Our Watch

Today is International Day of People With Disability! It is an opportunity to raise community awareness, understanding, and acceptance of the 4.4 million people with disability in Australia. We partnered with Women with Disabilities Victoria to develop resources based on the lived experience of women with disabilities. These resources can help you understand the links between gender inequality, ableism and violence, as well the actions you can take to prevent it. A huge thank you to Renay Barker-Mulholland, Laura Pettenuzzo and Annabel Pitt for sharing their insights in this video. Find videos, audio explainers and more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gicUBk8B #IDPwD #IDPwD2024 #16DaysOfActivism [Video description: In a series of shots, Renay, Laura and Annabel speak to the camera in front of a cream background.]

As a leader, it's your job to make sure your workplace is safe for everyone. Looking for training for your leadership team? Reach out to us today: https://lnkd.in/gijTh_8A [Alt: Navy text on a purple background. Safety at work looks like... Leadership modelling respect and equality. An illustration of three figures. The two on the left and right are in navy and the one in the centre is in cream and slightly larger than the other two.]

Our webinar with Women with Disabilities Victoria is next week! Register on our website today!

"If we're going to create a community, where violence against women is unthinkable, the first thing we have to do is see through and past the ideas that separate us... Instead, let's focus on the things that bring us together, a central view of ourselves, and our community, as a place where all people are valuable and feel respected, and have the right to thrive." Last week, Our Watch CEO Patricia Kinnersly joined her community at the Ballarat Walk Against Family Violence as part of #16DaysOfActivism. It was a powerful event and a great opportunity for the community to come together for a future free from violence. A huge thank you to City Of Ballarat and all the other organisations that organised this event! [Video description: Patty Kinnersly standing on a stage behind a podium, speaking to an audience. The event is outside on a sunny day, and people in the audience are wearing orange hats.]

The Our Watch team have had a busy week to kick off #16DaysOfActivism! Our team attended Djirra- Sharing stories, finding solutions 16 Days of Activism Walk around Lake Burley Griffin, a great opportunity to come together and call for the country to see, hear and listen to Aboriginal women’s voices and experiences.. We also held a Change the story workshop in Hobart. Melissa Kulan, Kristen Carroll and Alina Thomas from Engender Equality spent three days working with participants to put prevention in action. Members of our team also attended the Stop Domestic Violence conference in Adelaide, including Cara Gleeson who gave a presentation on working together under the National Plan, and Cameron McDonald and Jasmine Duong who presented on the role of men in prevention violence against women. Thank you to everyone who organised or took part in these fantastic events - it has been an excellent way to connect with others and continue to work towards a future free from violence against women! [Alt: 1. A large group of people outside in a park, standing behind a banner that says “Aboriginal Women’s Lives Matter” and holding an Aboriginal Flag. 2. Melissa Kulan standing in front of a whiteboard with lots of text written on it, presenting. 3. Kirsten Carroll sitting at a table, smiling and talking. 4. Cara Gleeson standing behind a podium with the Stop Domestic Violence conference logo. She is presenting in front of a slide that says “Our Watch”. 5. Cameron McDonald and Jasmine Duong standing behind a podium with the Stop Domestic Violence conference logo, giving a presentation.]

"Men have to start to become more aware of all forms of violence against women, not just the ones that make the news cycle." Tarang Chawla, Ben Brown and Our Watch CEO Patricia Kinnersly spoke to Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia about the role of men in ending violence against women. https://lnkd.in/gDFsykMU

Matt Tyler, our Executive Director of Community and Systems Impact, spoke to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) AM about the need to engage with community leaders including teachers, sports coaches and social workers in efforts to reduce and eliminate gender-based violence. A new survey released by Our Watch finds that four in five men surveyed want to change the alarming rates of violence against women, and that a greater focus is needed to help men and boys understand what action they can take to help end violence against women. Matt says that Our Watch’s new resources for people working with men in the prevention of men’s violence are an important part of equipping community leaders with the skills they need to make a difference: https://lnkd.in/g3y5ngMD #16DaysOfActivism

We all have a role to play during #16DaysOfActivism to end violence against women – including men. We know that lots of men want to do their part, but many don’t know how to get started. It can start with talking to your mates when they’re showing disrespect. It’s just one way we can build a future based on respect and equality. [Alt: 1. Cream and green text on a navy background: When was the last time you heard someone showing disrespect to women? A photo of two young men in a tutorial. One says to the other “You know she only got into this course because they need more girls.” 2. Research shows a link between disrespect and violence against women. 4 in 5 men surveyed wanted to take action to prevent violence against women. But almost half don’t think they can personally do anything. [Source: Our Watch 2024] You can do your bit by setting yourself a challenge to speak out when you hear disrespect. Here’s how… Arrow pointing to next tile. 3. Question them: “What do you mean?” 4. Shut it down: “She would have got in because her marks were high enough – the same as you.” 5. Show them with body language: Roll your eyes and shake your head. 6. It starts with men. 7. It starts with you.]

"It's really important that as a society, we accept the truth that this violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women... is an impact of colonisation." This morning Regan Mitchell, Wiradjuri-Ngunnawal woman and Head of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy at Our Watch, spoke to Bridget Brennan on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) about the NT coroner’s report into the deaths of four Aboriginal women and the urgent need to take action against violence against Indigenous women.

"8 in 10 men want to take action. That’s a lot of allies. We often ask where are the good men? Well, they are here. We just need to support them so they know what to do. It’s about reaching the the men and boys who want to take action and make change, and that means reaching them where they’re at," Tarang Chawla. "[Education] needs to happen at home, at school and at the community level as well... The only way we do this is by education, so we have more people on the ground as role models and spreading the right messages about healthy masculinities," Ben Brown. Last night at Parliament House, we launched our new Men in Focus practitioner resources at an event co-hosted by the Parliamentary Friends to End Violence Against Women and Children. The evening MC’d by Our Watch CEO Patricia Kinnersly featured a beautiful Welcome to Country from Serena Williams and a panel discussion featuring Our Watch Chair Moo Baulch, Tarang Chawla and Ben Brown, as well as speeches from The Honourable Justine Elliot MP and Senator Larissa Waters. Promoting healthier masculinities and engaging men and boys is a key part of addressing the gendered drivers of violence against women and should be a central aspect of all prevention work.  It is time for men to become active allies. Men’s violence is not a ‘women’s issue’, it’s a societal issue and all men can play a role in helping to end violence against women. Find our new Men in Focus resources on our website: https://lnkd.in/g3y5ngMD