Working Together to Stop Domestic and Family Violence Before It Starts

The Prevention Council hopes that opening discussion will encourage community support, an essential factor in tackling the issue of domestic and family violence.   Photo credit: Sebastian Conidi

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Queensland’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council met with Whitsunday stakeholders on Thursday 14^th May to explore opportunities to better understand local drivers of harm and tailor prevention strategies that reflect these factors.

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The Prevention Council is co-chaired by former Police Commissioner Mr Bob Atkinson AO APM and Ms Vanessa Fowler OAM, the sister of the late Allison Baden-Clay who was murdered by her husband in 2012.

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Working at a grassroots level with the community, the Prevention Council has a leadership role in bringing about positive cultural change and mobilising action around primary prevention of domestic and family violence.

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Primary prevention is about stopping violence before it starts. It focuses on creating a society where respect, equality, and healthy relationships are the norm.

Mr Atkinson said, “We know that behaviours that contribute to domestic violence can start small — a sexist joke here, a degrading comment there. When left unchallenged, they contribute to a toxic culture that feeds a cycle of violence and abuse. This culture does not happen overnight — it is shaped by the beliefs and behaviours we see and accept around us. To truly prevent violence, we need to challenge these harmful social norms and replace them with ones that promote respect and equality.”

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Ms Fowler added, “Social norms are the unwritten rules that shape how we behave and interact with each other. They influence what we see as acceptable or unacceptable and are often so deeply ingrained that we might not even realise they exist. However, if we think about some of the significant behaviour changes we have seen in our lives — from drink driving to wearing seatbelts — we can see how community attitudes have shifted over time. These were anti-social behaviours that put lives at risk. That is where we need to be with domestic and family violence — completely unacceptable in any context.”

The roundtable discussion included representatives from Whitsunday Counselling and Support Services, Whitsunday Regional Council, Queensland Police, and the Rotary Club. It followed a candlelight vigil hosted earlier this month by Whitsunday Counselling and Support Services to mark the beginning of Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.

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State MP Amanda Camm voiced her gratitude at the work being done to support the issue across the region.

“As Minister for Domestic and Family Violence, I welcome the DFV Prevention Council and stakeholders visiting the Whitsundays to continue these important conversations around domestic and family violence prevention.  

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“Bringing together local organisations, frontline services and community leaders is an important step in understanding the unique challenges facing our region and identifying ways we can work together to strengthen prevention efforts and support safer communities.”

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The conversation on Thursday was just the beginning of what the Prevention Council hopes will become a whole-of-community approach across the Whitsunday local government area, involving individuals, families, workplaces, schools, sporting clubs, religious institutions, business leaders, community organisations, and government representatives working together to deliver coordinated and concentrated prevention activities across all settings.

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