By Lucy Waldron
Warwick Safe Haven is excited to extend an invitation to the Southern Downs and Granite Belt communities for the Mentoring in Violence Prevention Workshops, hosted by Griffith University and widely known as the “MATE PROGRAM“ (Motivating Action Through Empowerment).
The workshops aim to empower individuals to become proactive bystanders and will have a strong focus on “how to be a proactive bystander.“
The workshops will take place in Stanthorpe on October 24th at 6pm and in Warwick on 25 October at 6pm. They will be held at the RSL Club Stanthorpe and RSL Club Warwick, respectively.
The session will cover various aspects related to domestic and family violence, including understanding the role of a bystander, the barriers they face, and the reasons behind domestic and family violence.
Participants will also learn to recognise the signs and respond appropriately to such incidents. Additionally, the workshops will emphasise support, responding to disclosures, and demonstrating accountability through respectful challenges.
Warwick Safe Haven’s president Bette Bonney said this is a big opportunity for the southern downs and granite belt region to grab a hold of this significantly useful information.
“These workshops are an invaluable opportunity for the community to get educated and to learn how best to respond and safely navigate domestic violence situations,” Bette said.
Griffith University’s MATE Bystander team will lead the Cultural Change training during the workshops. This training is part of Griffith University’s Violence Research and Prevention Program, which incorporates the latest research into the causes and consequences of violence, discrimination, and racism.
The program aims to equip participants with the tools and understanding to address problematic behaviour, prevent violence against women, racism, discrimination, and promote equality.
The MATE PROGRAM emphasises the importance of every individual’s role in violence prevention, whether they have been directly exposed to it or not. The goal is to empower attendees to recognise problematic situations and intervene effectively, ensuring their safety.
The program seeks to raise awareness about the embedded nature of abusive behaviour in our culture and address the subtle issues that contribute to a potentially harmful environment.
By challenging the root attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours that normalise violence against women, inequality, racism, discrimination, and bullying, the MATE PROGRAM aims to facilitate positive change.
It recognises the need for open dialogues about the dynamics and context of various forms of violence and provides a safe space for participants to share their opinions and experiences related to problematic behaviour.
The workshops offer an interactive environment where individuals can delve deeper into the topics of violence and discrimination, aligning their values with actions.
Through real-world scenarios, participants will have the opportunity to put the MATE bystander intervention framework into practice, promoting a culture of active bystanders who can address problematic behaviour and create a safer community.
Warwick Safe Haven Inc. encourages all members of the Southern Downs and Granite Belt communities to attend these workshops and be part of the movement towards violence prevention.
By gaining knowledge and skills in becoming proactive bystanders, we can work together to create a society that values equality, safety, and respect for all.
To register for the workshops, interested individuals are requested to sign up by October 20th, 2023. They can register via email at safehavenwarwick@gmail.com or by calling 0429 432 510.
