Prevention programs for children and young people are key to breaking cycles of family violence, leaders say.
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The Grampians Prevention Showcase held in Beaufort on Thursday highlighted programs with children and young people to prevent violence against women across the region.
"Preventing is about stopping violence before it starts. To do that we have to engage with children and young people," Dr Jess Cadwallader said, principal strategic adviser for the Central Highlands Integrated Family Violence Committee.
"One of the key things is ensuring there are overlapping messages coming to children and young people from different parts of their lives - from where they live, where they study and where they play.
"It is important all these different spaces are reinforcing the same messages around respectful relationships, the precursors for what violent behaviour might look like and how to intervene."
Ballarat High School presented on their Respectful Relationships in Schools program, including how students had delivered sessions at their former primary schools and conducted personal development training with their own teachers.
Preventing is about stopping violence before it starts. To do that we have to engage with children and young people.
- Dr Jess Cadwallader
Another of the prevention programs showcased was Burron Guli, a Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-op program for men and boys building cultural belonging and an awareness of positive models of masculinity.
The event was hosted by Grampians Communities of Respect and Equality (CoRE) and Central Highlands Integrated Family Violence Committee, and was attended by Prevention of Family Violence Minister Gabrielle Williams.
Dr Cadwallader said she hoped the event encouraged the expansion of prevention programs focused on respectful relationships and gender equity throughout the region, including in sporting clubs.
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