Last year, we launched the Community Response Fund, asking our supporters make donations to back local primary prevention initiatives aimed at stopping violence before it begins. We then invited community groups and organisations to apply for funding through a grants process, sharing their ideas to bring about change at a local level.
We are now excited to announce that the successful applicant for the $20,000 Community Response Fund was MiCare and the City of Brimbank. They will be working together to deliver a ‘Dads and Kids Group’ for men in multicultural communities aimed at promoting gender equality and exploring healthy male attitudes and behaviours (healthy masculinities).
Brimbank is a culturally diverse municipality, with more than half its residents born overseas and almost 70% speaking a language other than English at home. MiCare is a community services provider working to deliver culturally diverse programs throughout the region.
As with many communities across Australia, the prevalence of family and domestic violence continues to rise, requiring groups and organisations to develop locally-led solutions to tackle the issue.
MiCare will work to enhance the knowledge and skills of men to challenge rigid gender roles, while also encouraging shared parenting. Through activities with their children, men will positively engage in the White Ribbon Australia movement to ‘change the story’ of violence against women.
As stated by MiCare: “There is an opportunity to engage men in primary prevention through focusing on their role as fathers. This is a period of transition and an opportunity to encourage men and boys to reflect on the effects of gender social norms and stereotypes in their own lives and explore opportunities for change.”
White Ribbon Australia is looking forward to working with MiCare and the City of Brimbank over the next two years to deliver this amazing project in the community and will keep our supporters updated as it progresses.
