Men Against Violence
Here at Community, Respect and Equality we believe that we all have a role to play in preventing family violence. Luke Ringin, a student working with the WA Centre for Rural Health, has helped create the Men Against Violence program that does just that. The program aims to include men in this necessary conversation about the prevention of family violence and gender equality by bringing the discussion to the footy field.
They’ve been working with the Geraldton Sporting Aboriginal Corporation to develop a program that promotes respectful relationships and gender equality from the steps of parliament to the football oval in Mullewa where the inaugural Men Against Violence round was played this past Saturday, May 25th. If you are interested in how to get your club involved in the program please contact Luke at luke.ringin@uwa.edu.au.
Welcoming New Sign Ups: Aboriginal Family Law Service and Workskil Australia
Let’s have a warm welcome for our two newest sign ups to the CRE Agreement: Aboriginal Family Law Service Geraldton and Workskil Australia! Thank you to both of your organisations for committing to a violence-free Geraldton and for standing up to say that #ViolenceIsNEVEROk. If you have any questions about accreditation or how to be more involved please contact us (contact details at the end of the newsletter).
Upcoming Event: NAIDOC Geraldton 2019
NAIDOC week is about celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is about respecting cultural diversity and history, something that is key to the Community, Respect and Equality project. The CRE is grounded in respect for all peoples and thus will be present at the Department of Justice’s Day in the Park on Friday July 12th from 11 am to 2 pm at Edith Cowan Square.
The CRE reference group will be manning a rotating roster of organisations so that everyone can be involved in working together for a shared future. Please feel free to stop by and have a chat about what respect means to you, we will be located next to the Desert Blue Connect marquee.
Assistance Available: Giving Voice to Organisational Commitment to the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence
How we communicate about family violence matters. We need to be conscious of how the words we are using can either change the story or not, but it can be hard to get it right. Victim blaming, shaming and sympathising with the perpetrator is commonplace in our current 24 hour news cycle, but what is an organisation to do if it doesn’t want to fall into these pitfalls? Well, if you’re unsure of how to bring up these issues in a respectful manner but want to learn you might consider utilising the WA Centre for Rural Health’s offer of media strategy support via media students.
WA Centre for Rural Health has initiated a strategic communications and media project with Dr Helen Fordham from Media and Communication studies at the University of Western Australia. As a part of this study post graduate media and communication students are available from the last week in June to work with organisations signed on to the CRE Agreement to plan the most effective ways to communicate their commitment to the prevention of family violence. Helen will be visiting Geraldton on Wednesday and Thursday the 12th and 13th to talk to organisations interested in being involved with this project.
If you are interested in this opportunity please contact Professor Sandra Thompson or Luisa Stade on 9956 0205
Not on Our Watch Bystander Training
Ever felt uncomfortable at the conversation around you. Thought that it was inappropriate or worse, perhaps damaging. Felt that the attitudes being shown, particularly towards women were a bit “off”? When this happens how do you react, are you able to safely call attention to it, able to use the incident or comment as a “learning opportunity” or have you felt too nervous or insecure to follow up at all?
The Not on Our Watch Bystander Training pilot program recently run at WACRH addressed the critical importance of “taking action”. More than a rallying call for action though it also provided tips and strategies for ensuring that the situation doesn’t escalate or put yourself at too much risk. Workplaces are such an influential part of our life and our communities. The Our watch bystander training enables participants to feel more confident in responding to attitudes and comments that model disrespectful behaviours towards others, with the aim of embedding equality and respect in all workplaces.
Run over two half days the first session laid the foundation for better understanding the link between gender inequality and family violence.
The second session looked at possible responses in different scenarios, whether at work, sports clubs or within the community.
During some very interactive and thought provoking sessions participants were given the opportunity to reflect on their own lives and workplaces in an effort to bring about a cultural change grounded in equality.
Support
We are always just a phone call away for any of the CRE Agreement businesses and organisations, and are always there to support, advice and mentor as required. Please call the main phone number 08 9964 2742 or Daphne’s mobile 0409 642 745 if you need to contact us.
We looking forward to supporting you in your journey in Phase 1 of the CRE Agreement.
