- More than 20 communities from Kununurra to Bunbury will raise awareness of family and domestic violence for '16 Days in WA' campaign
- Cook Government expands the '16 Days in WA' campaign, awarding $50,000 in community grants
- '16 Days in WA' campaign asks everyone to play their part in stopping family and domestic violence
From Kununurra to Bunbury, more than 20 communities across the State will host a community event to raise awareness of family and domestic violence.
The Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing (CWSW) received $25,000 to administer small community grants State-wide, supporting organisations hosting events during the '16 Days in WA' campaign to raise awareness of family and domestic violence.
The Aboriginal Family Legal Services (AFLS) has also received a $25,000 grant to support 'Ochre Ribbon' campaign activity during '16 Days in WA'. 'Ochre Ribbon' is a grassroots, community-led campaign, which began in Western Australia, to support community action against family violence impacting Aboriginal families and communities.
'16 Days in WA', now in its seventh year, runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day).
This year's theme is 'Stopping Family and Domestic Violence: Play Your Part'. The campaign is designed to shine a spotlight on the issue of family and domestic violence, and help people understand actions they can take to call out disrespectful behaviour, as well as better understand the many forms family and domestic violence can take.
The small community grants contribute to a wide range of events and activities, including education sessions, silent marches, morning teas and lunches for victim-survivors along with a special series of Aboriginal art events.
The CWSW small grant recipients are hosting community events or educational activities that raise awareness about gender-based violence during '16 Days in WA', and encourage change to stop domestic violence.
The $25,000 received by the Aboriginal Family Legal Services is supporting Aboriginal art competitions in metropolitan and regional areas of the State throughout '16 Days in WA' as an extension of the 'Ochre Ribbon' campaign, and has developed social media material for 16 days.
For further information about the community events and everything to do with '16 Days in WA' visit 16days.wa.gov.au.
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton:
"This is the first time the State Government has offered community grants to support the expansion of the '16 Days in WA' campaign.
"We understand how important local leadership and involvement in this initiative is for change to succeed.
"Event organisers are playing their part, as this year's theme suggests, by shining a light on this issue in a way that is appropriate for their community.
"This year, I am asking everyone to play their part, and the 16days.wa.gov.au website includes 16 ways you can personally or collectively play your part to increase awareness of family and domestic violence, call out disrespectful behaviour in all areas of our lives, and contribute to stopping the cycle of violence."
