Mick Doleman awarded ambassador of the year

Andrew O'Keefe addressing other White Ribbon Ambassadors

Ambassador of the Year Mick Doleman spoke passionately about the toll of domestic violence.

Me with other finalists.

Mick Doleman, deputy secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, has been awarded White Ribbon ambassador of the year by the White Ribbon Foundation. A White Ribbon ambassador is a man who spreads the message opposing violence by men against women. The award was handed to Mick by the head of the Foundation, Andrew O'Keefe. As well as being the host of Deal or No deal, Andrew is opposed to violence against women and volunteers many hours of his time with the Foundation.

I was also honoured to be one of the finalists.

Last year's Ambassador of the Year, Nick Mazzarella had this to say about each of the finalists:

The Selection Committee had a difficult time in choosing from amongst these inspiring finalists, as each of them stood out in a number of ways.

 Finalist Peter Daglish - the Capital Works Officer at Maribyrnong City Council - never shy’s away from sharing his message of non-violence and respect for women. Whether at home, at work, or umpiring a local football game, Peter is a role model in his community. Peter even has a t-shirt that reads “Real men in Maribyrnong say NO to violence against women.”

 Brian Sullivan, Master of the Counselling Program for the School of Social Work and Human Services at the University of Queensland may not wear a t-shirt, but he holds respect, justice and dignity as his core values. This alignment of principles with White Ribbon allows him to wear his Ambassador pin proudly when giving speeches to students, executives, or community members.

 Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch is the Corporate Spokesperson and Sponsor for Domestic and Family Violence across New South Wales with the NSW Police Force. Mark’s leadership has pushed the Police Force to be proactive, and he has gone beyond his job description in ensuring that Senior Police and the NSW Police Force more generally understand the importance of the role the police play in prevention now, and into the future.
 Also playing a pivotal role in raising awareness is Phil Cooper, the Community Development Officer for the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association. Phil has done fantastic work recruiting and training new Ambassadors in the Aboriginal community. Most recently, he recruited his “Fitzroy Allstars Football Team” to be Ambassadors, and he has provided the players with training to become spokespeople on the subject of ending violence against women.

 Also engaging local sport teams is Kevin Maher, the Industrial Relations Advisor for Abigroup Contractors. Also the President of the Macquarie Scorpions rugby team, Kevin enlisted his team to help shift cultural norms and change attitudes about violence against women. The team is working to end violence through their new initiative “Let’s Tackle Domestic Violence.”

 In addition to reaching youth through sport, White Ribbon Ambassadors are also reaching youth through the school system. None have been more instrumental in doing this than Sydney Regional Director of Education, finalist Dr Phil Lambert. Phil’s work has been critical in developing and successful implementing the White Ribbon Principal’s ‘Breaking the Silence’ Program. The program brings the message of anti-violence to students and teachers and provides them with a forum in which these sensitive issues can be discussed. Phil’s leadership has been instrumental in the incredible success it has had to date, and has established a strong foundation from which it can grow.

 At the heart of all of these types of endeavours, are Ambassadors who are engaged in their roles and are enthusiastic – showing initiative in their involvement - like Reece Harley. The National Policy Director at Left Right Think Tank, Reece uses his personal and professional networks to spread the White Ribbon Message. At one point or another, every member of the White Ribbon staff has contacted Reece for his invaluable assistance. Whether looking for his opinions, helping to organise an event in Perth, raising funds, or getting acquainted with new Ambassadors from WA, Reece is always keen to help and he never shies away from the issues.

 John Whop, the Co-ordinator for the Waibe Thursday Island Men's Shed is also an Ambassador committed to doing what he can and is always looking for ways to be more engaged. Living on the remote Island, John will share his passion for non-violence with tourists and visitors who pass through as well as the
locals. He also travels to Darwin, Batchelor, Cairnes and Brisbane along with 14 nearby rural communities to promote the Campaign and ask people to support the prevention of violence against women.

 Giving talks on behalf of White Ribbon is old hat for Ambassador Joseph Masika, Chairperson of the African Communities Council for South Australia. His consistent support to the campaign and to other campaigners has been evident with his delivery of educational workshops (in his free time no less) on ending silence on domestic violence in African communities. His advocacy is a large part of why women in the emerging communities he works with are gaining more equality and higher-level positions.

