Belmont 16s Sailing Club is putting domestic and family violence support into action, with all 185 employees completing specialised awareness training and new support pathways now available across the Club.
The Lake Macquarie club became the pilot organisation for Got Your Back Sista’s new Workplace Domestic and Family Violence Education Program in April, helping turn a long-standing commitment to supporting women and children escaping violence into practical workplace action.
The initiative is designed to ensure employees not only understand the signs of domestic and family violence, but also know how to respond, where to seek help and how to support someone who may be experiencing violence.
Belmont 16s CEO Scott Williams said the initiative reflected the Club’s responsibility to look after its people.
“As a large employer who cares about our crew, we have a responsibility to provide a workplace where people feel safe, supported and know where to turn if they need help,” Mr Williams said.
185 Employees Trained
Over two days, all 185 Belmont 16s employees took part in domestic and family violence awareness training delivered by Got Your Back Sista (GYBS).
The training covered the different forms domestic and family violence can take, including coercive control, financial, emotional, psychological, physical, sexual, spiritual and technology-facilitated abuse.
Employees were also given practical guidance on recognising warning signs and responding safely if someone discloses they are experiencing domestic and family violence.
The program recognises the important role workplaces can play in providing a safe and supportive environment for people experiencing violence.
Turning Awareness Into Practical Support
The initiative goes beyond employee education, with Belmont 16s introducing practical resources to help people access support when they need it.
A Domestic and Family Violence Pathways Guide is now available throughout the Club, providing employees, members and visitors with discreet access to information about support services and where to begin seeking help.
The Club has also introduced emergency support packs for people experiencing immediate hardship after leaving a violent situation.
Employees can additionally access confidential counselling and wellbeing support through Life Matters Psychology.
Building Confidence Among Leaders
Belmont 16s leaders and managers completed additional workplace response training to build their confidence in supporting employees who may disclose domestic and family violence.
The training covered:
- Responding appropriately to disclosures
- Safety planning
- Domestic and family violence leave obligations
- Confidentiality and privacy
- Referral pathways
- Workplace adjustments and support.
The aim is to ensure employees have people within the workplace who understand how to respond safely, respectfully and confidentially.
A Partnership With a Bigger Purpose
Belmont 16s has worked with Got Your Back Sista for many years, supporting women and children escaping domestic and family violence through funding, events and awareness initiatives.
The workplace education program has taken that partnership into a new area, with Belmont 16s helping GYBS develop resources that can be used to support workplaces more broadly.
Belmont 16s Human Resources Manager Rachael Baxter played an important role in shaping the Domestic and Family Violence Roadmap and Pathways Guide, drawing on her lived experience as a victim-survivor of domestic and family violence.
“Sometimes the hardest part isn’t leaving. It’s simply knowing where to begin,” Ms Baxter said.
The new resources are designed to make that first step easier by providing clear, practical information about where people can turn for help.
Creating Safer Communities
For Belmont 16s, the initiative represents a shift from simply raising awareness to creating practical systems of support.
By combining education, leadership training, counselling, emergency assistance and accessible referral information, the Club is working to create a workplace where employees feel supported and know where to turn if they or someone they know is experiencing domestic and family violence.