16 Days in WA - 16 ways to play your part in stopping family and domestic violence

The 16 Days in WA campaign runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) through to 10 December (Human Rights Day) each year. The campaign takes its inspiration from the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Last updated:

Violence against women, including family, domestic and sexual violence, affects individuals, families and communities across Western Australia. 

Preventing violence is not the responsibility of one person or one organisation – we all have a role to play.

Whether you are supporting a friend, having a conversation with your children, volunteering in your community, speaking up against disrespect, or simply learning more about the issue, small actions can help create safer and more respectful communities.

This 16 Days in WA, choose one, two or all 16 ways to play your part.

Support someone who may need help

 1. Be someone a person can turn to. If someone tells you they are experiencing family and domestic violence, including coercive control, your response matters. You don’t have to have all the answers. Listening, believing them and helping them connect to support can make a significant difference.

  • Listen without judgement.
  • Believe what they are telling you
  • Remind them the abuse is not their fault.
  • Respect their choices and safety.
  • Avoid making excuses for the person using violence.
  • Offer help to connect with support services.
  • Stay connected and check in when appropriate.
  • Have family and domestic violence helplines and support services on hand and offer to help them explore the options, including:
    • Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline - 1800 007 339.
    • Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline - 1800 000 599.
    • 1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732
    • MensLine Australia - 1300 78 99 78
    • Sexual Assault Resource Centre - 1800 199 888
    • In an emergency dial 000
  • Offer to help them connect with support services and resources. 

If someone shares that they have used violence or controlling behaviours, respond calmly and non-judgmentally. Encourage them to seek support to change their behaviour and offer helpline numbers or services specialising in behaviour change.

More information and resources to help if you’re worried about a mate’s behaviour are available on our coercive control page.

Learn and build your understanding 

2. Take time to understand gender-based violence, including coercive control – what it is, recognising the signs, how it impacts individuals, and why it's essential to stand up against violence.

Visit our coercive control page and access information and resources at the following links:

3. Learn about tech-facilitated abuse

Technology is increasingly being used to monitor, control, threaten or harass people experiencing family and domestic violence.

4. Build your understanding of financial abuse, including how it affects individuals and what support services and resources are available. 

Your toolkit is a good starting point. You can also access Bankwest’s information on financial abuse.

5. Explore the reading list curated by the State Library of Western Australia. 

If you're in a book club, consider sharing a title from the list for the group’s next read.

You can find the reading list on our digital resources page.

Listen to lived experience

Behind every statistic is a person, family and community affected by violence. Listening to the experiences of victim-survivors can help build understanding, empathy and awareness of the impacts of family and domestic violence. Please note the stories below may contain content and themes which viewers and listeners may find distressing.

6. Watch or listen to these impactful stories that put victim-survivors at the centre:

Take action in your life

7. Join the 36th March Against Domestic and Family Violence on 25 November 2026 at Forrest Place, Perth.

For more information, go to the Centre For Women's Safety and Wellbeing’s webpage. Don’t forget to post about it on your social media.

8. Consider making a financial contribution or donating items to support victim-survivors of family and domestic violence.

The Salvation Army provides escape kits which contain new toiletries for women and children who have had to leave the house quickly due to violence. Here are some other organisations who made a difference:

  • DV Safe Phone collects, refurbishes, and donates mobile phones to people affected by domestic violence - particularly those receiving unwanted messages from an ex-partner or concerned about their phone being tracked.
  • Mettle Women is a social enterprise that creates gift hampers and trains and employs people who have experienced homelessness due to domestic violence. All profits go towards helping support victim-survivors.
  • Dress for Success Western Australia is a grass roots charity which supports economic independence of WA women in need (including victim-survivors of family and domestic violence). Dressed for Success accepts donations of pre-loved corporate wear and provides a suite of career programs and workshops to support WA women in need.
  • 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. Find out whether your workplace has a policy or support program in place to help victim-survivors of family and domestic violence stay safe and remain connected to their work.

10. Start a conversation with your sporting club or organisation about supporting the campaign and what actions to take to address gender-based violence more broadly.

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. Consider offering your time or professional skills to community organisations and services supporting individuals affected by family, domestic, and sexual violence. Your contribution can make a meaningful difference. Here are some organisations you could consider volunteering with:

  • RSPCA’s Pets in Crisis program is about fostering and caring for pets of victim-survivors who have had to leave their home due to domestic violence. The program enables the animals to be cared for safely, until the victim-survivor can be reunited with them.
  • The Worthy Safe Haven program creates beautiful and cozy homes for women and children escaping family and domestic violence. Home design enthusiasts could donate their time or new home décor and furnishings.

12. Talk to your children and other young people in your life about respectful relationships. 

Check out The Conversation Guide and help your children to recognise red flags like jealousy, manipulation, or control. Listen to Lost boys & The Lost Boys - a podcast which explores what does it mean to be a man - to support every parent, carer and educator who wants to do better for the boys in their lives.

13. Speak up and help stop harmful behaviour before it starts.

  • Sexist language, jokes about women, or ideas that devalue them contributes to a culture that tolerates violence. If you hear others saying or doing things that degrade women, call it out. This can make a significant positive difference towards the safety and respect of women and others in our community. 
  • If you aren’t comfortable saying something, there are also ways your actions can show you don’t agree with sexism and misogynistic remarks. The following resources can help guide you to call out sexism and gender stereotypes.
  • Reach Out’s 5 Ways you can call out your mates for sexist behaviour (for adults and young people aged 14 years or over)
  • Respect Victoria’s 16 ways to ‘call it out' (all age groups)

Always prioritise your safety. These conversations and actions can be challenging and may involve discomfort, but they should never compromise your personal wellbeing or dignity.

Stand firm in your values and remember it takes real courage to follow your beliefs instead of simply going along with the crowd.

Make a difference online

14. Model respect online.

Think about what you post, share and comment on. Avoid content that promotes violence, misogyny or humiliation. Online behaviour reflects real world values, and it influences others.

Use your platform to influence and promote messages of respect and non-violence. Visibility matters. When we speak out, others listen.

You can also share 16 Days in WA digital resources on social media.

Get involved in your community

15. Host or participate in an event or activity to raise awareness.

  • Support a local 16 Days in WA event – check what’s happening in your area and show your support.
  • Other ways you could get involved include: 
    • Organise a morning tea, roundtable discussion, or ‘lunch and learn’ session to help raise awareness and spark conversations about gender-based violence.
    • Run a fundraising event to support a non-profit organisation that helps women and children stay safe and recover from family and domestic violence.
    • Create 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.
    • Dedicate a sporting match to the cause – invite your local club to raise awareness of gender-based violence by highlighting the issue during a game.
    • 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’re doing to stop family and domestic violence and prevent violence against women.

Orange and purple are recognised colours of campaigns to end violence against women and family and domestic violence. Wear something orange or purple, including the campaign badge, throughout the 16 Days in WA campaign to spark conversations about what you're doing to help stop family and domestic violence and prevent violence against women. You could also:

  • Share campaign information with friends, family and colleagues.
  • Display campaign posters or digital resources in your workplace, school, community organisation or sporting club.
  • Encourage others to participate in local 16 Days in WA events and activities.
  • Make a personal pledge to take one action that supports the prevention of family and domestic violence.

Have a question or want to report a problem?

Fill in the form to get assistance or tell us about a problem with this information or service.

Send feedback