By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Casey’s deplorable family violence rate won’t turn around without men challenging other men, says a leading child-safety advocate.
Bernie Geary, the state’s former children’s commissioner, spoke at City of Casey’s first public White Ribbon Day event at Bunjil Place on 24 November.
“People tend to think it’s a day of acknowledgment around women but it’s a strong message for men.
“My message is, challenge men to challenge each other in relation to their actions and their language.”
It’s a hard thing to counter an “entrenched culture” at a sports club or a workplace, rather than “let it through to the keeper”.
“If all the men in Casey decided in the next month they would challenge it … it would really have an impact.”
Mr Geary told Star News that family violence was unfortunately a “very Australian culture”. It had to be tackled at the grass-roots, not just by tiers of government.
“It’s not about badges and hats. Men have to take responsibility.”
Casey has a higher family violence rate per capita than the Victorian average.
In raw figures, it is consistently the highest in the state. There are 12 family violence incidents in Casey every day – 4369 a year.
Deputy mayor Amanda Stapledon told the White Ribbon Day audience that there wasn’t an “easy fix”.
“The issue is generational, it is across all ages, cultures and ethnicities, and we as a community must confront it head-on.
“Today is about calling out sexist behaviour. It is about ensuring that men who want to commit acts of violence against women do not feel validated or supported by other men.
“It’s also about supporting those who experience violence, including young people, who through no fault of their own, are damaged by the acts of family violence.”
Other speakers Leigh Kennedy and AFLW player Karen Paxman were from Ladder – an AFL program to break the cycle of youth homelessness.
The council endorsed a family violence prevention strategy and a three-year action plan on 21 November.
It will be implemented by the council’s first family-violence prevention officer.
The strategy includes a survey of community attitudes, youth-led forums, promoting more men as White Ribbon Ambassadors and working more with faith leaders and first-time parents.