 Finalist Stephen Page, Partner at the Harrington Law Practice, is also a powerful advocate for the Campaign. Whether he is amending state laws, lobbying the national government, writing legislative reviews on behalf of White Ribbon, or providing the Queensland White Ribbon Working Group with advice and direction, Stephen is constantly striving to improve conditions and advocate for positive change.

 Mick Doleman, Deputy National Secretary for the Maritime Union of Australia also believes that advocacy is a key to Campaign’s success. As a result of his efforts, all male MUA officials, officers and many members have taken the Oath or become Ambassadors themselves.

Why I'm going to Nepal

In September, I am travelling to Nepal with Australia's CEO Challenge.   I will be trekking and also working with local women, who are single, illiterate and dreadfully poor. I will be paying my own way there.
 
I thought that by going to Nepal I could help survivors of domestic violence- both in Nepal, and by fundraising and raising awareness, back here in Australia.I have now been helping survivors of domestic violence since 1985, which I must say seems to be a very long time ago. In Queensland, my home State, back then there was no domestic violence legislation. It seems hard to credit it, as the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act has been a part of the landscape for so long, but back then it didn't exist. It required an inquiry, initiated by the then National Party government (remember that this was pre-Fitzgerald), about domestic violence to give a clear recommendation for legislation, before that legislation was enacted.Over that time, I have acted for thousands of survivors of domestic violence.

The effects of domestic violence are devastating, and can last forever, permanently scarring someone's mind with awful thoughts.Even worse, the actions of domestic violence can at the most extremem lead to family homicides- the types we have seen too often of the murder/suicides, or even the battered woman in an act of desperation killing her tormenter.I have come to learn over those many years that regrettably, domestic violence isn't caused by alcohol or drugs (though there can be astrong correlation), it isn't confined to one race or type of people (though it is more common with the less wealthy), and neither sex has a monopoly of good or evil.

As a family lawyer, I have acted in cases where the man has been violent, where the woman has been violent to her husband, where a gay man or a lesbian has been violent to their partner, and even one case involving a lesbian/transgender relationship.Despite all those types of domestic violence, the most common type is that of men towards their women.Luckily our society has greatly improved its response towards doemstic violence for the benefit of survivors of violence, but there is much more to be done.

That is why I am Deputy Chair of Australia's CEO Challenge and why I am going on the trek. I have been involved as a partner or director with Australia's CEO Challenge for the last 10 years. I did so because this tiny charity, that knows how to stretch a buck like virtually no one else, helps survivors of violence. It does this in three ways:

1. It partners businesses with refuges. 
Australia's CEO Challenge is the only charity in the country that does so. it is unique. Suddenly businesses are helping with refuges, by offering mentoring, and fundraising or provision of supplies. There are few things more satisfying to me than going to a refuge and hearing from women who stayed there about how Brisbane City Council (which was a partner of that refuge)supplied and installed play equipment, enabling the kids staying there, to do what kids do best- to play, and relax. When I heard that story, I thought: "In my own little way, I helped that happen. i made a difference to the lives of those women and children."

2. Australia's CEO Challenge provides workplace training about workplace bullying, and the correlation between those people and those people often being perpetrators of domestic violence.

3. With a small amount of money from the Queensland Government ($20,000 a year over 3 years), Australia's CEO Challenge co-ordinates White Ribbon Day events in Queensland. 25th November each year is White Ribbon Day, or as it is otherwise called the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Naturally, I prefer to call it White Ribbon Day, as it is less of a mouthful. Events highlight the fight against domestic violence and the community, especially men, saying that they will not commit domestic violence, will not condone domestic violence, and will not be silent about domestic violence.I am going to Nepal to help there, and also to help raise money for Australia's CEO Challenge here. Please donate. If you can help by donating, your help is greatly appreciated. You can donate here: Little Stevie Helps End Domestic Violence .If you can help in any other way, such as partnering a refuge, or helping to end domestic violence, email me: lilstevieconquersDV@gmail.com or call me: 07 3221 9544.