Australia stands together against domestic violence

Prominent domestic and family violence prevention advocates, Rosie Batty and Jimmy Bartel, are leading a chorus of influential Australians who have pledged their support of 1800RESPECT’s Stand Together Against Domestic and Family Violence and the 16 Days of Action campaign.

As part of the campaign, Rosie Batty, founder of the Luke Batty Foundation, released a video outlining four simple steps in identifying and responding to someone that is affected by domestic or family violence.

In the video, the 2015 Australian of the Year suggests that anyone, should they suspect that a family member, friend or work colleague is experiencing sexual assault, domestic or family violence, should adopt the four step approach of asking if she feels safe, naming it as violence, referring her to a specialist and then following-up with her.

The 16 Days of Action campaign runs from November 25 to December 10 and aims to raise awareness of violence against women. The campaign was launched in conjunction with

1800RESPECT’s Frontline Workers Toolkit and supported by 16 key influential leaders in business and community sectors throughout Australia.

The 16 leaders are drawn from key sectors including domestic and family violence, education, local government, not-for-profit, LGBTI, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse, legal services, sport, media, youth, mental health, disability, police, defence services, and the corporate sector.

The leaders include Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, beyondblue CEO Georgie Harman, former Australian basketball captain and now Rape and Domestic Violence ambassador Lauren Jackson and retired senior officer of Australian Army and 2016 Australian of the Year, LT. Gen David Morrison. Together they showed a unified and collective representation of support for women and children who are affected by domestic and family violence.

Federal Minister for Social Services, Hon. Christian Porter said the Federal Government takes this issue very seriously because the statistics of women affected each week by intimate partner violence are compelling, alarming and saddening.

“Just during the 16 days of this campaign alone, police will be faced with more than 11,500 matters across Australia,” Minister Porter said.

“This campaign has a particular focus on frontline workers, those whose work every day puts them in a unique position to identify and support women and children who are experiencing domestic or family violence.”

Minister for Women, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash said it is a disturbing reality that across Australia police are called to a domestic violence incident every two minutes.

“The Stand Together Against Domestic Violence campaign will assist frontline workers across Australia to become familiar with the 1800RESPECT toolkit and equip them with information to help identify the signs of domestic violence and respond appropriately,” Minister Cash said.

“Developed in consultation with experts and funded by the Department of Social Services, the 1800RESPECT online toolkit has key information on good practice, educational videos with specialists, webinars, tools and resources, and apps.”

“We are encouraging organisations across all sectors to download the toolkit and share it with employees and other organisations,” Minister Cash said.

“Together, we can play a role in better supporting and increasing the safety of women and their children.”

Rosie Batty expressed her gratitude to the frontline workers in Australia who have offered their support for women affected by domestic violence.

“I am continually moved by the groundswell of support against domestic violence. Together, with these key influencers, frontline workers and Australians everywhere can make a difference,” Ms Batty said.

Access the Rosie video and the 1800RESPECT Frontline Workers toolkit

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit our website. In an emergency, call 000.

1800RESPECT acknowledges Women’s Health Goulburn North East and Centre Against Violence for their research used for the Responding to Domestic Violence video presented by Rosie Batty.

The 4 steps are adapted from ‘Raped by a Partner’ research conducted by Women’s Health Goulburn North East (03 5722 3009) supported by Centre Against Violence. Women’s Health Goulburn North East. (2008). Raped by a Partner. Wangaratta: WHGNE. p. 10.

1800RESPECT also acknowledges SECASA, DVConnect, Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, WESNET, and DV-alert for their support with content and campaign resources.

1800RESPECT is the National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service. It is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services as part of the Australian Government's commitment to reduce violence under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022.

1800RESPECT is a confidential online and telephone counselling, information and referral service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Our services are available to people experiencing the impacts of sexual assault, domestic and family violence, as well as their support networks including family, friends and frontline workers.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit our website. In an emergency, call 000. 

The 16 key influencers and leaders (including their organisations and sector represented) who stood alongside domestic violence prevention advocates Rosie Batty and Jimmy Bartel for the 1800RESPECT’s Stand Together Against Domestic and Family Violence and the 16 Days of Action campaign launch included;

1. Antoinette Braybrook, CEO, Aboriginal Family Violence Preventions and Legal Service – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders/Legal
2. Nicholas Parkhill, CEO, ACON - LGBTI
3. Manita Ray, COO, YGAP - Youth Services
4. Megan Mitchell, National Children’s Commissioner - Children’s Services
5. Georgie Harman, CEO, beyondblue - Mental Health
6. Graham Ashton, Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police
7. Ahmed Fahour, MD and CEO, Australia Post, Male Champions of Change - Corporate
8. Sue Salthouse, Disability advocate, 2015 Canberra Citizen of the Year - Disability
9. Lauren Jackson, Ambassador, Rape and Domestic Services Aust and former Captain of Australian Opals basketball team - Sport 
10. Coral Ross, former Chair, Australian Local Government Women’s Association - Local Government 
11. Michael Flood, pro-feminist sociologist at University of Woolongong - Education 
12. Tasneem Chopra, independent Cross Cultural Consultant - Cultural and Linguistic Diversity 
13. Kate Jenkins, Sex Discrimination Commissioner – Human Rights 
14. Craig Drummond, CEO, Medibank, Male Champions of Change - Health/Corporate 
15. Dr. Norman Swan, Doctor, Journalist - Media, Health 
16. Lt. Gen David Morrison, Former Chief of Army, 2016 Australian of the Year - Defence

The 1800RESPECT Frontline Workers Toolkit includes: 

• videos and information about simple practical things you can do to support women including recognising the signs of violence or abuse, and connecting them to support services
• resources to help workers and professionals understand the different types of violence against women
• specialist resources for frontline workers and organisations, information on vicarious trauma and workplace programs
• technology safety resources
• resources specifically for working with people from LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• resources to help women navigate the legal system or know what to expect when going to court
• resources for working with women in times of natural disaster
• resources you can give to women (including the Daisy App), or to help raise awareness of support available to women experiencing the impacts of domestic family violence and sexual assault.

Kelli Browne, Director Communications and Marketing, ph: 0418 356 189 or email kelli.browne@medibank.com.au