Welcome to the NSW Safe to Speak Bound to Act website. This page has been proudly funded by the NSW Office of Sport to support State Sports Organisations and sport clubs across NSW to respond to adult gender-based violence.
Each SSO and club has a vital role to play in responding to gender-based violence and supporting members to navigate disclosures of such violence. Together, we can make sport a safe space for all those wanting to participate.
We understand that responding to disclosures of gender-based violence can feel challenging, especially when these things happen within local and often tight-knit communities. These resources are designed to help you in your planning, prevention of and response to instances of gender-based violence. We also provide some NSW-specific resources/support services that can provide further specialist support as needed.
Respond now
Put the person
disclosing first
- Make sure the person feels safe, respected, and in control.
- Build trust and give them choices about what happens next.
- Work with them, not around them.
Do no harm
Avoid further harm:
- Do not blame them
- Validate what they tell you
- Do not downplay what they have said
- Ensure they remain in control of what happens next
- Be transparent about constraints
Know your role
You are not a counsellor. Your job is to:
- Listen and support
- Help the person feel safe
- Know the policies & processes to follow
- Offer choices and connect them to help
Use the LIVES
approach
This is a simple way to give first‑line support:
Listen with care and empathy.
Inquire gently about what they need or are worried about.
Validate their experience.
Enhance safety.
Support with options and referrals to support organisations.
Respect
cultural safety
- Make sure your response is respectful of different cultures. For example, First Nations women may prefer to speak with services like 113YARN, or you may need to engage a regulated translator service to assist where English is not their first language.
Club Resources
Put the person
disclosing first
- Make sure the person feels safe, respected, and in control.
- Build trust and give them choices about what happens next.
- Work with them, not around them.
Do no harm
Avoid further harm:
- Do not blame them
- Validate what they tell you
- Do not downplay what they have said
- Ensure they remain in control of what happens next
- Be transparent about constraints
Know your role
You are not a counsellor. Your job is to:
- Listen and support
- Help the person feel safe
- Know the policies & processes to follow
- Offer choices and connect them to help
Use the LIVES
approach
This is a simple way to give first‑line support:
Listen with care and empathy.
Inquire gently about what they need or are worried about.
Validate their experience.
Enhance safety.
Support with options and referrals to support organisations.
Respect
cultural safety
- Make sure your response is respectful of different cultures. For example, First Nations women may prefer to speak with services like 113YARN, or you may need to engage a regulated translator service to assist where English is not their first language.
Put the person
disclosing first
- Make sure the person feels safe, respected, and in control.
- Build trust and give them choices about what happens next.
- Work with them, not around them.
Do no harm
Avoid further harm:
- Do not blame them
- Validate what they tell you
- Do not downplay what they have said
- Ensure they remain in control of what happens next
- Be transparent about constraints
Know your role
You are not a counsellor. Your job is to:
- Listen and support
- Help the person feel safe
- Know the policies & processes to follow
- Offer choices and connect them to help
Use the LIVES
approach
This is a simple way to give first‑line support:
Listen with care and empathy.
Inquire gently about what they need or are worried about.
Validate their experience.
Enhance safety.
Support with options and referrals to support organisations.
Respect
cultural safety
- Make sure your response is respectful of different cultures. For example, First Nations women may prefer to speak with services like 113YARN, or you may need to engage a regulated translator service to assist where English is not their first language.
Put the person
disclosing first
- Make sure the person feels safe, respected, and in control.
- Build trust and give them choices about what happens next.
- Work with them, not around them.
Do no harm
Avoid further harm:
- Do not blame them
- Validate what they tell you
- Do not downplay what they have said
- Ensure they remain in control of what happens next
- Be transparent about constraints
Know your role
You are not a counsellor. Your job is to:
- Listen and support
- Help the person feel safe
- Know the policies & processes to follow
- Offer choices and connect them to help
Use the LIVES
approach
This is a simple way to give first‑line support:
Listen with care and empathy.
Inquire gently about what they need or are worried about.
Validate their experience.
Enhance safety.
Support with options and referrals to support organisations.
Respect
cultural safety
- Make sure your response is respectful of different cultures. For example, First Nations women may prefer to speak with services like 113YARN, or you may need to engage a regulated translator service to assist where English is not their first language.
SSO Resources
Put the person
disclosing first
- Make sure the person feels safe, respected, and in control.
- Build trust and give them choices about what happens next.
- Work with them, not around them.
Do no harm
Avoid further harm:
- Do not blame them
- Validate what they tell you
- Do not downplay what they have said
- Ensure they remain in control of what happens next
- Be transparent about constraints
Know your role
You are not a counsellor. Your job is to:
- Listen and support
- Help the person feel safe
- Know the policies & processes to follow
- Offer choices and connect them to help
Use the LIVES
approach
This is a simple way to give first‑line support:
Listen with care and empathy.
Inquire gently about what they need or are worried about.
Validate their experience.
Enhance safety.
Support with options and referrals to support organisations.
Respect
cultural safety
- Make sure your response is respectful of different cultures. For example, First Nations women may prefer to speak with services like 113YARN, or you may need to engage a regulated translator service to assist where English is not their first language.
Put the person
disclosing first
- Make sure the person feels safe, respected, and in control.
- Build trust and give them choices about what happens next.
- Work with them, not around them.
Do no harm
Avoid further harm:
- Do not blame them
- Validate what they tell you
- Do not downplay what they have said
- Ensure they remain in control of what happens next
- Be transparent about constraints
Know your role
You are not a counsellor. Your job is to:
- Listen and support
- Help the person feel safe
- Know the policies & processes to follow
- Offer choices and connect them to help
Use the LIVES
approach
This is a simple way to give first‑line support:
Listen with care and empathy.
Inquire gently about what they need or are worried about.
Validate their experience.
Enhance safety.
Support with options and referrals to support organisations.
Respect
cultural safety
- Make sure your response is respectful of different cultures. For example, First Nations women may prefer to speak with services like 113YARN, or you may need to engage a regulated translator service to assist where English is not their first language.
Put the person
disclosing first
- Make sure the person feels safe, respected, and in control.
- Build trust and give them choices about what happens next.
- Work with them, not around them.
Do no harm
Avoid further harm:
- Do not blame them
- Validate what they tell you
- Do not downplay what they have said
- Ensure they remain in control of what happens next
- Be transparent about constraints
Know your role
You are not a counsellor. Your job is to:
- Listen and support
- Help the person feel safe
- Know the policies & processes to follow
- Offer choices and connect them to help
Use the LIVES
approach
This is a simple way to give first‑line support:
Listen with care and empathy.
Inquire gently about what they need or are worried about.
Validate their experience.
Enhance safety.
Support with options and referrals to support organisations.
Respect
cultural safety
- Make sure your response is respectful of different cultures. For example, First Nations women may prefer to speak with services like 113YARN, or you may need to engage a regulated translator service to assist where English is not their first language.
Need immediate support or advice?
NSW specialist services:
NSW Domestic Violence Line
1800 65 64 63
Immigrant Women’s Speakout
(02) 9635 8022
Full Stop Australia
(NSW Sexual Violence Helpline)
1800 385 578
National specialist services:
1800RESPECT
1800 737 732
QLife
1800 184 527
13YARN
13 92 76 (First Nations support)
Men’s Referral Service
1300 766 491 (for men using violence)
Proudly funded by the NSW Office for Sport