Wollongong Local Area Command are proud to support ‘Wear it Purple’ 2016; a student-run event that promotes the well-being of all young people, and the prevention of bullying and youth suicide by encouraging people to be proud of who they are, NSW Police say.
‘Wear it Purple’ takes place today tomorrow, and will see police officers out and about in the Wollongong CBD taking a stand in purple.
Local police will also be hosting ‘Coffee with a Cop’ at the University of Wollongong at 10am, where displays will be on show and members of the public can come and meet with local police for a friendly chat over a free cup of coffee.
Police will then attend the Wollongong Mall at 12.30pm, which has the Produce and Creative Markets throughout the day to engage with the local community.
The annual ‘Wear it Purple’ event promotes the idea that every young person is unique and should therefore be celebrated for who they are within a safe and supportive environment.
‘Wear it Purple’ was started by two school students in 2010 and has now grown into an international celebration; spreading the simple message that ‘you have the right to be proud of who you are’.
The NSW Police Force has actively supported the event since 2012, with School Liaison Police, Youth Liaison Officers (YLOs), Crime Prevention Officers (CPOs) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Liaison Officers (formerly GLLO officers) attending schools in their local areas to talk about the impact of bullying and the importance of inclusion.
The NSW Police Force supports initiatives that foster a safe and inclusive working environment, like the Pride in Diversity and the GLLO program, the latter of which now includes 200 officers across the state.
‘Wear it Purple’ day also encourages support for the prevention of youth suicide, one of the leading causes of death among young people, second only to road trauma.
The risk of suicide grows seven times greater for youths who suffer discrimination or prejudice based on their sexuality or gender diversity.
