Interviewing young men who have experienced bullying, abuse or harm in sport
Victoria University researchers are looking to speak with young men (aged 18–25) who’ve had unsafe, harmful, or abusive experiences while playing or being involved in organised (club) sport.
This could include things like bullying, banter, emotional or physical abuse, sexual abuse, or any behaviour that made you feel uncomfortable, excluded, or not okay.
Even if it wasn’t something you’d normally call 'abuse', if it made you feel off, pressured, or like you couldn’t speak up, it matters, and we want to hear about it.
Your story can help us understand what’s really going on in sport and how we can make it safer and more supportive for young men.
About the project
This project is led by Dr Mary Woessner from Victoria University’s Safety and Wellbeing Research Group and is supported by Movember. We're looking into how bad experiences in sport, like bullying, harassment, or abuse, can affect young men’s mental health.
We’re also exploring how these experiences shape the way young men think about masculinity (what it means to “be a man”) and whether it makes it harder or easier to ask for help when things aren’t going well. The goal is to better understand these challenges so we can create safer sporting environments and support young men in looking after their mental health
We know sport can be an great way to connect with mates, build confidence, and feel part of something bigger. But it’s not always perfect. Sometimes the pressure to perform, fit in, or “tough it out” can create an environment where harmful behaviours (like bullying, abuse) go unnoticed or unspoken. By sharing your experience in a one-off interview (online), you’ll help us to:
- understand how abuse in sport affects young men
- develop practical solutions to support young men in sport
- inform initiatives that make sport safer and more inclusive
- challenge harmful norms and promote trauma-informed care.
In this project, we’re looking at how those experiences can affect young men’s mental health, how they see themselves, and whether they feel safe asking for help. We want to understand what’s really going on so we can make sport a safer, more supportive space for everyone.
As part of the research team's commitment to safety and well-being, all researchers have undergone training in trauma-informed care. You will have a choice in who you conduct the interview with (Dr Mary Woessner or Dr Jeff Bishara), you can have your camera on or off, you can choose how much or how little to disclose, and you can stop the interview at any time, for any reason.
Eligibility
- Identify as a young man aged 18–25 (includes non-binary individuals and transmen).
- Have played or been involved in community sport in Australia (current or past).
- Willing to speak about your experiences of abuse or unsafe behaviours in sport.
Time commitment
Participate in a single ~60-minute online interview (in-person option available for those in Melbourne, if preferred).
Reimbursement
After the interview, you will be sent a $50 electronic giftcard via email.
Want to participate?
For more information and to express interest, please contact Dr Mary Woessner:
This project is approved by the Victoria University Human Research Ethics Committee # HRE25-096