Southern Highlands and Goulburn residents are being encouraged to commit to ongoing action to end men's violence against women on White Ribbon Day this Friday.
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White Ribbon Australia executive director Brad Chilcott said White Ribbon Day was just the start of a national call to action for everyone to play a role in eliminating men's violence against women.
"We know it's not a one-size-fits all approach and it will require all of us to be all in. Working collectively, we can end men's violence against women community by community and workplace by workplace," Mr Chilcott said.
"It's time to develop diverse, community-led responses to create a future free from all forms of men's violence and abuse.
"Communities have the solutions to the challenges they face and workers are best placed to know how to make their workplaces safer and more equal."
Already this year, more than 34 women have been killed in Australia.
The Chief Justice of the Family Court says that domestic violence is at the worst level in 30 years.
In addition, polling commissioned by White Ribbon Australia in September 2020 showed young Australian men were the least likely to recognise both physical and emotional abuse as domestic violence.
Mr Chilcott also highlighted White Ribbon Australia's new Community Partners program inviting people from all walks of life to play a part in leading, encouraging and supporting their community to eliminate violence against women.
"Our Community Partners will also play an important role in the creation of Community Action Groups across Australia - like-minded people coming together to bring about real and lasting change," he said.
"This might include driving community-led and designed responses; working with existing organisations or networks; supporting the good work already being done in the community; bringing stakeholders together; advocating for necessary services; and developing community action plans."
Essential Research polling commissioned by White Ribbon Australia found 42 per cent of men aged 18-34 do not consider physical violence such as punching or hitting to be domestic violence, while 44 per cent said the same of non-consensual sexual activity.
Other behaviours that are not widely considered domestic violence by this cohort include:
- Harassment or spying via electronic means to be domestic violence (54 per cent)
- Isolating a partner from loved ones and sources of support (47 per cent)
- Frightening, humiliating, degrading or punishing a person (43 per cent)
