 16 and over) and young athletes and volunteers aged 12-15. For adults, trained facilitators will visit sports clubs to conduct a workshop lasting an hour and a half. For youth, sports club leaders can register for access to the Raiise e-learning portal or enlist trained facilitators to help deliver the program.
The initiative is part of a larger strategy under the Raiise Respectful Club Environment Program, which uses an eLearning platform to offer interactive modules on the importance of respectful relationships, gender equality and the need to address the root causes of gender-based violence. In addition to schools, the program is available to sports clubs involved in the program free of charge, providing young club members with free digital access to the modules.
The unique spelling of ‘Raiise’, with two “i’s” standing side by side, represents unity and equality—core values of the program. It is designed to foster an environment where young people can openly discuss the issues of gender equality and respect, empowering them to challenge harmful stereotypes and behaviors. The learning modules cover a range of topics, including gender equality, gender-based violence, diversity and inclusion, respectful relationships, bystander intervention and core values.
By addressing these issues early, the program seeks to create lasting change that will positively impact communities for years to come. Along with learning modules, schools will receive comprehensive resources, including lesson plans and downloadable activities. Schools interested in participating can sign up for a 60-day trial through the official Raiise website.
Raiise was born to realize the legacy of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which was held in Australia. The South Australian Government through the Office for Women partnered with Gravitate Consulting to codesign a Respectful Club Environments Program, to be delivered in sporting clubs in South Australia. This partnership developed into a broader platform of education for the community in schools and sporting clubs.
The initiative was unveiled during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which runs each year from November 25 (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) through December 10 (Human Rights Day). The campaign targets one of the world’s most persistent violations of human rights—violence against women.
Source: Glam Adelaide
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