Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

DV Taskforce Launches Confronting Campaign

A series of powerful billboards was launched on Monday to raise awareness and draw attention to the impact domestic violence (DV) has on children.

The three billboards developed and delivered by DV Taskforce Mackay depict the faces of children and convey messages relating to children learning from and repeating the behaviour of their parents.

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson says the campaign is intended to shine a light on an issue that was previously swept under the rug.

“This is about raising the level of awareness of how abuse in a family environment affects kids,” he said.

“The people who get the most traumatised out of it are children.

“If just one person picks up the phone and says, ‘I need help,’ we think we’re a long way down the track.”

Mackay Women’s Services Executive Director Linda-Ann Northey says the main message of the campaign is intervention and prevention.

“We want to make a difference for children today, make sure that they’re safe, get the message out there in a really highlighted way, but we also want to make a difference for the next generation,” she said.

There are up to 700 referrals for children requiring the service of Mackay Women’s Services and Ms Northey says she hopes that’s due to new awareness thanks to campaigns like this.

The campaign will be seen in various locations around the region for the next 12 months including two digital billboards and information screens at Caneland Central.

Caneland Centre Manager Simon De Barro says Lendlease Caneland has been a member of the mayor’s domestic violence committee since 2017 and they are proud to provide coverage of such an important campaign.

“The real message behind the campaign is helping the hidden faces of domestic violence and domestic abuse which is, of course, the children,” he said.

“To facilitate change is incredibly important and an incredibly powerful message that Caneland is supporting.”

Mayor Greg Williamson, Mackay Women’s Services Executive Director Linda-Ann Northey and Caneland Central centre manager Simon De Barro launch “The Hidden Face” campaign. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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