Respect Call Takes to the Highway Against Violence

RESPECT: That’s the important message Villawood Properties has spelled out loudly along the Surf Coast Highway at its Armstrong community. The call highlights May as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It also complements a ‘CONSENT’ message we put in place at Wandana last month, above the Geelong Ring Road.

Here are some of the reactions we’ve received:

Natasha Williams, Executive General Manager, genU Residential and Individual Supports: “People who have a disability are more likely to receive less respect than others and more likely to experience domestic violence and sexual assault. As leaders, we model and advocate for all people to be treated with respect and with kindness. We use this opportunity this month to ask you to highlight RESPECT.”

Laura Burge, Manager, Respectful Behaviours, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Deakin University: “Deakin is committed to creating an environment where students and staff feel included and respected for their unique perspectives and talents, feel safe to bring their whole selves to all that they do and empowered to make a positive impact. We’re proud to be part of local initiatives such as this which draw attention to the role we all have to play in contributing to a positive and respectful culture within our communities.”

Helen Bolton, CEO The Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre: “We all deserve to be safe, equal and respected. Choosing to lead with respect in our relationships, workplaces, schools, community, and homes can ultimately prevent family violence and violence against women. All forms of family violence are preventable. By calling out disrespect, sexism and other forms of discrimination early, we can stop violence before it starts. Thank-you, Villawood Properties, for highlighting this important message of RESPECT during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.”

Leigh Bartlett, Executive Officer, Barwon Adolescent Task Force:

“We are our greatest role models for our young people. How we speak, how we act and the behaviour we walk past  is informing our young people’s views on what a healthy respectful relationship looks like. Being kind, being inclusive, holding people to account for their behaviour and having great expectations of those in our lives and in leadership is the standard our young people expect of us. They are always watching, we need to be the role models they deserve.”