The Ballarat family violence campaign was launched on Wednesday night at Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka (M.A.D.E), with more than 100 people in attendance. 

Lillian Hearn, the young girl who brought the campaign to Ballarat, said it was time for the community to rally behind a campaign to stop family violence.

The Ballarat Grammar year 10 student was inspired to bring the campaign to the city after seeing a display of stars at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

“It’s a project of hope. It will spread awareness and get the community of all age groups to help,” Miss Hearn said.

“A family should be safe and comforting and shouldn’t be that way.

“I think it will be great to share different stories. It’s a negative picture and it shouldn’t be that way.”

The Ballarat initiative is calling on the community to help make 10,050 stars to add to a display at Stockland Wendouree in December.

Currently, 1350 stars have been made in Ballarat.

In delivering his speech to the forum, Ballarat Police Family Violence Unit Sergeant Brendan Cosgriff said a cultural shift had to be made within the community.

“The campaign acknowledges that there is community support to assist the police in tackling family violence,” Sergeant Cosgriff said.

“With awareness of the underlying issues of family and community violence, victims can feel empowered and encouraged in the knowledge that there is support and that they aren’t alone in dealing with the problem.”

Organiser Kath Milne said the support for the campaign had been overwhelming. 

“It seems like an impossible task to make a million stars but at least we can try,” Ms Milne said. “I think it allows people to have space to talk about it and say ‘hey that’s not OK’.” 

For more information or to offer support to the Ballarat 1 Million Stars campaign, call 5333 3666.

david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au