About us
When was Equal Playing Field started?
Equal Playing Field was started in 2012 under the name Rugby League Against Violence. The name was changed to Equal Playing Field in 2015 to better reflect the overall goal of the organisation, which is to prevent violence against women through promoting gender equality. EPF is a registered charity with the PNG Investment Promotion Authority.
Who runs Equal Playing Field?
EPF was started by an Australian guy named Adam Everill and a PNG woman named Jacqui Joseph. Jacqui is the Chief Executive Officer in PNG, while Adam now heads up EPF Australia. EPF has a Board of Directors made up of prominent PNG citizens who are responsible for the organisation’s governance.
Who funds the work of Equal Playing Field?
A number of donors have funded the work of EPF since it started. Our largest donor is the Australian Aid Program, who fund the EPF’s schools program. This funding is administered by our partner, Plan International Australia. Plan International works in over 70 countries and is one of the largest and most respected children’s rights
What role does sport play?
PNG is a sporting nation! EPF uses all kinds of sport to engage young people in our programs. We also use sporting concepts and terminology to help explain the importance of respectful relationships to young people. We believe that education is more effective when you speak to young people in a language they understand.
Why is ending violence against women important?
PNG has some of the highest rates of violence against women anywhere in the world. Violence against women hurts people, destroys families and costs our economy millions of dollars every year. We believe that ending violence women is essential if PNG if to fulfil its potential.
What does Equal Playing Field do?
EPF’s largest program is our schools program, called EPF4S. It is an 8 week respectful relationships education program that operates in primary schools. We believe that the best way to prevent violence against women in the long run is to educate young people how to have healthy, safe and respectful relationships.
Why do you work in schools?
Evidence from around the world has shown that schools are an effective setting to deliver relationship education to young people. This is age when young people are beginning to develop their identity and explore relationships with each other. By encouraging safe and respectful relationships at a young age we believe that we can stop violence against women before it occurs.
Why is gender equality important?
Gender inequality is when women and men do not have equal rights and opportunities. It prevents women from fulfilling their true potential and contributing fully to our great country. Gender inequality causes violence against women because it creates an imbalance of power between men and women.
Where does EPF work?
Equal Playing Field's operations are largely centred around its headquarters in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. We have also delivered programs in the Solomon Islands and in Australia.