Super Netball players and umpires to carry visual reminder of ‘national crisis’ of violence against women

Netball has committed to becoming a leading player in the campaign to end violence against women, using its top competition to kickstart its campaign.

Super Netball players and umpires will wear purple armbands for the remainder of the season to raise awareness of violence against women as the sport commits to playing a leading role in stemming the national crisis.

Players, umpires, all eight Super Netball clubs and Netball Australia have united to make a stand, with visibility of their campaign starting from Friday night’s clash between the West Coast Fever and Queensland Firebirds in Perth.

With purple representing domestic violence awareness, Super Netball participants have agreed to wear purple armbands for the remainder of the season in a player-led initiative.

But Australian Netball Players Association president Joanna Weston and newly-named NA chief executive Stacey West said the sport was committed to doing more.

New CEO of Netball Australia, Stacey West. Picture: Joanna Margiolis, Netball Australia

“One woman is killed every nine days by a current or former partner and one in four women has experienced physical violence by a current or former partner,” Weston said.

“Our sport is coming together to take a stand and say this must stop.

“We commit to doing more – to raising awareness and being a part of cultural change that must occur to stop this nationwide problem.”

As a sport created by women for women, West said netball was committed to bringing awareness to and calling for a stop to the violence.

“Our sport is making a stand against this national crisis,” West said.

“I want to thank all players, Suncorp Super Netball clubs, umpires and the sport more broadly for coming together to shine a light on violence against women.”