The North Melbourne Football Club does not condone or accept any language that promulgates domestic violence.

In light of recent events, North’s Heath O’Loughlin, GM Media, Communications & Marketing sat down with Cameron McLeod, GM Community Engagement, to discuss the club’s work to address gender inequality and prevent any forms of violence against women in our community.

HO: Cam, North chairman James Brayshaw was unequivocal in his apology on Triple M yesterday for the role he played in the Caroline Wilson discussion on the Queen’s Birthday holiday last week and by extension, the club has also been implicated.

What can you tell our members, supporters and the wider community about our work to date in this area?

CM: I think it’s firstly important to mention that the North Melbourne and The Huddle, have been working extremely hard on creating inclusive, welcoming and safe environments and leading the promotion of women’s participation through various initiatives and programs to address gender inequality for many years.

HO: What are some of those things?

CM: Internally, we have an established women’s network which is made up and driven by our female staff to support and empower each other to breakdown traditional barriers to participation and challenge stereotypes and rigid gender roles. Similarly, our long-standing partnership with the Melbourne University Women’s Football Club is underpinned by equal access to our facilities and football department resources including senior coaches and staff to support women’s participation, leadership and growth of the game.

In the community we have been very proactive in addressing barriers to female participation, in particular those from multicultural backgrounds to empower young people and inspire brighter futures through better education and social connections through sport and recreation. This work is now expanding to reach more young people from traditionally low socio-economic backgrounds across parts of Victoria and Tasmania.

HO: I also understand we were, prior to this latest issue, on the verge of confirming a unique partnership to help prevent violence against women.

CM: That’s right. Shortly, we will announce a partnership with a national organisation to help strengthen positive, equal and respectful relationships between men and women by reducing the drivers that contribute to violence against women. Sporting clubs, like North Melbourne, bring together large numbers of people to promote women’s participation and opportunities to eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence supportive attitudes.

This work will aim to promote women’s independence and decision-making, challenge gender stereotypes and rigid roles and strengthen respectful and equal relationships between men and women.

I should add this partnership has been several months in the making and is not just a reaction to the latest issues.

HO: How important is it that we show leadership on this front?

CM: On a social level, sport provides high-profile role models and thought leaders to promote the importance of equality across all aspects of life. Positive elements and values within sport, such as participation and ‘fair play’, can extend to the promotion of respectful relationships, gender equality, inclusion and non-violence on and off the field.

Sport can play as an engaging environment to educate players, Board members, staff and our fans about the consequences of gender inequality and discrimination.

HO: As far as North is concerned, where does it stand on the employment of women?

CM: North is definitely at the forefront and I think we were one of the first clubs to employ a female Operations Manager in the football department in the early 2000s. A large number of our staff is made up of women and we have female representation across all levels including the executive team and Board.

We also recently appointed Laura Kane as Manager of North's women's football and talent pathways. However, there is more that North Melbourne FC can and will do to attract and retain women to the Club, the industry and across society more broadly.