Giving back to the community is on most people’s to-do list, but it takes time and a commitment. A recent study from the National Conference on Citizenship shows that Millennials and teens are more likely to volunteer than other recent generations, and are more civically engaged.

It’s around working collaboratively in partnerships, speaking the same language, working from a client-centric approach, giving our victims or survivors of family violence the tools necessary for them to actually be empowered around their own situation, make decisions that are conducive to their own wellbeing, I suppose with the view to breaking that perpetual cycle of family violence.

We need to remove this whole stigma and taboo about ‘we don’t talk about family violence here.’ Well, why not?

I think it’s not the change that I can make, it’s the change that the community needs to make, because it’s a generational thing. If we don’t take to it to the schools, if we don’t take it to the schoolyards, then like the founder of White Ribbon said, until such time as that we have the conversation in lounge rooms between children and adults about gender equality, about treating each other as an equal, then we are going to be left with that challenge forever.I want to see a safe community; our community as well as the wider community. I want to make sure that the wider community embrace our cultural diversity and are respectful of Aboriginal people and our place in the community and our rightful place there, and that it is shared vision for all of us for the future that we live in a safe, happy, healthy and diverse community.I see a system where women can freely report or disclose violence; they’re not limited by anything. I see a system that is culturally responsive. And I also would like to see a society where women are no longer hurt.I think that what we want to achieve is timely responses to family violence so that we’re able to eradicate family violence. I think that’s the objective.

There’s been a lot of talk and now I want to see a lot more action, and I think the groups that I’ve worked with want to hold people accountable.It’s not an easy task. Where do you start? It’s very difficult, but if we don’t start somewhere, we will get nowhere.

From : Family Violence Reform Community
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