CEO's Welcome

At MITS, and across our community, junior sport is one of the great platforms for connection, cohesion and joy. Our students are fortunate to be part of a brilliant community at the Richmond Junior Football Club and every weekend over 70 of our MITS students pursue their personal best, contribute to their teams and enjoy a true community here in Richmond.  This Sunday, six different teams will be playing in Grand Finals, which is truly remarkable.

However, in 2024 we have experienced a disturbing rise of racial vilification against our students, and other players, on the football field.  These acts are absolutely unacceptable, and deeply concerning.  All young people have the right to feel safe and proud in themselves on the footy field, and it is our shared obligation – as a school, a league and a community – to ensure cultural safety for our students as they pursue their passions.  

In response, we have been grateful for the partnership and leadership of the Richmond Junior Football Club community.  RJFC has developed resources to prevent racial vilification, and also a Tip Sheet for players, coaches, managers and supporters setting out what to do in the event of racism on the field.  You can access that tip sheet here.

We have also met with the Australian Sports Commission, who have delivered training to our staff on racial vilification response strategies.  And, we have met with the Yarra Junior Football Leage and the Australian Football League to express our concern for our students, to share their stories, and to seek the support of these bodies to stamp out racism in footy.

While these steps go some small way to addressing the experiences of our students and training our people on how we can support students best, none of these steps make it right for the students who’ve been affected.  We know of the significant impact that words such as those used can have on our young people, particularly in the context of their courage to be in Melbourne far from home in a culturally different environment.  Our focus continues to be on our young people, particular those who have been directly impacted this season.

Parents and carers are warmly invited to contact us to ask for more information on the steps that we’re taking, and to provide advice and feedback on other supports that we can offer to students.  Rest assured that if your child has been affected in any incident we will have discussed this with you already.

As we head into the last weeks of the junior footy finals, we hope that our students – indeed every young person taking the field – can do so feeling confident of their place, proud in themselves and supported by their community.  In this, we all have a role to play.

Edward Tudor

Chief Executive Officer