BY NATALIE GALLENTI
BRIMBANK Council is encouraging teenage boys to respect women through a new web-based program developed by the Victorian Women’s Trust.
The Be a Hero program illustrates that young men can choose a life free of violence and indeed become heroes themselves.
Aimed at providing participants with a greater understanding of the extent of violence against women and to help identify ways young men can safely be involved in taking a stand against violence against women, Brimbank Youth Services recently partnered with Victoria University Secondary College to deliver the program to Year 9 male students.
General manager of community well being Kelly Grigsby, said the program was a success with students particularly interested in the statistics revealed in relation to how often and where violence was occurring against women.
“It is estimated that in their lifetime, one in three women will experience physical assault and one in five, sexual assault. This will most commonly be at the hands of men they know in their own homes,” Ms Grigsby said.
“After hearing this information the students were keen to learn the ways they could make a stance against violence against woman in a safe and controlled manner.”
Ms Grigsby said the response from the students was overwhelming.
Both the school and council plan to continue the program this year.
