VCFL to Extend its Discrimination Policies

The country football fraternity, along with parts of the broader general public of Victoria, would be aware through wide media coverage of the Ken Campagnolo case.

Mr Campagnolo was a sports trainer for the Bonnie Doon FC for several years until his employment was terminated by the club in April 2007 under the allegation by Mr Campagnolo that the club's reason for termination was because of his sexual orientation.

As a consequence of the of the action of the Bonnie Doon FC, Mr Campagnolo lodged a Statement of Complaint against various parties to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission alleging 'discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the areas of clubs and goods and services and victimisation pursuant to the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic).'

Two of the parties that had Statements of Complaint issued against them were the Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) and their Chief Executive Officer, Glenn Scott.

Mr. Scott, representing himself and the VCFL, met with Mr Campagnolo recently at the VEO and HRC and the matter was settled.

Without any admission of liability the VCFL wishes to advise the following:

"The VCFL strongly reject all acts and notions of discrimination throughout all levels of community football and netball and the very communities these clubs represent.

The discrimination at the centre of this matter, sexual orientation discrimination, as with all forms of discrimination, is totally unacceptable.

The VCFL Board are committed to the formulating of appropriate policies (including complaints and disciplinary procedures) as well as appropriate training programs, including sexual orientation discrimination in the coming months.

The training and delivering of the messages contained in the policies will follow the same regularity as that of existing discrimination policies of the VCFL."

As a result of the meeting with the VCFL and Glenn Scott, Mr Campagnolo agrees to release both the VCFL and Glenn Scott from any action or claim arising out of the allegations of discrimination and/or harassment.

*End of Statement*

Glenn Scott

Chief Executive Officer

WorkSafe Victoria Country Football League