It’s alarming to know that 1 in 6 women and 1 in 25 men experience at least one sexual assault by the time they are 15 years old.
In an effort to help break this cycle of violence, the Albanese Government has launched the fourth phase of the Stop it at the Start campaign, with two high-profile First Nations campaign supporters, Shelley Ware and Scott Prince, joining to help.
The campaign encourages adults to reflect on their attitudes and have conversations with young people about respect. These conversations are meant to send the message that all violence against women starts with disrespect.
“Respect is a huge part of the Aboriginal culture. From a very young age, we’re taught to respect our Elders, to respect country, our community, and always give back. Respect is an essential part of Aboriginal culture, it always has been,” says Ware.
A proud Yankunyjatjara and Wirangu woman from Adelaide, who’s been teaching for 25 years and was formerly part of the ground-breaking NITV football program, Marngrook: Ware says she’s been talking to her 14-year-old son, Taj, about respect since he was a young boy.
“Supporting the Stop it at the Start campaign was literally a no-brainer. We [herself and Taj] have seen the full effects of domestic and family violence and what they can have on a child in a relationship, as well as the people involved,” says Ware. “We wanted to be a part of reminding people that ongoing conversations are really important and that it starts at a young age.”
Both Ware and Prince are calling on their family, friends, community and mob to continue talking with young people in their lives about respect and to join the pledge to ‘Bring Up Respect.’
A proud Aboriginal man from the Kalkadoon tribe in the Mount Isa region, Prince is a former NRL player for the Brisbane Broncos and the West Tigers in NSW who now uses his role as father and coach to have conversations with young people about respect.
“Community has a massive role in teaching our young people about respect. Whatever is accepted when they are young will flow on into their teenage and adult lives, so it’s so important that we get them at the start, and teach them what is accepted in community,” says Prince.
Instilling the importance of respectful behavior from a young age and breaking the cycle of violence for those experiencing sexual assault is a collective effort. The Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, said the Australian Government is committed to working towards a future free from family, domestic and sexual violence.
The Government’s Stop it at the Start campaign homepage is filled with resources including “Excuse Interpreter” that covers common expressions used to excuse disrespectful behaviour towards girls. Saying things such as “it’s ok, he just did it because he likes you” and “boys will be boys” to young people can all too easily excuse disrespectful behaviour and make boys and girls start to believe there are reasons or situations where disrespect is acceptable. The “Excuse Interpreter” provides resources for adults to better recognise these attitudes and language and put an end to them.
The Stop it at the Start’s campaign message on the importance of creating conversations around respect with young people is also depicted in a stunning visual designed by Brisbane-based artist and proud Goreng Goreng woman, Rachael Sarra. It highlights the strong community and cultural connections that are a crucial part of yarning- an Aboriginal term for building respectful relationships– from the time a child is an infant.
“My interpretation of Stop it at the Start and Bring Up Respect through a cultural lens is the idea of maintaining a strong connection to culture and community support networks,” says Sarra. “Without these networks and positive role models, we are more vulnerable. Through the support of community, individuals are able to create self-determined outcomes and be empowered to stop it at the start.”