Dance is opening doors for discussions about gender-based violence, with young Bendigo women leading the call for respect.
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Greater Bendigo Against Family Violence and Eaglehawk-based hip-hop youth work organisation Hiphopportunities for Youth partnered to deliver an initiative called Stand Up.
"No more gender inequality, discrimination and marginalisation," is among the messages the program is seeking to send.
"No more abuse, sexist jokes or bad behaviour directed at women.
"No more violence against women and children. And, importantly, no more lives lost."
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Fifty women in Australia are known to have died by violence in 2020, according to the Counting Dead Women Australia researchers of Destroy the Joint.
A woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner, on average, nationwide.
One in three women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. One in five women have experienced sexual violence by the same age.
But violence against women has many forms, including emotional and financial abuse.
The youth-led Stand Up program involved the development of a dance, which has been captured on video.
Speakers from Victoria Police and the Greater Bendigo Against Family Violence committee also delivered virtual presentations.
More news:
The project aimed at helping to end violence against women, as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence.
The global campaign started on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which is November 25, and ended on Human Rights Day, which is December 10.
In Victoria, this year's campaign theme is Respect Women: Call it out (Respect is).
"Gender-based violence impacts on the whole of the community," Hiphopportunities youth worker Mike Flood said.
"Our young people and enabling platforms for diverse voices on the issue are crucial to social change."
The Stand Up program involved young people from Crusoe College and young people connected to Hiphopportunities.
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Hiphopportunities facilitator Tiger Jorgensen said the dance element of the program allowed for a different way of communicating about the issue, which was also less confronting.
"The response was really good," Ms Jorgensen, 22, said.
"I was really surprised how much everyone engaged in the project."
She said the approach was super collaborative and was pleased with the outcome, especially considering the challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions.
Seeking help
If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, help is available:
- Safe Steps, Victoria's 24-hour family violence response hotline - 1800 015 188
- 1800 RESPECT, the 24-hour national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service - 1800 737 732
- No To Violence's Men's Referral Service, for men concerned about their use of violence - 1300 766 491
- The Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria, available from 9am - 5pm on weekdays, on 5441 0430, and the Sexual Assault Crisis Line at all other times on 1800 806 292.
- The Orange Door in Loddon, available from 9am - 5pm weekdays - 1800 512 359
- The Centre for Non-Violence, for people who live in the Loddon region, on 1800 884 292.
- Kids Helpline, for people between the ages of five and 25, on 1800 55 1800.
In an emergency, phone 000.
Emma D'Agostino
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
