Domestic and Family Violence
Shellharbour City Council's Domestic Violence Management Plan outlines our long-term goal to reduce the rate of domestic violence assaults, increase awareness of domestic violence and encourage the city to take a stand and say NO to violence in Shellharbour.
Council also hold a position on the Illawarra Committee Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) and are actively involved in activities throughout the region.
Family and domestic violence can be between people who are in many different relationships. The type of violence can be physical, emotional, sexual or financial.
If you are experiencing domestic violence there are people that can help you.
Call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or 000 in case of an emergency.
The Illawarra Committee Against Domestic Violence support booklet is a great resource of local services that can help. Download the booklet here: ICADV Booklet
Empower You is a free safety app for people experiencing domestic and family violence. Use Empower You to obtain contact details of support services, to send messages with your location to trusted friends, or to gather information about your experiences to send to a friend for safe keeping.
Statement of Intent to End Violence in Our Community
Shellharbour City Council has a long history of delivering initiatives that aim to prevent violence from occurring in our community. As an extension of these efforts, on 27 August 2024, Shellharbour City Council adopted the Statement of Intent to End Violence in Our Community. This Statement is a sign of Council’s commitment to continue to understand the drivers of violence on our community, including gendered violence, and to take appropriate action to stamp it out.
Statement of Intent to End Violence in Our Community
Shellharbour City Council is committed to delivering and supporting actions that aim to end violence in the community of Shellharbour, including violence towards women and children.
In recognition that Council, as the level of government closest to the community, has an important role to play in ending violence in our community, including gendered violence, we commit to continuing the delivery of primary prevention initiatives that raise awareness and educate the community on this important matter.
We will continue to be an active member of the Illawarra Committee Against Domestic Violence and continue to work with and support local services specialising in gendered violence prevention and intervention.
Community Podcast - Agents for Change
Community Podcast - Agents for Change
In 2022, we were announced as the first organisation nationally to be identified by White Ribbon Australia to receive support for the establishment of a community action group to help address gendered based violence. The Shellharbour Council Community Action Group project forms part of the Fourth National Action Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-22 and was funded by the Department of Social Services. Since its creation, the Shellharbour Community Action Group has been working to develop a community podcast series to explore and address the underlying causes of violence against women in an effort to prevent it before it begins.
The podcast series, titled Agents for Change, was released on Saturday 25 November 2023, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This day also marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Agents for Change discusses the four main drivers of domestic violence. Developed in a panel-style format with the help of 50 local community members, the podcast explores the science and research behind gender stereotypes, unconscious bias, social experiments, and how they contribute to the prevalence of gender-based violence.
The Agents for Change’ podcast series can be accessed via this page: Agents For Change - Home Page — coequal. Here you can learn more about the project and access episode blogs that discuss the drivers of gendered based violence.
Australian Teachers of Media have also released a free study guide. Recommended for secondary students, it can be linked to the following subjects within the Australian Curriculum:
*Health and Physical Education
*Media Arts
*English
*Psychology
For more information, connections and resources about preventing violence against women: Our Watch home | Preventing violence against women and their children - Our Watch.
