The Sydney Roosters are pleased to announce the launch of a new community initiative, Roosters Against Racism, with the goal of addressing racism and prejudice within the community, with a particular focus on the school and sporting environment.
Roosters Against Racism will work towards raising awareness of the importance of mutual respect, fair treatment of all people regardless of their cultural, racial or religious backgrounds and promoting the benefits of cultural diversity and social cohesion.
The Roosters Against Racism program has been developed in accordance with the Australian Government National Anti-Racism Strategy and is being supported by program partners, the Australian Human Rights Commission, Play By The Rules, Community Migrant Resource Centre and Left-field Business Solutions.
The program will involve the delivery of presentations to targeted schools and sporting clubs across the Eastern Suburbs by Roosters players who have been affected by racism who will share their story, explain how it impacted upon them and how they overcame the issue. Players will be accompanied by appropriately qualified personnel who can discuss with participants the appropriate strategies for dealing with racism and respond to any questions on the day.
We appreciate the important role we play within the community and this program has been designed to use the Roosters brand and players to influence positive behaviour, promote diversity and social cohesion; to teach the community that racism is not acceptable and to encourage anyone who is subjected to racial vilification either by experience or by witnessing an act to report it, said Ted Helliar, Roosters Chief Operating Officer Commercial.
The program will extend to include an online education resource on the Sydney Roosters website that will cover information shared in the classroom sessions and provide additional information. The resource will be available to the wider community on the Roosters website, and will also include clips of players and community identities discussing the importance of diversity and social cohesion.
The Roosters Against Racism program will initially be delivered in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney and the City of Sydney to Year 5 school students, with plans to further expand the program over the next 12 months.
