University Equity Staff with keynote speaker Matt Brown.
Gender-based violence is a pervasive issue in our community, and addressing it is critical for creating safe and supportive work and study places and promoting gender equity. How we address these challenges is a key focus for ECU and the higher education sector as a whole.
Respect at Uni Week promotes the importance of respect, equality and inclusion on campuses and online spaces. Commencing in 2023, Respect at Uni Week is an initiative of the Victorian Tertiary Primary Prevention Network.
An Action Plan: Addressing gender-based violence in higher education was released in February 2024, by the Australian Department of Education to focus on all forms of gender-based violence, including sexual violence.
ECU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Equity and Indigenous), Professor Braden Hill, said the Action Plan addresses the need for education on how gender-based violence is deeply rooted in gender-based power inequalities, rigid gender norms and gender-based discrimination.
"We know to prevent violence against women and LGBTIQA+ people, these drivers must be acknowledged, addressed, and challenged," said Professor Hill.
"The higher education sector has a unique opportunity to drive social change at scale with 1.5 million students, over 130,000 staff and internationally recognised research expertise."
Creating a culture of respect
Professor Braden Hill said ECU's support of Respect at Uni Week was a way to make a real difference in the lives of our students and staff by leading social change through education.
"Our communities should be safe and free from violence, and we know that preventing gender-based violence starts with a culture of respect, which we work very hard to grow in our university community," said Professor Hill.
"ECU is committed to creating an environment where equality and diversity is celebrated, and everyone has equal access and opportunities to achieve their potential.
"I'm hoping that the message of Respect at Uni Week encourages people to reflect on their perceptions or behaviours and maybe others will reach out for support for the first time."
She Is Not Your Rehab
This year the WA universities were proud to host a special first-time event to launch Respect at Uni Week. Matt Brown from She Is Not Your Rehab is presenting a lecture on breaking the cycle of gender-based violence to all WA university staff and students.
Taimalelagi Mataio Faafetai (Matt) Brown, is a New Zealand born Samoan author and renowned communicator who works to eradicate domestic violence by supporting those who perpetrate violence, to heal.
A survivor of family violence and childhood sexual abuse, Matt began his domestic violence advocacy work by sharing his story with the men who frequented his busy barbershops. He discovered his sharing had a profound effect in fostering vulnerability, healing, and connection with other men.
Dr Fiona Navin, Director Access and Equity reflected that "His is a powerfully moving and deeply personal story, which he has had the courage to share widely and in doing so has created a movement where we can work together to redefine society's view of masculinity and help break the cycle of gender-based violence".
The event was held on Monday 18 March at ECU's Mount Lawley campus.
Dedicated to making a difference
For over a decade, Matt has hosted free men's anti-violence support groups from locations like barbershops, construction sites, gang pads, prisons and more.
Together, Matt and his partner Sarah, co-founded She Is Not Your Rehab, a program which they have since launched as a TEDx Talk:The barbershop where men go to heal and released as what is now a bestselling book.
The book aims to encourage intergenerational healing and over 10,000 copies have been shared with refuges and prisons in New Zealand. In 2022 they opened the She Is Not Your Rehab art gallery and hosted the exhibition; 'Who is She?' in collaboration with Mr G; a renowned New Zealand artist.
Matt and Sarah's story of impact with their work is fascinating, including being awarded by the late Queen Elizabeth II, who recognised their contribution to the community with the New Zealand Order of Merit and awarded them with a Commonwealth Points of Light.
Matt believes his true calling lies in his work to redefine society's view of masculinity and to help end the cycle of domestic violence plaguing families all over the world.
The She is Not Your Rehab mission is beautifully articulated through the haka that the founders wrote in collaboration with Kaiako Māori Komene Kururangi.
Watch Haka Against Violence. Haka Taku Aronga (Our Purpose)
Universities driving social change
The She Is Not Your Rehab event was facilitated by Alicia Gibbs, Manager for Preventing Violence Together, a joint initiative of the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing and Stopping Family Violence.
Ms Gibbs explained how her work is focused on building the capacity of WA's emerging sector for primary prevention of violence against women and acknowledged the collaborative effort from the WA universities in organising the event.
"We are privileged to have the leadership from all WA universities, who together have the capacity to lead and impact real change in preventing gender-based violence," said Ms Gibbs.
Respect at Uni Week Activities
Respect at Uni Week runs from 18 - 22 March. Some of the highlights of the week are as follows:
- She Is Not Your Rehab (Event): Monday 18 March
Keynote address by Matt Brown followed by a question and answer session.
- Words Matter: The Power of Inclusive Language (Webinar): Tuesday 19 March
Presented by Edith Cowan University's Equity Projects Coordinator, Stevie Lane, who will explore the importance of inclusive language in fostering safe and respectful communities.
- The Self, Subjects, and Society: Experiences of Using Online Dating Applications (Webinar): Wednesday 20 March
Presented by Curtin University's Dr Matty Phillips, School of Population Health, the findings of his recently conducted research project and consider the implications of online dating for all participants.
Register to attend the webinar.
Plus a range of on-campus activities at each university.
Reach out, support is here
Professor Hill said bringing light to this campaign on ECU campuses was not only an opportunity to raise awareness and education levels about a critical societal issue, but in a more immediate sense it could open up a life line to someone in need right now.
"As a university community we know all our students and staff have lives full of complexities we all have families, relationships and pressures outside our studies and work. We also know that for too many of our students, will be impacted by family and domestic violence in some way.
"ECU is available to provide a range of different support options to navigate this based on your individual circumstances – please reach out."
If this story or any of the content of events or webinars cause distress or trigger traumatic memories for you or anyone you are supporting, please reach out for help, ECU has numerous support services available to students and staff.
