For Taroona FC, diversity, equity and inclusion is central to everything they do, making them a worthy recipient of this month’s Club Changer Club of the Month for August.
For President Sam Johnson, it’s very simple: “At Taroona FC, the club is everyone’s club.
“We all have a responsibility to contribute and play our part, whatever that means to you.”
For veteran player and former WSL captain Daisy Parsell, her loyalty to the club is due in part to this commitment.
“[It’s about] Making Taroona FC a safe place for everyone, not just for the players, but for the families, the supporters, and the people who volunteer with us – it really does feel like one big family,” she said.
“I introduced the Taroona FC WSL Pride Round in 2020 when I captained the squad.
“I felt that not many, if any, local clubs at the time highlighted and celebrated the importance of Pride.
“Izzy Ottavi helped me build that day into the success that it was, and I am always so proud to see the WSL continue this tradition every year.”
WSL goalkeeper Izzy – who also manages the club’s social media and communications, and is the Member Protection Information Officer – joined the club for its commitment to the senior women’s program, and to balancing high-performance football with its community values.
“I'm constantly blown away by how the committee and governing members constantly strive to put Taroona FC players and people first – no matter their gender, race, background, ability, or various life stages, everyone is always welcome at Taroona,” they said.
“This type of genuine leadership creates a ripple effect, and I believe that is why the club fosters a genuine sense of belonging.
“I'm also super grateful that Taroona FC is an open-minded and progressive community, somewhere where my wife, my kids, and myself as a player can all feel valued and safe.
“Having wonderful people like Daisy putting forward initiatives such as the Pride Round has absolutely made a difference – it creates this wonderful, visible statement about who we are as a club.
“But it also goes much deeper than that. There are so many micro-moments of respect that Taroona FC members enforce day-to-day, like using the correct pronouns for our gender-diverse players, supporting players to play in the league that feels right to them, and feeling a mutual respect across the board whenever we combine trainings or have wider club gatherings.”
Izzy has this advice for other clubs wondering how to get started on their DEI journey.
“Real DEI is displayed in the way club people talk about each other, the language that is used and considered appropriate, and in the values that are shown through repeated action,” they said.
“My advice to other clubs would be to start asking the tricky, reflective questions. What are our members’ gaps in understanding? How can we improve and support each other to learn? And then the next step is making those changes.”