Community Leaders Training and Festival

The project is to train community leaders and raise awareness in our local community around family violence prevention in order to act as representative and reference group in the prevention of violence in our community. We will also develop tools and a manual to use during community activities for early prevention. An end of project dinner festival will be organised to recognise participants and also as a venue for participants to publicly pledge their commitment as agents of change in the community. The participants will then act as mentors to our youths generation.

In Victoria, intimate partner violence contributes to more death, disability and illness in women aged 15 to 44 than any other preventable risk factor, including smoking and obesity. Fifty-nine percent of the health impact experienced by women is anxiety and depression (VicHealth, 2004).

Family violence, especially violence against women and children, is an alarming issue in our community. Prevention of family violence will provide safety and save government and other agencies resources spend in combating violence. Healthy people will be able to contribute positively in community development through jobs and pay tax use to service government functions.