Direct support for a family member, friend or loved one
1. Things you could do if a family member, friend, neighbour or work colleague tells you they are experiencing family and domestic violence (or knows someone who is).
- Believe them and take what they say seriously. Every instance of violence will be different. Domestic violence is not always physical; it can be emotional, psychological, financial and sexual.
- Listen patiently without interrupting or judging, and don’t ask too many questions about what has happened, as this can be re-traumatising.
- Make sure the person knows it is not their fault, and they are not to blame for the abusive behaviour.
- Don’t make excuses for the person who has hurt them or blame alcohol, other drugs or mental health issues or life stresses for the abuse.
- Understand that they may not be ready, or it may not be safe for them to leave. Don’t push them to take action.
- Have helpline numbers on hand to provide.
- Offer to help them explore Support services and resources.
- If someone discloses that they use violence, offer helpline numbers and encourage them to speak to someone who can help with changing their behaviour.
Learn about family and domestic violence
2. Learn about gender-based violence, what it is and why is it important to take a stand. Visit these websites and watch these videos:
- Our Watch
- eSafety Commissioner
- Partners in Prevention
- ANROWS
- What is domestic and family violence?
- Let’s Change the Story: Violence against women in Australia
- Violence against women: Sport can help change the story
3. Learn about financial abuse and the resources and services available to assist people in these circumstances. Your toolkit is a good starting point. You can also access Bankwest’s information on financial abuse.
4. Read a book from the reading list put together by the State Library of Western Australia.
5. Learn more about appropriate media reporting on family and domestic violence from Our Watch
Hear from victim-survivors about family and domestic violence
6. Listen to the podcast series There’s No Place Like Home, which puts survivors of family and domestic violence at the centre of the story.
7. Watch the SBS series Safe Home and/or the documentary See What You Made Me Do based on the award winning book by investigative journalist Jess Hill.
Take action in your life
8. Donate your Containers for Change refund to a relevant charity or cause (choose Human Services in the directory to search for organisations providing services to people experiencing family and domestic violence).
9. Ask whether your workplace has a policy or program to support victims-survivors of family and domestic violence to stay safe and connected to work. Refer to the Family and domestic violence at the workplace information sheet and check out Our Watch’s Workplace Equality and Respect Home
10. Talk to your sporting club or organisation about what they are doing to support the campaign and address broader gender-based violence issues. If these issues are not being addressed, encourage action. Point them to the Respectful Relationships Sport and Recreation Program and the Equality and Respect in Sport Home | Preventing violence against women developed by Our Watch.
11. Volunteer your time and professional experience to community organisations, services and groups that are supporting people impacted by family and domestic violence and sexual violence.
12. Talk to your children and other young people in your life about respectful relationships and check out the Respect Checklist.
13. Model respectful behaviour to your family, friends and work colleagues. We all see and hear things that we know aren’t right. Speak up when you hear a sexist joke or challenging gender stereotypes when you hear them. This can make a significant positive difference towards the safety and respect of women in our community. Be safe. This can be difficult and result in necessary discomfort, and should not come at the expense of your personal safety and dignity.
Get involved in the 16 Days in WA campaign
14. Share 16 Days in WA campaign messages on social media. You can use our Digital resources.
15. Host or participate in an event or activity to raise awareness.
- Hold a morning tea, round table discussion or ‘lunch and learn’ session to raise awareness of the issues of gender-based violence.
- Host a fundraising activity to raise money for a non-profit organisation that supports women and children to be safe and recover from family and domestic violence.
- Establish a ‘Play Your Part’ wall at your workplace, sporting club or other organisation, encouraging staff and members to commit to actions to show their support in stopping family and domestic violence.
- Hold a dedicated sporting game. Ask your local club to dedicate a game to raising awareness of the issue of gender-based violence.
- Hold a book club session focussed on works dealing with issues of gender-based violence. Use the State Library of Western Australia’s reading list for inspiration.
- Invite someone who works with a family and domestic violence service to speak at your event. The Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing and Stopping Family Violence can assist with ideas for speakers.
16. Wear something orange, including the campaign badge, throughout the 16 Days in WA campaign to spark conversations about what you can do to help prevent violence against women.
