The City of Canada Bay has this week hosted a powerful and engaging community forum as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
The hugely successful event brought together over 100 sector leaders and service providers to strengthen local community action towards preventing and addressing domestic and family violence.
Mayor Michael Megna said the forum demonstrated the community's strong commitment to ending domestic and family violence and creating a safer future for all. "Our city stands united in the belief that everyone has the right to feel safe - at home, at work and in the community. The insights shared today will help guide ongoing local action and strengthen our collective capacity to prevent violence," he said.
Council was honoured to welcome NSW Women's Safety Commissioner, Hannah Tonkin, as keynote speaker, alongside an expert panel. By bringing together leading researchers, frontline practitioners and advocates, we were able to shed light on best-practice models that promote safety, accountability and long-term change.
The panellists discussed evidence-based strategies for preventing domestic and family violence, as well as practical approaches to ethical bystander action and community-driven solutions. Speakers reinforced how everyday people - friends, family members, teachers, neighbours and local leaders - can play a vital role in creating safer communities.
Commissioner Tonkin emphasised the crucial role of local councils and community organisations in providing support to women experiencing violence and preventing violence. She also highlighted the importance of empowering community leaders as first responders to domestic and family violence.
"If we're talking about how to actually reach women who are less likely to report to police - women in Aboriginal communities, women in multicultural communities where there might be additional barriers to them seeking help - they are much more likely to seek help from someone in their trusted circle of informal support. So how do we make sure that informal support network is equipped to respond?" she said.
The City of Canada Bay extends its sincere appreciation to all attendees for contributing to meaningful dialogue and shared learning.
Council also acknowledges and thanks the students of The McDonald College, who presented a powerful short film developed through the Love Bites respectful relationships program. The film illustrated how coercive control may appear in the life of a young person and showed pathways to support.
Council warmly thanks the event's outstanding panel of speakers:
Sharmila Falzon: Primary Prevention Officer, DVNSW (facilitator)
Andressa Almeida: PhD Candidate (USYD), Bystander Intervention Research
Mariam Mourad: CEO Bankstown Women's Centre
Daniel Principe: Youth Advocate & Educator
Libby Payne: Respectful Relationship Educator, NAPCAN
Sharlane Murphy: Head of Department PDHPE, McDonald College
Kirsty McEacharn: Head of Wellbeing & Library, McDonald College
Nelly Sinha: Multicultural Liaison Officer, Burwood Police
Lynne McCormack: Senior Project Officer, NSW Ageing and Disability Commission
This event was proudly supported by Canada Bay Club:
