One in four Australian women has experienced violence from an intimate partner. Young people in Eurobodalla are asking for more community focus on the issue.
As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the Eurobodalla Youth Committee is hosting their Colour Run on Saturday 28 November at Moruya's Gundary Oval. Participants can walk, run – even skip – the five-kilometre course and be thoroughly coated in colour doing so. There'll be DJs, barbecue and food trucks, a group art installation and prizes for best dressed, best team, most enthusiastic, and more.
Eurobodalla Council's youth development officer Michaela Burtenshaw says putting young people's voices front and centre is an important part of the day.
"Domestic violence is a serious subject, and here are the shire's youth finding creative ways to start conversations about healthy relationships and respect," Ms Burtenshaw says.
"They've helped shape the event, written promotional scripts and recorded their own radio promotions. On the day they'll be out there running the colour stations too. It's their event and their message.
The Youth Against Domestic Violence Colour Run is now an established collaboration between the Youth Committee and the Eurobodalla Domestic Violence Committee, who run programs such as Love Bites supporting highschoolers to respect and consent.
The Colour Run is the biggest youth-led event in Eurobodalla with up to 600 community members attending previous runnings, with the aim to focus awareness and encourage conversations about healthy relationships.
Ms Burtenshaw says the fun starts from 9am, with registrations open from 8.30am, with bookings through Humanitix.
"It's five dollars to enter, or fifteen if you also want one the excellent youth-designed colour run T-shirts, with designs created by young people attending our healthy relationships programs. And you don't have to run to be involved – go ahead and walk it, or even dance your way along," she says.
"However you do it, aim to finish covered in colour while making your position on domestic violence black and white."
