VAFA Club Connect Club of the Month – June

The VAFA Club Connect Club of the Month award recognises a VAFA club who through its actions both on and off the field, best exhibits the values of the VAFA, namely Respect, Inclusive, Integrity and Community.  

The Aquinas Football Club have been awarded the VAFA Club Connect Club of the Month for June for displaying the VAFA Value of Integrity.

The clubs nominated by VAFA Management in June were:  

Aquinas Football Club –  The Aquinas Football Club have been nominated by VAFA management due to their ongoing club culture and focus on child safeguarding within their club. The club has appointed two Child Safety Officers (CSO’s) in 2024, demonstrating a strong commitment to the safety and well-being of children and youth involved with the club. The club regularly highlights the role of CSO’s to its member group through training nights, posters within the club rooms and other communication.

Hampton Rovers – The Hampton Rovers Football Club has been nominated by management for demonstrating proactive support for VAFA’s Representative U19s South squad. The club has provided numerous stakeholders who are assisting with representative training sessions, while coaching and providing training venue access.

Despite lacking a home ground in 2024, the club excels in managing operations both on and off the field, ensuring effective communication with VAFA management. Their dedication is evident with top ladder positions for most teams, showcasing exceptional talent and commitment from volunteers and coaches alike. This recognition underscores their invaluable contributions to local football, embodying the spirit of the VAFA values in 2024. 

Westbourne Grammarians Football Club – Westbourne Grammarians have been nominated by VAFA management for returning from recess in 2023 and introducing two Women’s teams competing in Premier B. The Committee has devoted significant effort, partnering closely with VAFA Club Support staff on various initiatives such as Tackle Your Feelings and the TAC Road Safety campaign among others. While victories have been modest, the teams have shown competitiveness in their games, relishing the challenges and player development. Looking ahead, the Club aims to grow further by launching an U19 girls team in the coming seasons, reflecting its commitment to expanding opportunities and fostering talent in women’s football. 

As recognition of their award, the Aquinas Football Club receive a $150 credit courtesy of Club Connect to restock their canteen/drinks fridge.

When telling VAFA HQ about their process of appointing Child Safety Officers, Aquinas President, Ian Shaw said “the recruitment process was very easy…we bought (the subject up) at a committee meeting and had two volunteers right away. We have decided to run with 2 CSO’s as we have men’s and women’s sides often at different venues. We have a poster on our notice board with the CSO’s photo’s and it is something we promote regularly at training nights”.

If you believe your club demonstrates the Values of the VAFA and would like to share the great work happening at your club, please email VAFA Club Support Coordinator – Pranav Menon – [email protected]  

VAFA VALUES: COMMUNITY | RESPECT | INTEGRITY | INCLUSION