This Friday night, a powerful video featuring messages from prominent Australian men speaking against family violence will be played to a packed audience at the Melbourne Football Ground (MCG) during the game between Collingwood and Hawthorn.
Hugh Jackman AC, Darcy Moore, James Sicily, Eric Bana, Travis Fimmel, Usman Khawaja, Vance Joy, Hamish Blake and others have generously lent their voices of support that feature in the video, an initiative of the Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the Hon Will Alstergren AO.
Chief Justice Alstergren
"Domestic and violence against women is just not on. Something must be done to prevent this behaviour before it occurs, and men need to be part of that conversation and the solution.
Men who hold leadership positions, especially in an area that sees some of the worst of gendered violence, should feel compelled to be part of the push for change. For Australians, sport is the perfect arena in which to start these conversations. We are incredibly grateful to Collingwood and Hawthorn Football Clubs who have given their support by allowing us to play the video at the MCG on Friday night.
In doing so, we hope to raise awareness, and to also prompt much more significant investment in the wrap around services that are supporting women and children who are victim-survivors of family violence, and also for men who are using violence, to help them capitalise on the opportunity to change their harmful behaviour."
Ben Vasiliou, CEO, The Man Cave
"Ending family violence isn't just about responding to harm - it's about building a future where boys and men are part of the solution. After working with over 88,000 boys and young men, we know that when we empower them with the tools to understand themselves, express emotions safely, and respect others, we don't just prevent violence- we grow stronger communities. This starts by surrounding boys with role models who show that strength is found in empathy, accountability and care."
Matt Tyler, Executive Director, The Men's Project, at Jesuit Social Services
The Men's Project at Jesuit Social Services wants to see more men leading purposeful and fulfilling lives, engaging in respectful relationships. Through our decades of work with men who both perpetrate and have sometimes been victims of violence particularly as children, we know that too many feel disconnected and this can manifest in negative behaviour including violence towards themselves and others, including women and children. While not all men perpetrate violence, all men working in solidarity in victim-survivors can play a role in creating communities where everyone can lead healthy lives.
Central to this is calling men and boys into violence prevention efforts including supporting them to better recognise violence, seek help when they need it, address violent behaviour and positively impact the underlying reasons why men use violence such as rigidly adhering to stereotypical ideas about what it means to be a man. Through our Modelling Respect and Equality (MoRE) program, we equip role models working with men and boys everyday - teachers, sports coaches, leaders on construction sites - with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make our community safer.
The Chief Justice added:
"It's important that young men and boys reach out for help. There are great resources available. Beyond DV, founded by Carolyn Robinson, has recently launched its 'Ask a Mate' app, which was designed to give young men aged 13-18 evidence-based, relatable, and bite-sized video advice on relationships, consent, emotions, masculinity, and gender equity. It's an excellent initiative and proves that we can make a real difference. Men need to create change in other men and boys, and light the way forward to a positive and accountable future. We need to encourage men and boys to be better people. Male leaders, family members, colleagues, mates and team members, need to step up, because prevention driven by individual members of the community has the dual benefit of preventing violence in one's own circle, but also changing community attitudes, one person at a time."
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