16 Days of Activism: Raising Awareness, Inspiring Change

🧡 Today is the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻. This global day shines a light on the 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 need to end violence against women and girls in our homes, workplaces, communities, and online spaces. It’s a reminder that violence is never acceptable, never inevitable, and always preventable. Today, and everyday, we stand with women and communities everywhere calling for safety, respect, and a future free from violence.

Gender-based violence isn’t just physical. It includes threats, coercion, control, and any behaviour that causes harm. Knowing the signs helps us stand up, speak up, and support safer communities.

The colour orange is used throughout the 16 Days of Activism because it represents hope, optimism, and the belief that a safer future is possible. It encourages us to stay engaged, raise awareness, and be part of positive change.

This devastating statistic is a reminder that gender-based violence remains a critical issue in Australia. Behind this number are real women, families, and communities forever changed. This statistic is a stark reminder of the ongoing impact of gender-based violence, and why prevention, support, and awareness matter now more than ever.

Assumptions about “safe” neighbourhoods can silence those who need support. Gender-based violence can occur anywhere, which is why awareness and understanding matter in every community.

Before this month's 𝟭𝟲 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 campaign officially began, our team joined the Rockhampton community at Zonta Club of Rockhampton Inc's ‘𝙎𝙖𝙮 𝙉𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝘼𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣’ breakfast event. The morning focused on courage and collective responsibility, with our Domestic and Family Violence Services team sharing 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 on the work happening 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆 to prevent and respond to domestic and family violence across Central Queensland.

When we think only of physical violence, we overlook the many other forms violence can take. Understanding the full spectrum of gender-based violence helps communities support victim survivors more effectively and respond appropriately to those who use violence.

Australia’s women are incredibly diverse, with different cultures, languages, ages, life experiences, and backgrounds. This diversity enriches our communities, but it can also shape the challenges women face when seeking safety or support. During the 16 Days of Activism campaign, we’re reminded that responses to gender-based violence must be inclusive, culturally aware, and accessible for every woman, in every community.

Leaving a violent relationship isn't always a safe or simple option. Victim survivors can face a heightened risk of violence during separation, along with financial, emotional, and family pressures that can make the decision to leave incredibly complex. Recognising this reality helps us challenge harmful assumptions and reminds us why safe, supportive pathways matter.

This statistic highlights how common gender-based violence can be in everyday workplaces. The 16 Days of Activism campaign calls on us to challenge these behaviours and support safer, more respectful workplaces.

This year’s 16 Days of Activism focuses on tech-facilitated abuse, a growing form of gendered violence. As technology becomes more accessible, it’s increasingly used to monitor, threaten, or control victim survivors. Understanding these risks helps us create safer digital and real-world environments.

When technology is used to harm or control someone, it becomes tech-facilitated abuse. This can involve harassment, threats, image-based abuse, cyberstalking, or restricting access to devices and online accounts. These behaviours can look different for everyone, but none of them are acceptable.

No one should face domestic and family violence alone. Across Australia, specialised services provide safe, confidential support for people experiencing or at risk of violence. To make help easier to find, we’ve gathered key support numbers below, including local assistance through CatholicCare. If you’re worried about your safety or the safety of someone close to you, these services can offer guidance, care, and practical help.

As the 16 Days of Activism draws to a close, we’re reminded that everyone deserves to feel safe at home and no one should have to leave their community to find it. From Yeppoon to Longreach, our dedicated teams offer free, confidential support to anyone affected by domestic and family violence, including victim survivors, children, and people who want to change their use of violence. The voices of those we walk alongside as they reclaim safety and stability show us why this work matters 💜

🟡 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆, and marks the final day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign. This year’s theme "𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙍𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨, 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙀𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙨" reminds us that human rights aren’t abstract or distant. They’re the quiet foundations we rely on every single day. Human rights show up in the opportunities we pursue, the safety we feel, the choices we make, and the dignity we all deserve. They’re also closer than we think. Human rights are lived in small, everyday moments, such as when we treat others with 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘂𝗽 against unfairness, and 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 to voices that are often overlooked. Each action helps build a community where 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲, 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱. In a time when many people feel uncertainty or disconnection, today reaffirms that 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆, 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.