DNC Training for Prevention of Violence Against Women

As leaders in our community and advocates for justice and equality, we at DNC stand firmly against violence in all its forms, particularly violence against women.  We recognize that violence against women is a pervasive issue that affects individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures.  It is not only a violation of human rights but also a major obstacle to the achievement of equality, development, peace, and the fulfillment of women and girls’ human potential.

Last week, staff and members of the Committee of Management of DNC received the first of a series of training sessions designed to raise our awareness and provide us with some tools to help prevent violence against women.

The training will consist of four sessions over two months.

The training is provided by the Communities of Respect and Equality (CoRE) Alliance which was formed by Women’s Health Grampians in 2016 to bring together organisations to address the prevalence of violence against women in the Grampians region.  CoRE is an alliance of over 120 organisations, businesses, clubs and groups that are committed to creating safe, equal and respectful communities in the Grampians region.

The training will enable us to

  • Educate and raise awareness about the impact of violence on women, their families, and society at large,
  • Support survivors with compassion and respect, ensuring they have access to necessary services and justice,
  • Promote gender equality and empower women through all levels of our organisation and community,
  • Collaborate with partners across sectors to develop and implement strategies that address the root causes of violence,
  • Advocate for policies and legislation that protect women’s rights and safety, and
  • Cultivate a culture of respect and non-violence through leadership by example.

Our first session covered topics including:

  • Defining Violence Against Women
  • Current Statistics
  • Causes of Violence Against Women
  • What is Bystander Action?
  • How to be an Active Bystander

Future sessions will help us explore topics including:

  • Violence against women is preventable.
  • A safe, equal and respectful society for everyone.
  • We all have a role to play to:
    • Be an active bystander – show it’s not OK & speak up
    • Challenge violence against women
    • Challenge rigid gender stereotypes and roles
    • Empower women and girls
    • Build equal and respectful relationships
    • Work towards gender equality.

We are grateful to Hepburn Shire for funding this training and to CoRE for presenting it.

DNC Joke of the Week

A duck walks into a general store and asks the manager “Got any fresh fruit?”

“No.”

“Got any fresh vegetables?”

“No.  We have only canned and dry goods.”

The next day, the duck returns.  “Got any fresh fruit?”

“No.”

“Got any fresh vegetables?”

“No.  I told you yesterday, we have only canned and dry goods.  If you come back tomorrow and ask me the same question, I’ll nail your webbed feet to the floor.”

On the third day, the duck walks in and asks, “Got any nails?”

“No.”

“Got any fresh fruit?”

[If you’ve got a better joke, (and doesn’t everyone??) send it to  admin@dncentre.org.au  and we’ll publish it.  (Remember, this is a family publication! 😊).  We’ll even include your name if you wish – or you can protect your anonymity!]