During the month of May, our Queensland White Ribbon Committees and supporters were busy building awareness in their communities, hosting events and supporting primary prevention activities to support the Queensland Government’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, implemented in response to the ‘Not Now, Not Ever’ report.
Workplaces as communities for change
The Brisbane White Ribbon Committee and Cameron McKenzie (White Ribbon Advocate, Deputy Chair of the Queensland Law Society Domestic & Family Violence Policy Committee) facilitated a panel discussion including:
- Rachel Durdin, Chief Advisor – Social and Stakeholder Engagement at Rio Tinto
- Michael Wassing, Deputy Commissioner at Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
- Ronan Smyth, Executive Manager – White Ribbon Workplace Program
Supported by ANZ and part of QLD Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, the panel offered insights and practical ideas for organisations and advocates on building positive social messages for respectful relationships and gender equality.
Panel members spoke about the ways in which family violence impacts on people in the workplace, and their experiences in creating safe and respectful workplace cultures through the White Ribbon Program.
Those who attended walked away inspired to create positive cultural change and improve gender equality within both their workplaces and communities.
Community engagement
White Ribbon QLD State Committee member Dave Kerrigan made women’s safety a man’s issue in the Blackall, Longreach, and Barcaldine communities during May. Dave travelled to these central Queensland communities to build awareness with men, women and youth from diverse backgrounds, experiences and professions.
For some of Australia’s rural and remote locations, this engagement supports communities to share ideas and gain practical tools and information like the White Ribbon STOP kit. Starting conversations about preventing family violence is a core part of White Ribbon’s primary prevention movement.
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