A call to speak up against domestic abuse is the focus of a campaign developed by Central Coast Council, local Police, the Tuggerah Lakes and Brisbane Waters Liquor Accords and Central Coast Domestic Violence Committee.
 
The campaign will deliver the simple and important message – if you see or suspect something, say something – to emphasise that everyone plays a role in ending domestic abuse.
 
March 8 was International Women’s Day. With one Australian Woman a week murdered at the hands of an intimate partner, intervention has never been more important.
 
Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Julie Vaughan said the campaign is particularly important for the Central Coast as the region has higher rates of domestic violence compared to city centres.
 
“We want the Central Coast to be a safe place for us all to live and this requires speaking up against domestic abuse and violence against women,” Ms Vaughan said.
 
“The Central Coast had the second-highest number of Apprehended Violence Orders in NSW last year – this is a shocking and unacceptable statistic.*
 
“We can all play a role in stopping violence by taking action if we see or suspect any form of abuse.
 
“In some cases there are simple steps we can take to help diffuse an abusive situation and we must always report what we see or hear to the Police.”
 
Rugby League legend and Central Coast local, Peter Sterling, is supporting the campaign by appearing in a powerful video that explains what to do if domestic abuse is observed or suspected.
 
Community members will also see the campaign slogan ‘Domestic abuse – it is your business’ featured at bottle shops across the Coast – on brown bags for bottles and posters in shopfronts.
 
Council Administrator, Dick Persson AM said Council was proud to be collaborating with local Police, the Tuggerah Lakes and Brisbane Waters Liquor Accords and Central Coast Domestic Violence Committee to deliver this important message.
 
“Domestic abuse is never acceptable and we must speak up if we see or suspect something,” Mr Persson said.
 
“I encourage all community members to watch the important video created for this campaign and to remember the steps we can take to help reduce domestic violence on the Coast.”
 
The ‘Domestic abuse – it is your business’ campaign will feature on social media and YouTube over the coming weeks and the video can be viewed on Council’s YouTube channel – Be an active bystander: See something, do something
 
*The Central Coast had the second-highest number of domestic violence Apprehended Violence Orders in figures (NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research – BOCSAR) issued for the 12 months prior to June 2020