Posted 01st December
Hundreds of members of the Port Macquarie-Hastings community wore white and took steps towards a safer community during the Coastal Walk Against Domestic and Family Violence on Sunday 27 November.
CEO of Liberty Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services Kelly Lamb said the event was back to its original popular format, following two COVID-impacted years.
“We have seen an exponential increase in the incidence and severity of domestic and family violence in our local community since our last full-scale event back in 2019, with Liberty supporting more than 2400 women and children over the past two financial years,” Mrs Lamb said.
The community came out in huge numbers to walk in solidarity with victim-survivors to show that we are committed to a future where violence-supporting attitudes, beliefs and behaviours are not tolerated.
There were three starting points to choose from – Lighthouse Beach at 8am, Flynns Beach at 9am and Town Beach at 9.30am.
At the end of walk event at 10am at Westport Park, walkers refuelled at the bbq and coffee cart and enjoyed cultural performances and guest speakers.
Our signpost campaign was back, busting myths about gender equality and educating the community about the forms of abuse – including coercive control, verbal, psychological and financial abuse.
“The Liberty team works with local families to provide specialist domestic and family violence support, crisis accommodation, transitional housing, support groups for women and children, after-hours responses, a mobile outreach service and prevention programs. We’re also supporting local workplaces to prepare for the upcoming changes to domestic violence leave to ensure it is implemented safely for staff,” Mrs Lamb said.
The Coastal Walk Against Domestic and Family Violence was made possible with the support of Event Partner – Port Macquarie-Hastings Council; Gold Sponsor – Men and Women at Work; Silver Sponsors – Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Charles Sturt University, Lantern Legal, Elders Real Estate and Focus Magazine.
Enjoy more photos of the event on Liberty’s Facebook page here.
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