Standing up to domestic and family violence

AFL Cape York Boys House hosted their annual ‘Stand up to domestic and family violence’ event in October. The event raises much needed funds for domestic violence services and provides an opportunity to bring people together to have a conversation about an issue that affects every community in Australia.

AFL Cape York Boys and Girls Houses are purpose-built facilities providing accommodation, educational, employment and training opportunities for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women from some of Far North Queensland’s most remote communities in a culturally appropriate, safe and secure residential environment. They ensure every boarding student has the opportunity to transition successful in to what they want to pursue.

General manager Rick Hanlon said “For our boys, the most influential people in their lives predominately are women; their mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters and cousins, and we need to ensure we are teaching our young men that women are not objects and coercive, physical and mental abuse is totally unacceptable.”

At the High Tea, students from the boys house act as waiters and servers for the attendees and have the opportunity to listen to and meet this year’s guest speaker, Simone O’Brien. She is a vocal advocate as a survivor of a horrific domestic violence incident. Her story began in 2012 after ending a relationship, and her former partner used a baseball bat to hit her over 50 times.

He broke her arm in two places and her skull was fractured in multiple areas. Simone says she is extremely lucky to have survived. She has endured 52 surgeries, blinded in one eye and requires ongoing physiotherapy to her jaw mobility. She now travels across the world to impart knowledge and empower communities to stand up and speak out against domestic violence.

AFL House sees the event as an important part of a program that aims to teach students about appreciation, leadership, culture, and being proud and strong. Jen McHugh attended the event on behalf of the TNQ Drought Hub SATSIE program and felt that not only did the event raise funds it promoted awareness of domestic violence and coercive behaviors.

Images (top):Students from the boys house taking the pledge to stand up against domestic and family violence, (bottom) part of Simone’s powerpoint presentation. Credit: Jennifer McHugh.

For further information, contact Jennifer.mchugh1@jcu.edu.au