A new volunteer-based organisation, the Bundaberg DFV Community Working Group, has been established to address the rates of domestic and family violence (DFV) within the region.
Composed of community leaders, service providers, and advocates, the working group aims to create a DFV-Free community through awareness, prevention, advocacy, education, and strategic partnerships.
The group’s mission, highlighted by the campaign slogan ‘DFV Free Matters to ME’, emphasises the need for individual and collective commitment to eradicating domestic and family violence in Bundaberg.
Queensland Police Service Chief Inspector Grant Marcus will chair the group.
“The need for coordinated action has never been more pressing,” Chief Inspector Marcus said.
“We are committed to building a safer Bundaberg by fostering conversations, supporting survivors, and promoting respectful relationships across all community sectors.”
Since its inception in March 2024, the Bundaberg DFV Community Working Group has focused on setting up the group’s structure and governance to ensure the group may contribute in the most impactful way for long-term change.
The group intends on supporting and hosting community engagement activities through collaborative events, workshops, and public campaigns.
The group also intends to work with government agencies, local businesses, schools, health services, and other community organisations to identify service delivery gaps and drive DFV awareness efforts.
The initiative will operate with a multi-pronged approach that includes:
- Awareness Campaigns: Sharing stories from survivors and community leaders to humanise the issue and educate the broader community.
- Prevention Programs: Conducting workshops in schools and community venues to promote early intervention and support services.
- Public Pledges and Events: Encouraging community members to publicly commit to a DFV-Free Bundaberg, with planned events such as awareness walks, community forums, and educational art displays.
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Debbie Carroll said awareness and empowerment were key to creating change.
“We believe that meaningful change starts with awareness and is sustained through collective effort,” Debbie said.
“Our campaigns aim to empower individuals to be active participants in creating a safer community.”
The community working group has already identified the importance of working with local First Nations representatives in addressing domestic and family violence, with a First Nations sub-group recently established for that purpose.
Stepping Black’s Veronica Johnson emphasised the importance of diverse participation.
“This is a community effort, and we want to ensure that all voices are heard—across cultural, social, and economic backgrounds,” Veronica said.
“Working together is the only way to disrupt the cycle of violence and build lasting change.”
Community members, local businesses, and organisations interested in learning more about the DFV Free Matters to ME initiative or supporting its efforts are encouraged to contact the working group’s secretary at Impact Community Services.
