Bystander training for community and sporting groups

Learn about supporting a culture of gender equality, inclusion and respect, and a bystanders role in preventing domestic and family violence

The Be There Group will deliver a two hour workshop tailored to community and sporting groups, focusing on building leadership and bystander confidence to promote a culture of gender equality, safety, respect and inclusion.

The training will empower participants to challenge deep-rooted attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that normalise problematic behaviour such as gender-based violence, sexual harassment, bullying and racism.

Become equipped with the tools needed to be someone who does something. The Be There framework encourages people to act when they see, hear or sense something is not right, not through confrontation, but through care, curiosity and community responsibility.

This workshop is part of the Sport4Good initiative, an evidence-informed program co-designed by Dr Stuart Murray (Sport Diplomacy) and Dr Gaëlle Brotto (Psychology). For sporting groups, this is grounded in the belief that athletes are 50% what they do on the field and 50% what they do off it. Sport4Good empowers participants to speak up, step in, and model respect — whether that means calling out a sexist comment, supporting a teammate, or challenging harmful behaviours in club culture.

Learn to:

• Lead from any role: Understand leadership as a shared responsibility and recognise the influence each person has within their sporting or community group.
• Bystander action: Explore the bystander framework, overcome barriers to intervention, and apply it in real-world scenarios.
• Respect always: Identify and understand bullying, sexual harassment, and racism — including their legal definitions and impact on team culture.
• Supportive accountability: Build skills to respectfully call out behaviour, manage resistance, and respond to disclosures with care and confidence.
• Understanding domestic and family violence (DFV): Recognise the forms and dynamics of DFV, including coercive control.
• DFV prevention: Understand the gendered nature of DFV, the importance of bystander action, and how to respond safely using the Be There framework.
• Take Action: Leave with one small, practical commitment to help foster a culture of safety and respect.

​Your community or sporting group will receive a certificate upon completion of the training.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, support is available. Visit cityofgoldcoast.com.au/dfv.