Standing Firm Against Family Violence Campaign Launch - 21st November 2011

View Photos

On Monday, 21st of November 2011, FVPLS Victoria organised a community BBQ to launch its Standing Firm Against Family Violence campaign.

Over seventy community members and community workers gathered at the Minajulka Centre to stand firm against family violence.

The campaign aims to raise awareness on the impacts of family violence on victims/ survivors within Koori communities. We are calling on individuals to take action against family violence and make a difference. See our 101 ways to stand firm against family violence.

Koori women, community workers and support agencies were part of the event and had the opportunity to enjoy a delicious BBQ and an amazing performance by the Sunshine Sisters.

FVPLS Victoria also launched its promotional Koori Women Standing Firm DVD which is available on YouTube. Find out more about our Standing Firm Campaign.

Clothesline Project at Melbourne Magistrates Court - October 2011 (Week without violence)

The Clothesline project is an international initiative that began in 1990 and that has been adopted by Family Violence networks in Melbourne's northern regions as a creative way of raising awareness of the impacts of violence upon women, children and communities.

Visitors to the Melbourne Magistrates Court in October had the opportunity to contemplate a colourful sight of T-shirts painted with messages of hope, inspiration and determination hanging from a clothesline. The T-shirts delivered strong messages painted by either an Aboriginal woman whose life has been affected by family violence or by women that provide support to Aboriginal victims/survivors of family violence and sexual assault.

The display at the Melbourne Magistrate's Court grew out of a partnership between Elizabeth Hoffman House, the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria and the Koori Family Violence Support Service at the Melbourne Magistrate's Court.

Koori Community Standing Healthy and Strong! Healthy Community Day - September 2011

Aboriginal actor Tammy Anderson was the star performer at a recent Live Longer! Healthy Community Day even in Warrnambool, hosted by the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria (FVPLS Victoria).

Tammy's emotional play 'I don't wanna play house' brought her own experiences with domestic violence and abuse to the stage, sharing with the local community the importance of physical and emotional health and well-being.

FVPLS Victoria's message on the day was heard - to confront the issue of family violence you need to be strong and healthy.

"Eating healthy food and getting regular moderate exercise not only helps us to live longer, but also makes us more resilient and better able to make healthy choices in all aspects of our lives," said Antoinette Braybrook (FVPLS Victoria's CEO).

Young Koori Mums Day's project - May 2011 (Thornbury, Lakes Entrance & Warrnambool)

The main purpose of the project was to raise awareness about family violence and the importance of healthy lifestyles to avoid vulnerability to family violence.

The events also helped young Koori mums to identify support services available in their communities and reinforce their peer to peer support networks. Those days created a space where the young mums could share their experiences with each other and feel that they are not alone, reducing the risk of social isolation.

The event had a well-being approach to help the participants improve their self esteem and feel good about themselves. The young mums and their kids enjoyed massages, beading, face painting, manicures and had fun learning Zumba moves.