National campaign sparks conversations about respect across Australia

Australians are getting behind the Commonwealth Government’s new campaign aimed at breaking the cycle of violence against women and their children. The campaign has been shared widely and is prompting conversations across Australia.

The Stop it at the start campaign, which launched on 20 April, has already received more than 15 million views online. Early tracking shows that many people who have seen the campaign have also taken action by talking to family or friends or discussing it on social media.

Minister for Social Services, Christian Porter, and Minister for Women, Michaelia Cash, said the campaign represents a new and important approach to tackling this issue and the response so far has been encouraging.

“One woman is being killed each week at the hands of a current or former partner, which is unacceptable,” Mr Porter said.

“While most Australians agree violence against women is wrong, most people don’t realise that by making excuses, we are passing on our beliefs to young people, and are unintentionally part of the problem.

“However, we can all be part of solution, and it’s great to see so many Australian’s embracing these messages. Together we can start to be part of cultural change in our society.”

Minister Cash said as adults we play an important role in influencing our young people and set the standard for what is and what’s not acceptable, right from the start.

“Together we can help stop this cycle of violence against women. We can be more aware that the excuses we make have a lasting impact,” Minister Cash said.

“We can start having conversations about respect with boys and girls. We can intervene and correct disrespectful behaviour in young people when we see it.

“Importantly, people are not just passively ‘liking’ the campaign when they see it online. We are seeing people really engage with it, sharing it and having conversations with each other.”

The campaign is aimed at parents and family members of children aged 10-17, as well as the teachers, coaches, community leaders and employers of young people. It is jointly funded by the Australian, state and territory governments.

Downloadable tools and resources are available on the campaign website and include:

• a conversation guide, to help parents and teachers talk with young people about the importance of respectful relationships from an early age
• the respect checklist, for adults to become more aware of what boys and girls might be thinking in disrespectful or aggressive situations
• the excuse interpreter, to discover the hidden meanings of common expressions that can excuse disrespectful behaviour towards girls
• an animation and infographic to provide facts on the issue.

For more information or ways to get involved, visit www.respect.gov.au