Football Queensland has announced that it has extended it’s partnership with Social Protect, an online safeguarding software that aim’s to help protect referees from online abuse.
This expansion comes after the successful launch of Social Protect with NPL Queensland clubs last year, where it has already made a positive impact in reducing harmful online behaviour.
By extending the service to match officials, Football Queensland is taking another important step in creating a safer and more respectful environment for everyone involved in the game.
Robert Cavallucci emphasises Football Queensland’s firm stance against abuse towards referees.
“Football Queensland has a zero-tolerance policy against abusive behaviour towards referees, and the introduction of Social Protect demonstrates the proactive measures we are taking to actively protect our match officials in line with the Protect Our Game initiative,” he said via press release.
“As our game continues to grow, it is more important than ever that we create a positive and safe environment for our match officials across the state, so we’re proud to offer this service to our Queensland referees free of charge to guard against harmful content and abuse across their social media accounts.”
Social Protect offers an easy-to-use mobile app that helps keep social media spaces safe by automatically removing harmful comments. It targets things like cyberbullying, hate speech, racial slurs, and scams, making online spaces more positive and respectful.
The app includes helpful features such as a quarantine zone where flagged comments can be reviewed before being permanently removed.
It also offers educational resources to help users understand online safety, along with multi-lingual support to better detect harmful content in different languages.
Designed for both individuals and organisations, Social Protect is a smart tool for creating safer, more inclusive online communities.
Shane Britten commends Football Queensland for expanding Social Protect to referees statewide, calling it a strong commitment to proactively tackling online abuse.
“Football Queensland’s decision to expand the Social Protect solution to referees across the state shows their commitment to providing proactive protection from online abuse,” he said via press release.
“We are proud to be working with a forward-thinking organisation that prioritises the wellbeing and mental health of their entire network.”
For more information on how to access the Social Protect software if you are a Queensland Referee, you can directly contact the Football Queensland’s referee team via referees@footballqueensland.com.au
To find out more about Social Protect, click here.
