By BRIDGET SCOTT
A GROUP of men have stood up to confronting statistics that reveal a harsh reality for women in this region.
Family violence rates are the highest in the state in the City of Casey, Cardinia Shire and City of Greater Dandenong, but a group of leaders are determined to change this.
Around 60 men took a pledge at a family violence forum last Wednesday night, committing to creating a better future for women and children.
The forum at the Civic Centre in Narre Warren was the beginning of a partnership between the City of Casey, Cardinia Shire and City of Greater Dandenong, which will see members from each municipality challenge family violence.
They will challenge the fact that one in three women will be a victim of family violence, and attempt to change statistics that show that family violence makes up one fifth of crime in this state.
The forum last Wednesday played host to five guest speakers from different organisations who talked about ways to prevent family violence.
Cardinia Shire mayor and policeman Brett Owen was the first to address the group, and discussed the potential this program had to take off.
“This forum and group aims to prevent family violence before it occurs,” he said.
“The potential for change is great and we want to make a positive impact on our communities.”
Following Cr Owen, Professor Bob Pease from Deakin University, a women’s rights activist, spoke to the group about how to make a difference.
Professor Pease said he “wanted to bring men closer together to talk about issues raise by women” and spoke about the “paradox” he believes exists.
“There is a heightened awareness of men’s violence against women, but the paradox is that violence from men to women continues,” he said.
Professor Pease wants to engage men in this issue, because “men have a stake”.
“Awareness of this issue in itself is not enough,” he said.
Luke Brennan, a former footballer and representative from the AFL, supported Professor Pease’s comments by presenting a respect and responsibility module created by the AFL.
This adapts a ’near-peer’ and ’face-to-face’ approach, which forces men to be confronted with the issue of family violence and its consequences.
Scott Holmes from the YMCA followed Mr Brennan’s presentation, and spoke on gender inequality in faith communities and in the work place.
He said it was the men’s responsibility to stop family violence and spoke about the culture of male power and privilege.
The audience was then faced with Nathan Islip, a family man and employee of the City of Casey, who drew on personal anecdotes to emphasise why changing the future for women and children is important.
“I want the cycle to break,” he said.
In closing, Inspector Wayne Viney played a chilling a 911 call between a young girl and an operator in the United States.
Inspector Viney revealed that there was one attack every 75 minutes among the three municipalities and urged the men in the room to stop this.
“We need community leaders to stand up,” he said.
Men from the community are urged to take part in this project and become White Ribbon Ambassadors.
