Ulverstone SC is hoping to springboard back into Statewide competition on the back of being named Football Tasmania’s Club Changer Club of the Month for June.
A focus on safeguarding has shone the spotlight on a club which has been able to swell its numbers up to 650 registered players and growing by the day.
“Our mission statement is to provide a positive and safe environment for our players,” explained Ulverstone president Elise Mee.
“For us it’s a high priority keeping our kids safe and being part of the Club Changer safeguarding program has been very helpful for us to implement measures.
“We’ve attended a few of the Club Changer Zoom sessions and the information they have been able to provide us has been vital in implementing this, especially our reporting process.”
In addition to spectator rules detailed on social media and signs around the Flora Street ground, the club deploys junior liaison and child safeguarding officers to ease reporting of inappropriate behaviour either online or on paper.
“Our contact details are made available to the public and we encourage them to make contact if they see something they believe is not right,” Mee said. “We have a process they can go through to report it and make us aware of an issue so we as a committee can then follow that through.
“We make sure that our kids feel safe. If there is an issue they know we will follow it through and it doesn’t get swept under the carpet.”
The process has been tested a handful of times in the last two seasons with parent behaviour the biggest issue and Mee said the club has noticed definite improvements as a result.
“When we did have an issue that went to a tribunal we were able to rely on our child safeguarding policies to help us navigate that situation, making sure that player felt comfortable, had a voice and parents’ support plus club support and the members’ protection support. It has definitely helped us recognise where our gaps were and to make sure if the kids would like to say something they can feel heard.
“This is something we’re passionate about and I believe our playing numbers continue to grow along with parent support and volunteers as a result. It’s not just the same group each week, it’s across the board and that’s really positive.”
Information evenings encourage communication and support of club policies. Parents and players know who is available to assist them with regular catch-ups and check-ins across all teams.
The implementation of coaching policies and welcome packs are also designed in conjunction with the child safeguarding policy with Mee adding: “Having processes and policies that continue to evolve as we grow with knowledge and experience has definitely made us accountable as a club thanks to Club Changer.
“Our Reds community are constantly looking out for each other and looking out for the kids to make sure they are having the best experience possible through the sport.”
Established in 1961, the club has made a big imprint on Tasmanian football, winning the state championship in 1986. Ulverstone were a regular contender in the Women’s Super League a decade ago, winning one statewide title and adding Northern Championship Women’s crowns in 2021 and ’22, losing just one game in each campaign.
A rebuilding phase for the women’s team renders a WSL return a three-to-five year proposition, but the club are pushing for an under-18 girls’ competition for 2026, along with under-10 and under-12 girls’ rosters on the North-West Coast.
However, The Reds are hoping that statewide football will soon return through the men’s team.
“Our aspiration would be to be included in NPL next year,” Mee said.
“We’ve been working on our application for the last 18 months and we have new changerooms being built soon which will help with that. We are also working on a new clubroom and grandstand and applications for grants from state and federal government and council. We’re starting to tick the right boxes. We’ve still got quite a few to go, but we’re persisting and getting there.”
The club hopes to make the step-up on a foundation of winning the Northern Championship men’s seniors and reserves competitions. After 10 rounds this season, Ulverstone were leading the reserves and sitting third in a hugely-competitive senior league, just one point off the top.