How you can help end domestic violence in our community
In 2023, 64 women in Australia were killed by violence. So far this year, 10 women have been murdered. We are just 10 weeks into the year, which is an average of one murder per week.
One murder per week.
In the overwhelming majority of cases, the perpetrators were men. Often, there is little or nothing said in the media about each case. It can also be disheartening to read statistics like these and wonder what you can do as an individual to bring this number down.
Here in the Gold Coast Hinterland, we have started a task force called ‘Creating a Safe and Respectful Hinterland’. Leaders of the group have been through MATE Bystander training, assisted by Griffith University’s Disrupting Violence Beacon.
They are equipped with the knowledge and skills to help our community become better bystanders; to safely speak up when something doesn’t feel right, and to be someone who does something.
This community-led cultural change initiative exists to help locals recognise and address the underlying causes of domestic and family violence as effective bystanders. This issue has deep cultural roots, and we recognise that this isn’t just “someone else’s problem.”
If you would like to get on board, join the Facebook group here or come along to one of the upcoming community sessions in public spaces across the Hinterland suburbs.
You can find out more about MATE here.
 | A guest post by
|