When Jordan Dalliston stepped into Western Football Netball League’s (WFNL) netball operations co-ordinator role, she knew a goal she wanted to achieve, and that was to provide a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ members to play the sport they love.
Almost a year later, her efforts came to fruition as the WFNL was announced as a finalists at the 2024 Netball Victoria Community Awards for Inclusive Netball Community award.
“In the last year, inclusivity has been a big focus of mine, because foremost, I care about participation in our league,“ Dalliston said.
“At the start of the year, I had one club ask me to have a trans player play, and I told them that I was all about that.
“I was happy for everyone to be included.”
Dalliston said netball is about everyone, no matter what a player’s background is, or what gender they identify with.
“It’s not about what you identify as or how people view you or if it’s a sensitive subject, I wanted to be above that.
“I wanted to show to our clubs that we care about everyone, that we shouldn’t be turning players away, that growth is important to us.”
Dalliston said that one girl came to her and said she couldn’t be happier for WFNL.
“That’s really important,” she said.
“It lets me know that I’m on the right track and that people do feel safe to come here on a Friday night and play.”
Faith Macale
