From Awareness to Action: How sport can "Equal the Contest”

Mildura Rural City Council Awareness to Action forum is back again for its second year! This year's theme is about equalling the contest for all and is designed to provide local sporting leaders from the region's clubs with the awareness on ways to create equitable and inclusive sporting environments for women and girls. It will also be an opportunity to recognise and celebrate some of our local sporting clubs who are partnering with MRCC to deliver on the "Gendering in a New Era" program over the next year.

The forum will be facilitated by Gender Equity and Inclusion Specialist, James Wilson. James is the current Mildura Sporting Precinct Manager and has facilitated the 'Gendering in a New Era' project for the Mildura Rural City Council. In the past 15 months he has supported a variety of sporting clubs to take action against inequalities within their sporting club and address issues in the short and long term to make their club more inclusive. James comes with a wealth of knowledge about gender equality and the importance of the program within our community to help create important and beneficial changes to the treatment of women and girls in sport and within the wider community.

The forum will begin with a screening of the documentary "Equal the Contest" on the big screen at Wallis Cinema Mildura.

Equal the Contest is a documentary film about the Mt Alexander Falcons, a community AFL club led by and for women and gender-diverse people. When filmmaker Mitch joins the new footy club in Regional Victoria a simple desire to play becomes a complex journey of inclusion and belonging. An unexpected turn means the team must fight to play. Their campaign challenges age old sporting traditions and joins the wider movement for gender equality. Twists and turns abound as the ongoing impacts of gender inequality create barrier after barrier for women and gender diverse people to play sport. This documentary and the Falcon's story provide a fantastic snapshot of how inclusivity can be achieved in the sporting landscape and is a motivational story that will give you the inspiration you need to make your own sporting clubs fully inclusive.

Following the screening there will be an opportunity to hear from key contributors to the film.

Light catering will be available throughout the event. 

For more information on the film please visit Equal the Contest – When the rules exclude you, rewrite them.

For any questions, please contact event organiser Elissa Johnson on elissa.johnson@mildura.vic.gov.au

Panel Members:

Mitch Nivalis (they / them) Director / Producer

Mitch has been producing film and photography projects for 17 years under their production company MDP Photography and Video. In 2017 they released their first self funded 40 min documentary film The Wonder of Improvisation and their short films have been screened on ABC TV, Byron Bay Film Festival and First Nations Broadcasting NT. Mitch has dedicated their work to projects that celebrate diversity, inclusion and challenge gender roles and stereotypes. Equal the Contest is their first feature documentary film and is the culmination of their Masters in Arts (Photography) at Photography Studies College. In addition to the film, the project includes a fine art photo book celebrating players stories and a 10 minute silent projection video art piece which was commissioned by the Castlemaine Art Museum. Mitch is based on Dja Dja Wurrung country.

Herbie (she/her) Volunteer:

Affectionately known as Herbie to everyone in the club. Kerry joined the Falcons as a volunteer member quickly becoming an integral part of their team. Herbie found a place to call home and purpose by volunteering and has found that her contribution to the club comes back to her in a lot of ways than people realise.

Sam Henty (he/him) Treasurer and club founder:

Sam has been with the Falcons from its inception. Helping to create the club from the ground up. It was always a focus for Sam to put the members at the fore front of the club and make it the most inclusive and inviting place to play football. He took a seat on the committee where he stayed throughout all the challenges finding himself having to go into bat for the players more than once on a rocky road to being allowed to play.