ABN. 58 079 868 116
PO Box 468, FYSHWICK ACT 2609
p: 02 6195 3176 | f: 02 6228 1604
w: www.baptistcareaustralia.org.au
12 April 2020
For immediate release – 25 November 2015
Baptist Care Australia and BaptistCare NSW & ACT are urging all Australians to mark the
2015 White Ribbon Day by taking positive action to help end domestic violence.
Baptist Care Australia and BaptistCare NSW & ACT strongly support White Ribbon Day as a means of raising awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence, about the need for perpetrators, mostly men, to change their behaviour and about respecting women’s autonomy as a step towards ending domestic violence.
“There is real action which we can all take to help reduce domestic violence,” Baptist Care
Australia executive director Carolyn Kelshaw said.
“As men and women opposed to domestic violence and committed to its eradication we can all:
 Sign the Enough is Enough petition asking for increased attention and funding toward this issue at a government level – see

 http://www.commongrace.org.au/enough_is_enough
Visit White Ribbon, an opportunity for men to take a pledge against gender based violence – see http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/
Pray – join Australian Christians in 16 Days of Prayer against Domestic & Family
Violence from 25 November to 10 December – see http://www.commongrace.org.au/16_days_of_prayer
 Get informed and inform others – see Baptist Care Australia’s White Ribbon Day blog on the Baptist care Australia website for more information http://www.baptistcareaustralia.org.au/news/white-ribbon-day-facing-up-todomestic-violence

 Seek help: If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au
In an emergency, call 000.”
Most domestic violence cases are man against woman: as such domestic violence is closely linked to gender stereotypes and inequality in our culture. The 2012 Australian Personal
Safety Survey found that 4.3 times as many women than men reported that they felt fear or anxiety after their most recent physical assault committed by an opposite-sex perpetrator.
Baptist Care Australia and BaptistCare NSW & ACT applauds the actions of Federal and state politicians of all political hues and community leaders everywhere for the increased efforts of the last year in raising awareness of the scourge of domestic violence and of the need for all of us – individuals and governments alike – to increase awareness to help reduce the incidence of domestic violence.
BaptistCare NSW & ACT addresses the issue of domestic and family violence on multiple fronts, through a whole-of-family long term response.
BaptistCare NSW & ACT provides support for women and children escaping violence through crisis and medium-term housing with wrap-around services, no-interest loans, specialised counselling, group programs and chaplaincy.
For over 20 years BaptistCare has helped men who want to face up to their use of violence and abuse through men’s behaviour change programs. Organisational funding and donations have enabled this long-standing commitment to supported housing and men’s group programs. BaptistCare is exploring opportunities to significantly upscale these programs. The NSW Government has funded BaptistCare to operate a pilot men’s group program that will inform the development of a DV Blueprint for the State. BaptistCare is one of 6 organisations in NSW who operate accredited men’s behaviour change group programs:
NSW Government funding has been provided to BaptistCare to facilitate the networking of these providers.
For further comment please contact Carolyn Kelshaw, Executive Director Baptist Care
Australia on 0402 971 710