The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign runs every year from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December 2023 (Human Rights Day) raising awareness and educating the community on this important issue.

The Central Coast consistently has one of the highest number of incidences of family and domestic violence compared to any other local government area*.

Family, domestic and sexual violence occurs across all ages, socioeconomic and demographic groups but mainly affects women and children, Indigenous women, young women and pregnant women and people with a disability.

Central Coast Council is once again working with the community, local leaders and organisations to develop a range of programs, projects and activities in support of the national campaign to initiate important conversations around domestic and family violence.

• Walk against Domestic and Family Violence
  Wednesday 6 December, 10am
  Starts at the Anglican Church Gosford (7 Mann Street) to Kibble Park, Gosford
  Presented by the Central Coast Domestic Violence Committee
  Community members are encouraged to collect an orange shirt on the day to show support for this important campaign, before participating in the annual awareness raising walk around Kibble Park. 
  There will also be guest speakers, live entertainment, information stalls and more.
• Art installation in Kibble Park 
  04 December – 13 December
  Visitors to Kibble Park, Gosford may notice two dimensional houses suspended from a Jacaranda tree in Kibble Park. The houses represent the home, a place that should be safe but where domestic violence often occurs. By placing them in the tree it signifies the need to bring this issue into the public eye and address it collectively. 
  Crocheted remembrance flowers made by CWA community members at the base of the tree pay tribute to the victims, while solar lights inside the houses symbolise breaking the silence and ending the cycle of abuse.
• Zonta Tree Yarn Bombing
  24 November-11 December
  Kibble Park, Gosford
  The “Yarn Bomb”, a project of Zonta Club of Central Coast, shows in a colourful and inclusive way what we can do to end the scourge of domestic and family violence, the many different forms of domestic violence explained and actions to promote change. Help and support information for both victims and bystanders will be provided as part of the installation.
• Sneak preview on children’s story book
  24 November-13 December
  Kibble Park
  Visitors to the park will be able to preview special pages of a story book being developed by Council. The story book targets preschool aged children to promote positive, age-appropriate messages, about healthy, respectful relationships and valuing people of all genders.
• Town centre banners
  25 November-10 December
  Gosford and Tuggerah
  Motorists and commuters travelling over Brian McGowan Bridge in Gosford or along Tuggerah Straight will notice an array of banners on display focusing on changing the attitudes and behaviours of perpetrators as well as encouraging help seeking behaviour in victim survivors.

Council is encouraging the community to show their support to end domestic violence on the Central Coast and join in the activities at Kibble Park, Gosford.

See here for more information on what support is available if you’re a victim or bystander of domestic and family violence.

*Statistics show the Central Coast had the third-highest number of domestic violence related incidences in NSW (BOSCAR period June 2022 – 2023). We are also consistently over-represented in statistics for Breach of Apprehended Violence Order.