It Starts With Me. Today
A campaign by Healthier Illawarra Men in partnership with Women Illawarra.
About the campaign:
It Starts With Me. Today. is a male-focused campaign by Healthier Illawarra Men, with the support and guidance of Women Illawarra. Using prominent men in the Illawarra community, the campaign is determined to change the way in which domestic violence is perceived and spoken about in our local community.
In doing so, and with the implementation of specific calls to action, the It Starts With Me. Today. campaign aims to actively impact domestic violence rates in the Illawarra region. Additionally, the campaign recognizes the profound impact of domestic violence on children. It's not about judgment or reckoning with one's past, but about making a commitment from today to effect change for the future, ensuring a safer and healthier environment for generations to come.
Being a truly male-driven and supported campaign, we aspire for this initiative to serve as a broader test case for change nationally.
Campaign Statement
As men of the Illawarra, we recognise that domestic violence affects not just individuals, but entire families including children. It Starts With Me. Today. is our commitment to changing the narrative surrounding domestic violence in our community. With the support of Women Illawarra, we stand together to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviors, fostering a culture of respect and safety. It's not about dwelling on the past, but about taking responsibility from this moment forward to create a better future for all.
Join us in this journey towards a healthier, safer, and more equitable society.
Why?
The catch cry to the stark reality that domestic violence almost categorically is a male issue is often “it’s not all men”.
The It Starts With Me. Today. campaign recognises that the responsibility in tackling the issue of domestic violence rests with each and every male. Each grandfather, father, uncle, son, cousin, workmate and neighbour. We all have a role to play.
It recognises men need to be ‘Upstanders’, not ‘Bystanders’.
The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032:
On 17 October 2022, the Australian, state and territory governments released the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.
The National Plan is the overarching national policy framework that will guide actions towards ending violence against women and children over the next 10 years.
It highlights how all parts of society, including governments, businesses and workplaces, media, schools and educational institutions, the family, domestic and sexual violence sector, communities and all individuals, must work together to achieve the shared vision of ending gender-based violence in one generation.
The It Starts With Me. Today campaign fits under the national framework in two ways:
Action 5: Strengthen systems and services to better hold people who choose to use violence to account, and provide opportunities to support people who have used violence, or are at risk of using violence, to change their behaviours, with the aim of protecting the safety and wellbeing of current and potential victim-survivors.
Action 6: Improve action to prevent and address sexual violence and harassment in all settings, across the four domains of the National Plan.
Campaign areas of focus:
Sexual Safety
E safety
Dehumanizing language
Domestic & Family abuse
(emotional, physical, financial, religious, psychological, social)
Coercive Control
Physical violence
and Aggression
Challenging Gendered roles
Empathy as a superpower not a weakness.
It Starts With Me. Today campaign
in partnership with:
