More than 130 Queensland businesses and community organisations with a collective reach in the millions have today pledged to take up the fight against domestic and family violence across the state.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer said today's (10 September) Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Community and Corporate Forum: Safe at home, work and play was a significant show of force from Queensland businesses and groups.
Ms Farmer said all the major media companies would be represented at the forum, as well as 16 different sporting codes, 11 law firms and consulting agencies, 10 major community organisations, six banks, and many more companies and groups with the capacity to influence and reach millions of Queenslanders.
"One in five women and one in twenty men have experienced abuse at the hands of a current or former partner, which means that every one of us knows someone who's been affected," she said.
"Around 60 per cent of women who are affected by domestic and family violence are employees – they are our staff, our colleagues and more broadly they are our customers and members.
"Queensland's corporate and community sectors have an enormous capacity to reach millions of Queenslanders, which means they have an incredible opportunity to drive change across the state.
"Today, we are asking businesses and organisations, the Queensland we want to be is one that's free from domestic and family violence, so how do we make this a reality?
"Every organisation will be starting from a different starting point. Some are quite advanced along the journey, others will be taking their first steps.
"It doesn't matter where you start, as long as you start – this forum isn't an end point, it's a start point for action.
Ms Farmer said a major initiative moving forward from the forum would be the development of a framework to help support and guide organisations to take action to address domestic and family violence.
"As a government, we can't do this alone – but we don't expect you to do it alone either," she said.
"We want to make sure we're supporting the corporate and community sector as they move forward, so we want to hear from everyone about what they are ready to commit to doing but importantly what support they need to take that next step.
"Part of that is accessing information from people with experience, so from next month we will be hosting Lunchbox Sessions especially for those businesses and community organisations who are just starting out.
"These short workshops will be led by experts who can help organisations identify how they can get started, and for us to learn what support organisations need."
Ms Farmer said they government would also highlight the good work currently being done by organisations with the launch of a new Not Now Not Ever Together website which includes information, advice, and links to resources.
"Queensland corporations and community groups can take the pledge on the website, submit their company's logo, and we'll feature their logo with a link back to the resources and initiatives they are working on as a shared resource for other organisations," she said.
"It's about the sector supporting each other and working together to create the Queensland we want to be."
Ms Farmer thanked Telstra and McCullough Robertson Lawyers for their sponsorship of the forum and Printing Success for their support.
Visit the new Not Now Not Ever Together website at www.qld.gov.au/notnownotevertogether
Join the conversation on social media at #notnownotevertogether
The first DV Lunchbox Session will be held on October 29.
